Humidity is NOT Good for Your Home!

4/27/2022 (Permalink)

If you suspect that your home has microbial growth, we suggest you call our team at SERVPRO of the Lake of the Ozarks at 573-346-7200.

The flowers start to blossom as the weather transitions from the winter weather to the summer heat. This is why our team is here to help with all of your microbial growth remediation needs. The increase in overall humidity levels during the warm summer nights increases the total moisture levels in your home/business. When you have an increase in humidity in your home, it also runs the risk of condensation on your windows which is the perfect condition for mold growth. These are the standard ways mold will grow and simple ways to prevent it from happening to you.

Mold Behind Pillows and Furniture

If you have your pillows close to/touching the wall and you notice a discolored black shade, this is an indicator that there is mold growth. There could be multiple factors causing microbial growth. Still, two simple suggestions to prevent this is to leave the pillows with a 3-4" air gap between the walls and cushions. Whereas the long-term solution could be purchasing a long-term, constant flow exhaust fan, such as the Panasonic WhisperGreen, which lowers the overall humidity levels in your home.

Mold Growth in Dead Spots

The way that air flows creates dead spots in certain spots of your home, leaving cold air in the corners of the room from the bottom to the ceiling. This is caused because airflow patterns are unable to make 90-degree turns. This cold air leads to condensation and, in return, creates perfect conditions for microbial growth.

Growth on Furniture 

Suppose you have furniture lined up against a wall. In that case, you run the risk of making perfect microclimates that are the ideal conditions for mold growth. This type of mold growth only comes from homes with a relative humidity of 70% or higher. These conditions are created from the limited airflow. The cool exterior walls provide the condition, and the couch makes the perfect surface.

Condensation on Window Frames/ Window Sills

Let's say you are unsure how to tell if your home is naturally humid. One of the easiest ways to tell is when you have condensation on the window frames. This is common in homes with condensation collecting on single-pane aluminum windows.