Summertime is upon us and many of us are going away to enjoy the sun!

But before you go, here are some tips: 

• Have someone you trust check on your home while you're gone
• Secure & put away outdoor furniture as it can be damaged by the heat
• Check the exterior of your house for any potential roofing issues (cluttered gutters, tree limbs, wires, etc)
• Shut off the main water valve to avoid potential water losses
• Shut off your hot water heater or put it on vacation mode if you can
• Shut off nonessential electricity - who wants to pay for those while gone!
• Keep your A/C Unit running because heat damage can occur

While we know mold is everywhere and not all molds are damaging, here are some tips to prevent mold that can be harmful: 

• Try to keep the humidity in your home between 30% to 60%
• Make sure in your bathroom(s) and kitchen there are exhaust fans to help circulate indoor air
• Do not let water damage accumulate because it only takes 48 hours for mold to start growing
• Consider replacing hoses, pipes and fittings to appliances like washers every 5 years
• You can clean your home using bleach - but it does not stop the root of the mold

Most people become frantic of mold in their homes when it starts to show up on organic materials but that is not always the case! Sometimes homeowners are faced with water intrusions behind walls that they aren’t even aware of and it only takes 24-48 hours for mold to spore.

Sometimes you can smell mold and knowing the property’s history can help pinpoint how much damage you might be facing. Before trying to remediate the mold, it is important to fix the source of the moisture since that is what promotes mold growth.

Though mold can be costly both financially and health wise – there are some interesting facts about mold.

1. Mold is everywhere! There are over 10,000 species of mold and not all molds are harmful. Penicillin is a common antibiotic used that is actually a purified mold. Mold’s main purpose is to decompose organic material
2. When buying a new property, it is important to have a thorough inspection for mold because at least 50% of homes in the US have faced water damage! It can lower the value of the property significantly if water damage has not been properly mitigated and mold has not been properly removed.
3. Mold will practically eat any organic material – except a McDonald’s Happy Meal. Whatever preservatives are used in McDonald’s food have kept the organic material from breaking down even weeks, months and years after being exposed.

Mold removal and remediation can be time consuming, expensive and can pose a health threat. Mold survives in moist, damp environments and all it needs to thrive is water, oxygen and organic material.

The organic matter is often drywall – that after its been exposed to moisture can become a host for all kinds of mold species. But mold-resistant drywall was developed as a means to address this issue and provide prevention up front. The fiberglass mat for the paper used in traditional drywall has been substituted so that moisture cannot adhere to the organic paper material.