Understanding Mold Growth Spikes as Summer Transitions into Fall
Prevent Residential Mold Damage When Seasons Change
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and leading remediation industry experts agree that managing interior moisture is the key to inhibiting mold growth and damage during the fall. Eliminating water damage from leaks, flooding, and spills within 24- to 48 hours is vital to prevent fungal organisms from germinating and multiplying into rapidly spreading colonies. Maintaining indoor relative humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent is crucial to avoiding mold growth from water vapor condensing on cooler surfaces. Achieving that target relative humidity level is particularly challenging during the transition from late summer into fall.
Fall Weather Competing with Heating and Cooling Systems Risks Mold
- Outdoor Temperatures Fluctuate During the Fall
When the first crisp fall mornings arrive, you throw open windows and doors previously sealed tight against the sultry summer heat. But that pleasantly cool autumn morning is often followed by a furnace-hot afternoon and an evening featuring a torrential thunderstorm. Your home's interior seesaws from cool and dry to hot and muggy. Rain invading through open windows teams up with the water vapor-laden air that arrived after lunch, sending the relative humidity inside your home spiraling far above 50 percent.
- HVAC Operation Can Increase Relative Humidity
You try to gain control of the oppressively uncomfortable conditions by closing up the house and turning on the HVAC system. The AC cycles for a while but not long enough to dehumidify the interior to the levels required to prevent mold growth. In fact, as dawn approaches, the thermostat instructs the heater to switch on in response to another frosty morning. The interior is warming, and the already clammy air condenses on surfaces like windows and exterior walls cooled by the chilly outdoor conditions. Condensate droplets are long-awaited fuel for spores that are always in the environment; they germinate and spread rapidly. Sadly, welcoming fall can also invite significant mold damage.
- Heating Alone Is Ineffective to Dehumidify
As fall temperatures moderate over days and weeks, heating becomes the go-to intervention. However, if you rely only on temperature adjustments, you will still struggle with fall mold growth and damage. The real culprit is relative humidity. Every time you turn the thermostat up or down, you expose your home's building materials and contents to the risk of excessive water vapor ready to condense and encourage microbial infestation.
Humidity Control Means Significant Mold Inhibition
A hydrometer that measures relative humidity is easily purchased, usually portable, and straightforward to use. Get one to determine and document humidity levels in your home, especially during the seasonal transitions. Then consider equipment to remove excess humidity as follows:
- In-Line Dehumidifier
If you manage your heating and cooling with a ducted HVAC system, the most reliable way to control humidity and ensure it hits the 30 to 50 percent target is with an in-line dehumidifier. This device circulates air over evaporator coils not only to cool but also to condense excess moisture from your home's atmosphere. Arrange for an inspection from the trained technicians at AdvantaClean of any in-line unit you have. Follow our recommendations for repairs or replacement to stabilize humidity levels during the fall and the rest of the year.
- Single Room or Area Dehumidifiers
Invest in one or several dehumidifiers when you need additional dehumidifying power or do not have ductwork. Position these units throughout your home to reduce humidity to appropriate levels.
Other Steps to Manage Fall Moisture
Many other elements and conditions can contribute to the sharp increase of mold growth in the fall. Here are some causes and solutions that could apply to your situation:
- Clogged and poorly maintained gutters and downspouts can send water inside your home, feeding the mold. Cut off the supply by inspecting and repairing this essential drainage system.
- Wet leaves and debris build up in the fall, and molds break organic waste down as nature intended. Keep the mold action outside by keeping doorways and the area directly around your home clear of loose and dying vegetation.
- Clean entry areas and avoid walking through your home with outdoor footwear, which may host thousands of spores. Clean pets' paws regularly.
AdvantaClean has the resources and personnel to help you assess your property for fall mold growth and damage risks. Discuss the many options possible to avoid a mold invasion, and rely on us for remediation services if needed.