Maintaining optimal indoor comfort during the winter should be a priority–but it’s not the only important thing on which you should be focusing. You probably already know just how much damage mold can cause inside the house. Some people believe that this is only an issue in the warmer months. They’ll soon find, however, that it’s actually a year-round problem that can not only weaken their home’s most crucial components, but also compromise its indoor air quality.
You’ll need to take measures to prevent mold issues in your home this winter. Acker Heating & Cooling, a premier residential and commercial HVAC company in the area, shares some handy tips in this blog post.
Basically, mold is a type of fungus that works to break down material that’s organic in nature. Unfortunately, it’s not picky about the organic material it consumes, because you’ll also find it thriving inside homes and buildings. Mold can grow anywhere that has the right amount of moisture and humidity and is between 60 and 80 degrees. It reproduces through spores dispersed in the air, and flourishes when conditions are accommodating.
The presence of mold inside your home can lead to a number of problems. Structural problems are the most common, but it can also negatively affect indoor air quality. For the most part, people stay inside during the winter, and if the house has a serious mold problem, constant exposure to its spores can trigger allergic reactions and cause the following symptoms:
There are different types of mold, and all of them can be a potential health hazard at certain levels. This is especially true when black mold is present inside a home, because it can produce mycotoxins or toxins. People living in damp, moldy homes have a higher chance of developing asthma and chronic sinus infections. Those whose immune systems are suppressed by medications or a pre-existing lung condition may also develop infections due to mold. You can usually tell if your home has a mold issue because it will smell musty. Discoloration on fabrics, wooden products and other building materials is also an indication of mold growth.
As mentioned before, mold thrives in humid environments. If your home has high humidity levels, it’s only a matter of time before mold makes an appearance. Excess humidity can result from poor ventilation and any activity that releases a considerable amount of moisture into the air, such as cooking, dish washing, laundry and showering. You can consult a heating system repair and indoor air quality expert like Acker Heating & Cooling on ways to reduce humidity in your home.
The good news is that there are plenty of simple and effective ways to keep your home mold-free. You should, for instance:
Make sure to run the exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom during or after use. This helps get rid of any excess moisture in the air, which in turn eliminates the potential for mold in these spaces. If possible, avoid air-drying your freshly laundered clothes indoors. And when using a clothes dryer, make sure that it’s actually venting outside your home.
Keeping excess humidity at bay is also possible with a dehumidifier. Your premier air conditioning and indoor air quality professional, Acker Heating & Cooling, offers whole-home dehumidifiers from trusted industry name, Bryant®. They ensure effective moisture removal performance that helps prevent mold from forming inside your home. The permanent MERV 8 filter also captures dust and other particles to ensure better airflow and improved indoor air quality.
Our excellent ventilators from Bryant® are designed to bring pre-filtered outdoor air into your home, replacing warm, stale air that may be trapped inside. They’re available in Preferred™ Heat Recovery and Preferred™ Energy Recovery options. Since our Bryant® ventilators also come in different sizes, you get to pick the one that will best suit your home’s needs.
When in need of effective indoor air quality solutions or high-quality commercial HVAC services, look no further than Acker Heating & Cooling. With the exceptional options we provide from trusted industry names and our own certified HVAC technicians, we’ll help you maintain a safer, healthier home no matter the season. We proudly serve Colbert, GA, and the Greater Athens area. Call us today at (706) 715-2607 or fill out this contact form to schedule your heating consultation.
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