Dehumidifiers: Do They Stop Mold From Growing?
Mildew and mold growth present severe problems in any household. What we are referring to is damages like wood rotting or peeling, skin and eye irritations, respiratory issues, and even asthma attacks.
To get a handle on these problems, one needs to take care of infestations before they happen. Would investing in dehumidifiers to stop mold be a solution?
To answer this question involves an understanding of what is involved with mold and mildew.
What are Mildew and Mold?
Mold is a microscopic substance that requires plenty of warmth and moisture to grow. Once mildew and mold form, they take on different shades of yellow, white, black, or green. Mildew is a lot thinner in consistency than mold. The latter is fuzzier.
How Do Dehumidifiers Help With Mold Problems?
Dehumidifiers are made in such a way that it effectively controls the development of mold and mildew before it even gets a chance to grow. The way it does it is through removing moisture from the air.
Do not think that it will get rid of mold and mildew that already formed. You will require professional mold removers to remedy this problem.
The best way to prevent it from forming is to ensure the humidity levels in your home is at a nice average that rests between 35 to 55%, according to studies done by the University of Missouri Extension Service.
Some dehumidifiers feature a humidity gauge that is a hygrometer.
The trick is to control moisture in more ways than one to prevent the fungus from spreading. Besides running a dehumidifier, you should also increase your ventilation efforts around the home as well as manage any external runoffs like your gutters or another source of water intrusion. Installing one exhaust fan in your bathroom and another one in your kitchen is a great idea to minimize the chances of mold growth.
What is a Dehumidifier?
Dehumidifiers can be defined as portable devices that are made with the sole purpose of removing moisture from the air and reducing dampness in a given area. It can help to decrease health risks and improve comfort
Experts reckon having a dehumidifier is the best way to prevent mold and mildew from growing everywhere, such as your clothes, hidden crevices, and even your walls.
What are the Benefits of Having a Dehumidifier?
When you successfully control excess moisture in your home, you will experience various health benefits, such as:
- Reducing indoor pollutants that would trigger allergies like itchy eyes, skin rashes, stuffy nose, and sneezing.
- Decreasing musty odors that you will find is present with high humidity levels.
- Too much moisture, which will lead to damage to one’s furniture, especially if its made from wood.
Where Should I Install a Dehumidifier?
As to where and how many dehumidifiers you should install would depend on the amount of moisture and humidity levels that are present in your home.
Usually, it is considered a wise decision to have these installed in your kitchen, bathroom, and basement.
Did you know that larger units can easily absorb up to 90 pints of liquid a day while the smaller ones would absorb as much as 30 pints?
Although dehumidifiers will not kill mold, it reduces humidity and prevents mildew growth.
How to Remove Mold Yourself
You have three options to get rid of mold:
- Spray a solution of water and tea tree oil. The correct measurement is two teaspoons for 2 cups of water. The only issue is that the smell is potent, and the essential oils are expensive.
- Use a citrus seed extract or grapefruit seed extract. Make use of 20 drops if this mixture with 2 cups of water and spray it directly on the mold.
- Undiluted vinegar can be sprayed on the mold. But, like the tea tree oil, you will have to deal with the smell as it will be around for a bit.
Experts warn us to be very careful when it comes to mold removal. You should wear a mask so you do not inhale the mold spores that will be dispelled into the air once you disrupt the mold.
Be sure to isolate the area surrounding the mold to prevent it from circulating to other areas.
However, to effectively eradicate mold, it is suggested you hire professional mold remediation companies. Once they did a good job of your mold and mildew, do yourself a favor and get yourself a couple of top quality dehumidifiers to prevent mildew from forming ever again.
Resources— Hunker, Humidity Check, Allergy Consumer Review
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