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Moisture control is the key to mold control,
so when water leaks or spills occur indoors...
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ACT QUICKLY. If wet or damp materials or areas are dried
24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.
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Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
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Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation,
so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation. Keep air
conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.
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Keep indoor humidity low. If possible, keep indoor humidity
below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. Relative
humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter, a small, inexpensive ($10-$50)
instrument available at many hardware stores.
Actions that will help to reduce humidity
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Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves, and
kerosene heaters to the outside where possible. (Combustion appliances such
as stoves and kerosene heaters produce water vapor and will increase the
humidity unless vented to the outside.)
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Use air conditioners and/or de-humidifiers when needed.
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Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use
exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher or
dishwashing, etc.
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If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows,
walls or pipes ACT QUICKLY to dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/water source.
Condensation can be a sign of high humidity.
Actions that will help prevent condensation
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Reduce the humidity (see above).
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Increase ventilation or air movement by opening doors and/or
windows, when practical. Use fans as needed.
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Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with
insulation. Increase air temperature.
Testing or Sampling for Mold
Is sampling for mold needed? In most cases, if visible mold growth is
present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have
been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a
building's compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be
useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated.
Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific
experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and
interpreting results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods
recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other
professional organizations.
Hidden Mold
You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, but you cannot see
the source, or if you know there has been water damage and residents are
reporting health problems. Mold may be hidden in places such as the back
side of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, the
underside of carpets and pads, etc. Other possible locations of hidden mold
include areas inside walls around pipes (with leaking or condensing pipes),
the surface of walls behind furniture (where condensation forms), inside
ductwork, and in roof materials above ceiling tiles (due to roof leaks or
insufficient insulation). Investigating hidden mold problems may be
difficult and will require caution when the investigation involves
disturbing potential sites of mold growth. For example, removal of wallpaper
can lead to a massive release of spores if there is mold growing on the
underside of the paper. If you believe that you may have a hidden mold
problem, consider hiring an experienced professional.
Cleanup and Biocides
Biocides are substances that can destroy living organisms. The use of a
chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for
example) is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup. There
may be instances, however, when professional judgment may indicate its use
(for example, when immune-compromised individuals are present). In most
cases, it is not possible or desirable to sterilize an area; a background
level of mold spores will remain - these spores will not grow if the
moisture problem has been resolved. If you choose to use disinfectants or
biocides, always ventilate the area and exhaust the air to the outdoors.
Never mix chlorine bleach solution with other cleaning solutions or
detergents that contain ammonia because toxic fumes could be produced.
Please note: Dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people, so
it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed.
Additional Resources
For more information on mold related issues including mold cleanup and
moisture control/condensation/humidity issues, you can call the EPA Indoor
Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318.
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