{"id":101,"date":"2018-08-01T10:50:37","date_gmt":"2018-08-01T15:50:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interstateac.com\/?p=101"},"modified":"2021-02-08T16:27:02","modified_gmt":"2021-02-08T22:27:02","slug":"mold-eliminating-and-preventing-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interstateac.com\/advice\/mold-eliminating-and-preventing-it\/","title":{"rendered":"MOLD: Eliminating and Preventing It"},"content":{"rendered":"

The long, humid summers in Middle Tennessee are conducive to mold and mildew and its associated odors forming in your home.\u00a0 In this post, we\u2019ll help you get to the bottom of any mold issues you may have and alleviate this smelly and potentially hazardous problem.<\/p>\n

What is Mold?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Mold is a microscopic fungus that travels as spores in the air and dust all around us \u2013 inside and outside.\u00a0 It thrives in moisture and easily builds colonies.\u00a0 Mold can cause health problems for you and your family \u2013 such as sinus, allergy, and respiratory issues.\u00a0 Some molds produce deadly mycotoxins \u2013 the so-called \u201ctoxic molds\u201d or \u201cblack mold\u201d \u2013 which can cause neurological issues and even death.\u00a0 Contrary to popular belief, not all black-colored mold is the toxic type, and not all strains of toxic molds are black-colored.\u00a0 However, anytime you see mold, it bears investigation.<\/p>\n

Causes & Prevention<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To begin ridding your home of the foul odors and health hazards caused by mold and mildew \u2013 and to prevent them from re-occurring – here are some things you can do:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Change air filters.<\/strong>\u00a0 If you have not been changing your air filter on a regular basis, change it!\u00a0 Your system\u2019s filter pulls odor-causing contaminants out of the air and if the filter is overloaded, the captured contaminants could be recirculating back into your home when the air conditioner is in use.<\/li>\n
  2. Clean-up the environment.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Since mold spores are most prevalent in dust, be sure to vacuum and clean your surroundings regularly, including changing linens.\u00a0 Use exhaust fans while showering and cooking to dissipate humidity as needed.<\/li>\n
  3. Fix leaks & replace seals.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Make sure there are no active leaks around appliances and plumbing, in the basement, crawl space, and roof. Replace the seals around the tub, shower, or windows where moisture collects. If there was ever a flood where the carpet, flooring, or drywall got wet, don\u2019t just \u201clet it dry\u201d – get it replaced!\u00a0 This can be a particular problem in Nashville, where so many houses were damaged in the 2010 floods, or experienced a burst pipe or ice damming in the winter which caused interior flooding.<\/li>\n
  4. Fix drainage issues.<\/strong>\u00a0Check for any standing water or drainage issues around the foundation of your home. This may be due to landscaping or erosion issues, or to faulty gutters.\u00a0 Get the basement waterproofed or install a sump pump, if necessary. See our video\u00a0Excess Humidity: Causes & Solutions.<\/li>\n
  5. Service the HVAC system.\u00a0<\/strong>During a spring\/summer HVAC maintenance visit, the evaporator coil and condensation lines are cleaned. This is crucial, since a condensate drip pan is the perfect environment for mold and algae growth and is the second leading cause of AC failure.\u00a0 See our video\u00a0Clean Condensate Drain Lines to Prevent Mold.<\/li>\n
  6. Check the ductwork.\u00a0<\/strong>If you turn off your HVAC system and wait 20 minutes and the mildew smell or foul odor seems to dissipate, and returns when the system is back on, that could be a sign that the problem lies in your ductwork. Moisture and odors can enter the ductwork through a tear, gap, or hole in the duct, and then circulate through your home. In some cases, duct cleaning or replacing the ductwork may be necessary, but if caught early, just re-sealing the duct may do the trick.<\/li>\n
  7. Test.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Buy a home mold testing kit \u2013 easily obtainable at local hardware and home supply stores for under $10. Get at least one test kit per floor, and a separate one for the basement.\u00a0 After setting up the kit in the house for the required length of time (usually a few days), mail it off to a testing lab to find out what types of molds are present and whether there is cause for concern (note: a lab testing fee of about $40 may apply).\u00a0 If you\u2019re buying a new or pre-owned home, get a professional mold inspection from a reputable company with appropriate certifications.<\/li>\n
  8. Removal & remediation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Mold removal and remediation is a specialty of its own, and not something a homeowner should attempt themselves.\u00a0 It requires specialized training, equipment, chemicals, and wearing of personal protection devices. Use only companies that are specifically certified and licensed for this type of work.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    If you care about the quality of the air you and your family breathes every day \u2013 and want to prolong your HVAC investment \u2013 call on Interstate AC Service at 615-832-8500.\u00a0 We\u2019re here to help with all your heating and air-conditioning needs.<\/p>\n\n

    The long, humid summers in Middle Tennessee are conducive to mold and mildew and its associated odors forming in your home.\u00a0 In this post, we\u2019ll help you get to the bottom of any mold issues you may have and alleviate this smelly and potentially hazardous problem. What is Mold? Mold is a microscopic fungus that…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"audio","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nMOLD: Eliminating and Preventing It - Interstate AC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/interstateac.com\/advice\/mold-eliminating-and-preventing-it\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"MOLD: Eliminating and Preventing It - Interstate AC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The long, humid summers in Middle Tennessee are conducive to mold and mildew and its associated odors forming in your home.\u00a0 In this post, we\u2019ll help you get to the bottom of any mold issues you may have and alleviate this smelly and potentially hazardous problem. 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