Fight Mold Growth by Improving Indoor Air Quality
November 29, 2017
Summer is the season when microorganisms like mold explode indoors because temperatures are favorable and all too often, so is the humidity. Not only can mold have serious side effects on your health, it can also ruin many of the products inside your home. Spores and bacteria spread through the air or from surface contact. While bacterial colonies are largely invisible, mold is visible and carries a strong musty odor. The best ways to control these growths are by keeping humidity levels indoors below 50 percent and managing indoor air quality (IAQ).
Improving the Indoor Air Quality
It's easy to pay close attention to the hazards you can see - such as dirty counters, murky water and expired food - and easy to forget about the ones you can't see. The air you breathe is invisible, and many airborne pollutants are odorless, but it's obviously important to keep the air as clean as possible. To improve air quality and avoid bacteria and mold growth, there’s two simple solutions:
Controlling Humidity in Your Home Keeps Mold Away
Besides simple cleaning around your house, controlling the humidity in your home is one of the simplest tactics for managing mold and bacteria growth. Mold thrives in dark, moist places and sends spores into the air, so removing excessive moisture keeps mold growth under control. Running the air conditioner removes some of the humidity as a byproduct of cooling, but if you're turning down the thermostat simply to reduce the humidity, consider installing a whole-house dehumidifier. Iowa is prone to high humidity during the warmer months, and it costs less to run a dehumidifier than keep your home too cool to lower the humidity level.
Eliminate Mold with UV Lights
UV lights alter the DNA of organic substances that keeps them from reproducing. Placing UV lights in your ductwork and in the blower compartment of your air conditioner will eliminate the risk of hidden mold growth. When your HVAC system runs, all the air inside your home will eventually pass through the ducts, and if mold is present, spores can blow anywhere inside your home. Bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens are ideal environments for mold growth because airborne spores can quickly populate places where moisture lingers. However, after passing by UV germicidal lights, any spores landing in these damp areas won't be able to reproduce, effectively thwarting their proliferation. Using UV lights to prevent mold growth in your HVAC systems stops the spreading and growth of mold within your home and keeps your units running smoothly with less buildup.
For even greater protection against mold and bacteria, trap these pesky air pollutants using high-efficiency air cleaners that attach to your home's HVAC system. These units can remove the smallest particles including bacteria spores, viruses and cigarette smoke.
Dealing with bacteria and mold growth promotes a healthier home and prevents physical discomfort and disease. If you'd like to learn more about manageable solutions and improving the air quality in your home, contact Lozier Heating & Cooling. We’ve served homeowners in the Greater Des Moines area since 1906. Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).