Mold and Moisture Damage? Out of Control Humidity’s the Culprit

Mold and moisture damage can be a huge issue for homeowners in Florida. By taking steps to prevent mold from taking hold, you can spare yourself the worry and work of getting rid of it. High humidity is a major culprit for mold growth, since it provides the conditions needed for mold to thrive and for moisture to condense on surfaces. Keeping the relative humidity of your home restricted to less than 60 percent during the summer is important to prevent mold and moisture damage.

Eliminating high humidity from your house may take several steps, as there likely will be many sources of moisture. Leaks in your home can be a major source, so it’s important to inspect your crawlspace, attic, and floors, ceilings and walls for signs of moisture signaling possible leaks. If you’re one of the small minority of Central Floridians with a basement, this is also a likely culprit for water leaks. Once you are sure that leaks are fixed, you should focus on steps to eliminate or minimize other sources of indoor moisture.

• Make sure to turn on exhaust fans when cooking or showering to help remove moisture from these high-humidity areas.
• Check that vents from dryers expel to the outside of your home, removing the moisture outside.
• Keep wet clothing or shoes outside to dry before bringing them into your home.
• Consider purchasing a whole-house humidifier for comprehensive moisture control, or portable room units to address isolated problems with mold and moisture damage.
• Your air conditioner or heat pump also should play a role in dehumidifying your home. Make sure that it’s set for humidity control, or consider upgrading if you have an older cooling system that doesn’t remove enough moisture from your indoor air.

Keeping your humidity levels under control in your home will not only prevent mold from growing, but it also will increase your comfort and help lower energy bills. We can help with more advice about preventing mold and moisture damage and any other areas related to your home comfort. Please contact us at Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions for more information. We’ve been helping Orlando area homeowners with their moisture and mold issues since 1969.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about mold and moisture damage and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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