How to Avoid Mold Growth in Your Rental
Mold is hazardous to your health or that of your tenants.
Not only is mold hazardous for your health or that of your tenants, it can also cause serious structural damage to a building, because it feeds on and breaks down organic matter. Therefore, when mold infests walls, insulation, or carpeting, the materials must be removed.
Unfortunately, it's impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores in your home, but because mold spores can't grow without moisture, reducing moisture in your home is the best way to prevent or eliminate mold growth.
If there is already mold growing in your home, it's important to clean up the mold and fix the problem causing dampness. If you clean up the mold but don't fix the problem, the mold will most likely return.
Tips for Reducing Moisture
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Keep humidity levels in your home as low as possible. Having air conditioning or a dehumidifier can help you keep the humidity level down. You can buy a meter to check your home’s humidity at a home improvement store. It's best to have less than 50% humidity at any time.
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Fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow. The ground should slope away from your house. If water is entering the house from the outside, it's important to locate where it is coming from immediately and look into the best way to perform waterproofing.
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Encourage your tenants to clean bathrooms with mold-killing products and not to leave wet towels on the floor.
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Periodically check for leaks around toilets and tubs and have them repaired if necessary.
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Use exhaust fans that vent outside your home in the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure your clothes dryer vents outside your home.
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Add mold inhibitors to paints before painting. You can buy mold inhibitors at paint and home improvement stores.
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Avoid having carpet in places like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture. In our experience, the less carpeting you have in a rental property the better. Carpets get stained, absorb smells, and are costly to replace.
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Check for leaks around the kitchen sink, refrigerator ice makers, and other sources of water.
We can help your property remain mold free.
What sets Owl Key PM aside from the rest, is the fact that our staff are Engineers and Tradesmen experienced in home renovations. Everything from leaks to broken appliances, we're known for addressing issues that arise at the properties we manage immediately.
We also pride ourselves on our routine home inspections. We do a thorough inspection so that we can recognize and address issues before they arise.
Contact us today for a free, no obligation quote.