Mold prevention tips are very relevant to today’s landlords. Contamination of a rental property almost always requires professional mold remediation services to make the residence healthy and habitable for tenants again. Also, in recent years, owners of rental properties have been held liable for mold-related illness in civil cases. Tenants also bear some responsibility for eliminating indoor conditions that foster mold growth. For owners and onsite landlords, however, here are four mold prevention tips to help you fulfill your obligation to keep the property mold-free.
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Maintain the building envelope. Moisture is the primary ingredient that triggers active toxic mold growth. Moisture affecting the indoor environment often originates outdoors. Whether it’s rain dripping into the attic through roof leaks, or cracks and gaps in the structure that allow excess outdoor humidity to infiltrate indoors, regular roof upkeep as well as proper air-sealing of the walls, doors and windows, helps keep the living environment mold-free.- Stay on top of plumbing issues. Inside the house, no plumbing leaks—even inconspicuous pinholes or drippy faucets—should be considered “normal” and allowed to persist. Minor leaks you can actually see in aging water supply lines are also often happening in areas you can’t see—like the attic or crawl space, prime locations for hidden mold growth.
- Exhaust humid rooms. Bathrooms and kitchens often harbor excess humidity from steamy showers and cooking. Exhaust fans ducted all the way to the outdoors remove humid air that feeds mold growth. Invest in energy-efficient fans with timer switches to run for a limited time, then shut off automatically.
- Maintain the HVAC system. The air conditioner, in particular, can either be an ally in preventing mold contamination—or another cause of it. A properly functioning A/C helps keep indoor humidity low, discouraging the growth of mold. Make sure the system gets an annual check-up, including inspecting the indoor evaporator coil and air handler drip pan for mold growth. Mold contamination in these components is frequently dispersed through the ductwork into all living spaces in the house.
Maintain the building envelope. Moisture is the primary ingredient that triggers active toxic mold growth. Moisture affecting the indoor environment often originates outdoors. Whether it’s rain dripping into the attic through roof leaks, or cracks and gaps in the structure that allow excess outdoor humidity to infiltrate indoors, regular roof upkeep as well as proper air-sealing of the walls, doors and windows, helps keep the living environment mold-free.Rental property owners looking for more mold prevention tips can contact the mold remediation specialists at Rytech, Inc.
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