Mold and Mildew

• Water seeping through the roof, foundation or through spaces around the windows and doors.
• Dampness caused by a leaking pipe.
• Water wetting the walls and floor from a shower or a bathtub.
• Increased indoor humidity caused by routine activities like showering, drying clothes and cooking.

• If the source of the problem is a leak, fix it or have it fixed at once.
• If the leak is in the roof employ a roofing contractor to fix it.
• Hire a plumber to fix a leak in the toilet, bathtub, shower or water pipe.
• If the mold has caused extensive damage to the structure of the house, hire a person who specializes in mold repairing.
• Once all repairs are done dry the area thoroughly.
• Check levels of indoor humidity and if it is higher than 30% to 50% then reduce it.
• Cover the soil floor of the crawlspace under the house, with plastic to stop moisture from the soil adding to humidity of your house.
• If the soil is wet use fans to dry the soil.
• Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms to control humidity.
• All vent fans should be connected directly outdoors and not to the attic.
• The vent from your clothes dryer should be connected directly outdoors.
• Check all ducts and replace damaged ones periodically.
• Clean ducts annually.
• Air-conditioning drain lines must be clean for proper drainage.
• Ask a heating and cooling contractor to inspect both heating and cooling systems to ensure that they are removing humidity.
• Seal air leaks in ducts to prevent increase in levels of humidity.

• After heavy rains if water stands on the floor of the basement, this is probably because there is a leak in the foundation.
• Ensure that the downspout runoff is directed away from the foundation.
• The ground around the house should slope downwards away from the foundation.
• Make sure that the sump pump is working properly.
• In case the basement has a dirt floor it should be covered with plastic to reduce water vapor from permeating through the soil.
• Use dehumidifier in the basement when it is extremely humid to reduce precipitation on the walls.
• Seal the basement properly so that humid outdoor air does not enter it.