Looking for ways to prevent mold from spreading in your home or office? Read on to learn how mold grows and call your local mold remediation company if required. While moisture, mold, and mildew issues are normally reported during the hot, humid summer months, they may also wreak havoc in winters under normal conditions. Mold, in particular, is known to pollute the indoor air quality to a great extent. It’s one of the reasons why indoor environments happen to be two to five times more toxic than outdoor environments, as reported by the EPA. Preventing mold requires an in-depth understanding of what it needs to grow and spread everywhere. What Mold Needs to Grow Moisture: The most critical element that mold needs is moisture. Without it, there’s no way mold can gain any traction in a home. There are many sources of moisture and you need to identity the root cause if you really need to get rid of mold. For example, if mold invasion is the result of a pipe leak, you need to trace the root cause and get it fixed. Merely cleaning mold won’t help; the infestation will return. The best you can do to prevent mold is reduce the chances of moisture buildup on surfaces. After using the shower and sinks, dry them using a towel. You may also use mold-resistant paint, which is specifically produced to absorb moisture to prevent mold growth. Other than that, stay alert for any water intrusions. Mold Spores: Our homes are filled with countless tiny mold spores, which are invisible to the naked eye. These are underlying means through which mold spreads to other parts of your home. They’re like seeds sent out by plants for reproduction. These spores floating in the air inside and outside your home. If they land on a surface that meets the rest of the criteria for mold infestation, that is, moisture and some food source, they’ll trigger mold. Otherwise, they’ll die soon. To purify your indoor air quality from mold spores and prevent them from causing mold damage, install air purifiers or a commercial-grade system at home. Food Source: While moisture is most important, mold still needs a food source to grow. It feeds on wood, drywall, dust, vegetables, meat, and more. To avoid feeding mold, keep the kitchen counters and refrigerators free of food waste and limit eating activities to hard-flooring areas of your home (and clean them afterward). Also, don’t forget to regularly clean dust from surfaces. Warmth: It’s true that mold growth is fastest in temperatures over 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but any temperature above freezing can trigger a mold infestation. That’s the reason you won’t find mold in the freezer, but it may surface in a refrigerator. Again, staying vigilant about mold presence is the key. You obviously can’t shut your furnace to avoid mold issues, but pay particular attention to high-risk spots that may foster mold growth. Seek Profession Mold Damage Remediation While an understanding of how mold grows and following the tips discussed above should help prevent mold at your home, you’ll need to consider professional mold damage restoration if mold has already infested certain spaces. For effective mold damage remediation in Powhatan, reach out to STOP of Chesterfield VA at your earliest.