You may not think about your home’s plumbing all that often, after all it is mostly hidden behind your walls and under your loors. But ignoring your pipes for too long could have disastrous results. Even a small leak can lead to big problems, and we’d like to explain why.
Nipping Problems in the Bud
What is the easiest and cheapest way to solve a problem? Prevent it from happening in the first place. Leaks in your home can start small, but can grow bigger and bigger, potentially leaking gallons of water into your home. While there could be a flood danger, the more common danger from a leak comes from mold.
Mold grows out of moisture, and moisture from water. In a sort of symbiotic relationship, mold needs water to survive and thrive. This can’t happen when water is contained to your pipes, where it should be, and instead only becomes an issue once leaks occur. But how dangerous is mold?
The Dangers of Mold
Exposure to mold can have serious health consequences. While some people are more susceptible to its dangers than others, mold isn’t good for anyone. Mold exposure can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing and wheezing, eye irritation, or skin irritation. Inhaling mold exposed air has also been linked with upper respiratory tract symptoms. The bottom line is this, mold is bad and has no place in your home.
How Can I Prevent Mold?
Preventing mold can be easy, and compared to the difficulties of its removal, it is. There’s several things you can do to your home to help keep it mold free, here’s some of them:
- Keep your humidity levels as low as you can, no higher than 50%. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers can help do this,
- Ensure your home has necessary ventilation. Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom, and make sure your clothes dryer vents outside your home.
- Fix any leaks in your roof, walls, or pipes as soon as possible. If there’s no way for moisture to get in your home, then there’s no way for mold to grow in your home.
- Remove or replace any carpets that cannot be dried properly. A damp carpet, if left so, can quickly become a cesspool of mold.
- Many paints come with mold inhibitors which help prevent its growth. Make sure to check before you buy.
I Already Have Mold! What Do I Do?!?!
Don’t panic. Having mold in your home, while dangerous, is not the end of the world. The first thing you should do if you find mold in your home is contact a local Eldersburg plumber. Here at Michael Runk Plumbing and Heating, we’ve helped countless families over the years with their mold problems, and we’ve learned a thing or two. If you need help removing mold in your home, don’t hesitate. Give Michael Runk, your local Eldersburg plumber, a call today.