Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality

Now that winter is here most of us are trying to find ways to keep our heating bills down, but many people are unaware of the mold issues that can arise from trying to save money on heat.

Often I see people hanging heavy drapes or blankets over windows to block heat loss. While this does stop some heat, the moisture in the room goes right through the blanket and condenses on the cold surface of the window. This creates an ideal habitat for mold growth. A much better solution for window insulation are the plastic window film kits. The plastic stops the moisture from getting to the window, and generally the plastic will stay above the dew point temperature so little condensation will form.

I have also seen people detach the dryer hose from the outlet to keep the heat indoors. This practice leads to far too much humidity in the home, which will find a cold surface to condense on and lead to mold growth. It seems a shame to blow heat outdoors, but mold can cause serious health issues and can be difficult to eradicate.

If you would like more information on saving energy while improving indoor air call me at 475-2415 ext. 35 or stop by my office at Trust Lands, 27 Store Road.

What You Can Do About Mold

There is a lot of information on the Internet about mold, as well as a lot of misinformation. Mold is a symptom of too much moisture so in order to rid your home of it you need to stop the moisture at the source.

Mold around windows is common during winter due to condensation forming and flowing down the window. Clean up the mold with a light bleach solution and consider using a plastic film window insulation kit next winter. These kits are inexpensive and will help keep the surface temperature above the dew point so condensation will not form.

Basement floods can be a real problem, since mold can begin forming within 24 hours of the flood as long as there is moisture present. Anything absorbent such as rugs should be taken out and dried thoroughly, cardboard boxes and paper removed, and the basement needs to be dried completely.

If you have any questions regarding mold, flooding, or related topics I have more information available at my office at Trust Lands, or call me at 475-2415 ext. 35. I can also come out to your house to assess mold and moisture problems. Give me a call!