4 Ways to Fight Mold and Mildew in the Bathroom
It is almost a certainty that there is no homeowner out there who would appreciate mold and mildew growth in their property, right? Aside from the potential health dangers, it is never fun dealing with the growth especially in your bathroom. Mold and mildew is associated with dampness, which means the most common areas of concerns aside from your bathroom plumbing is the attic, crawlspaces, and basements especially those that have poor drainage. How can you win the fight against mold and mildew? Here are 4 tips how.
Controlling Moisture
In a room where heat and water are common elements, controlling moisture can be extremely challenging to say the least. However, one of the best ways to control moisture in the bathroom is to make sure that there is ample air movement. How can you do this? Have a fan installed. Make sure that that fan is large enough for the size of your bathroom; meaning that it should be able to clear out the moisture in about 5 to 10 minutes after use.
Take note of the air exhausted by the fan, which is measured by cubic feet per minute. To ensure that you are getting the right fan capacity, measure the square footage of your bathroom and multiply it by 1.1. Match this value with the cfm volume of the fan that is normally found under the grille. Never get a fan with a lower capacity than what you need.
To increase the efficiency of this method, you can also install timers or humidity sensors to combat excess humidity that can lead to condensation and eventually mildew and rotting of inside walls. There are also humidity sensing fans that are designed to automatically activate once the moisture is detected to reach a certain level.
Respond Quickly
When it comes to fighting off mold and mildew, the ability to react quickly can be the difference between minor leak repairs or major bathroom renovations. A simple leak can allow several gallons of water to flood your home if left unattended. The easiest way to stop a leak is to turn off the associated shutoff valve; if you do not have one, it is time to call on a professional plumbing service to have one installed for all your plumbing fixtures.
For the meantime, you would have to turn off the main water supply valve, which means it cuts off the supply to your entire home. Turn on the faucet at the lowest portion of your home to allow the water to harmlessly flow down the drain instead of leaking through the pipes. Call a professional plumber immediately to repair the leak.
Delaying your actions like drying wet surfaces or drywalls can allow mold problems to develop. The longer the surfaces remain wet, the more costly the damage can become. Dry off everything immediately, especially while waiting for the plumber to come.
Surface Protection
Another thing to consider in the fight against mold and mildew in your bathroom is to protect surfaces, especially those that periodically become damp. These damp areas become the breeding ground; thus, when protected, you minimize the chance for mold and mildew to grow. In order to do this, look for paints that contain mildewcide; an ingredient reportedly effective in controlling molds on damp surfaces. There are already many paint brands that have this so head on out to your nearest home center.
Best Practices
Lastly, subscribing to the best or sensible practices at the very least will help you stop mold and mildew growth. For example, if you are going away for a long time, make sure that the main water valve is completely shut off. There are very few things that can be as frustrating and expensive as coming home to a flooded home. Investing in stainless steel hoses and frost-proof faucets for example would go a long way in protecting your home from mold and mildew.
At the end of the day, a successful campaign against mold and mildew in your bathroom would never be complete without the services of a professional plumbing service that can ensure the soundness of your home plumbing system. Call Scott English Plumbing today and start protecting your home!