Last Updated on February 8, 2016
The presence of mold in any home can be very disconcerting. In addition to making the home smell musty, there are some types of mold that can also cause illness particularly when inhaled by people with reduced immunity. These include children and the elderly, as well as those with chronic illnesses. To this end, the removal of mold in any home should be taken seriously.
The most effective way of doing this is by taking a step by step technical approach towards it. You will find that there are many products such as sprays that are usually billed as great mold removers. However, the most effective way is to simply consult a contractor who can then do the mold removal for you.
Once this is done, you may want to ensure that the problem never recurs. This involves getting rid of any environmental conditions that predispose to the growth of mold. One of the most important of these is too much humidity within the home. Some of the ways this can be dealt with include:
Foundation insulation
One of the commonest sources of too much moisture is through a leak in the home’s insulation. If this is the case in your home, you should consider having the foundation insulated to prevent this from happening. This is an extensive process that is best done by a contractor. In addition to reducing the amount of moisture in the home, insulation will also reduce the damage done by the moisture. One of the most difficult to deal with is foundation cracking, which can compromise the structural integrity of the entire house. Insulating the foundation is something that needs to be done only once in a lifetime, particularly if it’s done well.
Identifying and controlling leaks
The other common source of moisture is from leaks in plumbing. This usually occurs in rooms that are seldom used, such as in the darker corners of the basement. It’s easy to neglect these areas when you are doing plumbing in the home. However, once you start having to deal with a mold problem, it would be wise to call a contractor to check the entire plumbing system and fix any leaks that are present.
Once again, this is a solution that has many benefits which makes it worthwhile. In addition to reducing the risk of mold recurrence, it also cuts down on the risk of electrical fires or structural damage to the home. Walls that are exposed to too much water from plumbing leaks eventually crack and collapse under their own weight, making them a health hazard.
Pumping water from the basement
Basements can accumulate a lot of water particularly if the home is built very close to a water table. If you have recurrent flooding, it would be best to install a pump to get rid of the extra water in the basement. The pump should be of a rating that can handle the amount of water that usually floods into the basement, so that it’s kept dry as much as possible. It should also be installed by a professional contractor for more efficient operation.
Installing dehumidifiers
If no overt source of humidity is found, you can also install a dehumidifier. This is a device that will get rid of trace amounts of water from the atmosphere in your home, helping to keep it dry. The size of the dehumidifier should correspond to the size of the room it’s supposed to serve.
If you get your mold removal from a certified Toronto mold removal contractor, you are likely to get holistic services that will include the above and more. This way, you will never have to worry about having to deal with the same problem over and over again.