You wait all year for your vacation, a time to escape and finally relax. Nothing will ruin that feeling faster than stepping into your vacation home and discovering that it’s developed a mold problem. Steamatic of Red River Valley has helped many homeowners in this exact situation. So we’ve put this list to tell you how to prevent a vacation house from being musty. Find us in Fargo, ND for more info.
Symptoms and Signs of Mold
Mold often grows within walls, where it goes unnoticed for a long time. Learning how to recognize the signs will help you detect them earlier and address the problem promptly.
- Musty Odor: Mold has a musty or earthy smell. If you enter your vacation home and notice this smell, there’s a good chance mold has formed while you are away.
- Allergic Reactions: If you or a loved one beings to show respiratory issues or allergies, especially when it’s off season, the cause be mold. Unexplained sneezing, coughing, or itchy eyes could all be hints that mold is in the place.
- Water Damage: Mold forms when there’s excess moisture in the home. Water damage is the perfect opportunity for that moisture to form. If you see water stains or discoloration on your walls or ceilings, it could be concealing mold.
Tips to Prevent Mold While On Vacation
When you leave your home, it provides an opportunity for humidity to form in the house. The stagnant air does little to remove the resulting moisture. There are some ways to mitigate the potential for mold growth when your vacation home is unoccupied, however.
Run Your Air Conditioning
Keeping the AC running is one of the best ways to protect your vacation home from mold. An air conditioner not only prevents the air from stagnating but it doubles as a dehumidifier. Many people turn theirs off to save money, but leaving it on can help keep the house safe from mold. If you have a smart thermostat that you can control from your smartphone, a good practice would be to run your AC from time to time, even for just a few minutes. You can also have someone check on your vacation home as well.
Invest in a Dehumidifier
If your home is frequently humid, even with the AC running, a good dehumidifier for the worst offending areas can help regulate moisture levels and discourage mold growth. This is particularly true in areas like basements where there typically isn’t any air conditioning to help remove humidity.
Change Your Air Filters
Your AC and heating system rely on air filters to keep the air clean as they move about the house. Air can spread contaminates throughout the home that aid in mold growth. Make a habit of changing the air filters in your vacation home according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule.
Remove Any Laundry
Damp laundry is a perfect vehicle for mold growth. It’s easy to put off chores on your own vacation until the last minute. But if you’ll be leaving laundry behind, make sure that it’s been properly dried before you do.
Get a Property Inspection
You’d be surprised how many homes we inspect that have undetected cracks, leaks, or water damage. Getting a professional inspection to ensure your home is watertight is the best way to ensure mold doesn’t grow while you’re away. Like changing your air filters, this is also something that should be done regularly.
Steamatic of Red River Valley: Experts in Mustiness Prevention and Remediation
Now that you know how to prevent mold in the house, you should feel confident that you’ll return to a pleasant vacation home and not a nasty surprise. If you do find mold has grown, or if you want help inspecting the home, contact us today so that Steamatic of Red River Valley can make your vacation gets started on the right foot.
Featured Image: Tatevosian Yana / Shutterstock
