While it's possible for mold to form within your home at any point during the year, the winter period is one that's of heightened risk here for many homes. Due to potentially greater quantities of moisture, plus certain areas of the home that sometimes don't get as much attention during this time of year, there may be greater risks of mold formation in your home during the cold season than most others.
At Airtime Heating & Cooling, we're happy to offer a wide range of HVAC solutions, from furnace and AC installation and repair to many areas of indoor air quality, including preventing mold formation. What is mold, why is it a threat to your air quality and health, and what are some areas that may be at risk, especially during the cold part of the year? We'll begin with these elements in our two-part blog series, and then part two will look at some specific tactics for preventing mold growth in your home through proper use of your HVAC system and related themes.
For those unaware, mold refers to a form of fungus that colonizes in very moist environments, much like the dark earth that covers a rainforest floor. While mold is naturally occurring, it can cause problems when growing out of control indoors or near your HVAC system.
Mold thrives in wet, moist areas and feeds off of organic material. While it grows naturally, sometimes in dark and moist places outdoors, you may find that an abundance of mold is due to a recent flood or leak nearby your home. Not only this, but certain areas – such as the kitchen – may produce an excess of moisture because we use them so often and don't always account for moisture deposits in certain areas.
Mold presents multiple risks in a home, both to the structure and to the health of those living in that home. First of all, mold is more than just an eyesore that ruins the look of a room. As a form fungus, it can grow quickly and eat away at carpeting and drywall, potentially weakening the structure of your home if left undiscovered for too long or not dealt with before mold spreads too far.
Perhaps more importantly, though, mold can lead to several significant health problems for you and your family in a home. While some types of mold are more likely to lead to specific issues, such as frequent sneezing or itchy eyes, when present at dangerous levels in the home they can take on much more serious forms that require medical attention when discovered.
Both during the winter and sometimes in other parts of the year, here are some areas where mold growth may be of higher risk:
In part two of our series, we'll go over some tips for preventing mold growth. For more on this theme, or to learn about any of our HVAC or air quality solutions, speak to the team at Airtime Heating & Cooling today.
