According to the Louisiana Ag Center: “The climate in Louisiana is ideal to promote mold growth in houses.”
All molds require some form of moisture to grow. Relative humidity over 50% allows mold to become problematic in many indoor cases. Mold spreads very easily through any HVAC system and can cause a wide range of allergic symptoms including:
- Headaches
- Chronic sinus infections
- Fatigue
- Eye irritation
- Skin rashes
- Chronic coughing
To prevent mold growth, homeowners and property owners should:
- Quickly fix water leaks and stop water from going into homes and buildings.
- Fully dry wet building materials furnishings and carpets within 48 hours of getting wet, if possible.
- Make sure that heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) systems are always running, to keep the right amount of air flowing inside of the building.
- Keep indoor relative air humidity below 60% (ideally, between 30% and 50%). Good airflow and dehumidifiers help to keep humidity low.
- Check roofs, ceilings, walls, floors, and carpets for water leaks, mold growth, or musty odors.
- Don’t let water from sprinklers hit buildings or homes.
- Routinely replace air conditioner filters and clean drip pans.
- Make sure that stoves/ovens, bathroons, and clothes dryers are vented to the outside of the home, if possible.
Please note – if you are buying or selling a home, real estate agents must disclose any known “large” defects or future defects in the property. According to Act 308 of the 2003 Legislative Session (R.S 9:3196-9:3199), a seller of residential property in Louisiana must provide a Property Disclosure Statement, which should include information on previous or current mold problems. If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, it is especially important that you have a professional inspect the HVAC system to ensure you are not buying mold problems.
If you are concerned about mold in your home or a home you are considering buying, give us a call to arrange an inspection of the HVAC system. We can determine if mold is present and help you take the next steps to remove the mold and stop it from coming back, whether is is thoroughly cleaning your duct work, installing a whole-home dehumidifier to keep moisture levels low or high quality filtration that improves air flow and capture more airborne particles.
