In addition to using less than ideal building materials, mold growth can be increased due to the way a property is designed, constructed, and maintained. These man-made environments and conditions can lead to excess dampness and moisture that encourages mold growth. Many of these can be prevented by better design and construction, or regular maintenance.
Some of the common causes of mold due to man-made processes are:
- man-made building construction factors such as hot spots, condensation, poor ventilation, inadequate insulation
- poor construction design and engineering
- inadequate or unbalanced heating
Some prevention and control tips include:
- Properly ventilate attics and crawl spaces. Avoid sealing crawlspace if possible to allow air to exit.
- Install programmable exhaust fans in attic.
- If indoor air is particularly humid, running the heater (for a short time) with doors and windows open will make the air drier and force humid air outside.
- Use storm windows to control temperature of windows to discourage condensation.
- Keep interior doors open so that air flows from room to room.
- Encourage airflow inside the home. Don’t place furniture immediately against walls.
- Use a hygrometer to measure humidity inside the home. If humidity exceeds 50% do not use humidifiers.
- Improve caulking and weather-stripping around doors and windows.