What Is Indoor Humidity and What Does It Have to Do With Mold in Your Washington, D.C. Home?

Where Mold Growth Might Be Found in Washington, D.C. Homes

Humidity isn’t found only outdoors during the summer months. Humidity is also inside your Washington, D.C. home — it’s what fogs up your bathroom mirror when you take a shower, for example. Specifically, humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. Mold needs wet conditions to grow and spread. Therefore, an unhealthy level of indoor humidity is a significant factor in indoor mold growth.

The key to mold control within your Washington, D.C. home is controlling the level of indoor humidity and moisture within your home. Indoor humidity levels should be around 30 to 60 percent. To keep a healthy humidity level in your home, vent bathrooms, clothes dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside, use exhaust fans when you cook and employ the use of dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture from the air.

Molds are a natural part of the environment. Found both outdoors and indoors, molds are formed when airborne mold spores burst, land on an accommodating surface, and multiply. To grow and multiply, molds feed off oxygen, adequate temperature, and such nutrients as fabrics, wood, dust, and sugars. Furthermore, molds are attracted to moisture, which is why many molds tend to grow in warm, damp, and humid areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens.

However, given the right conditions, indoor molds can grow on nearly any surface, including the following:

• Foam pillows
• Refrigerator cooling coils and gaskets
• Air conditioner units
• Washers and dryers
• Garbage cans
• Carpets
• Wallboard and sheetrock
• Drapes and curtains
• Clothing
• Paper and cardboard
• Ceiling tiles
• Ductwork
• Paper
• Paint

For more information about maintaining healthy indoor humidity levels and protecting your home against mold growth, contact Envirotex Environmental Services. Serving Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia homeowners, Envirotex Environmental Services has completed hundreds of mold inspections and asbestos inspections and solutions including mold removal and mold remediation throughout homes located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

About Envriotex Environmental Services

Established in Northern Virginia in 2000, Envirotex Environmental Services was founded on military service. While serving his country, the company's owner Mr. Freeman gained vast knowledge and experience in the environmental services field. His expertise in air monitoring and hazardous materials testing prepared him for his post-military career.