House Mold Prevention Basics

Household mold is a serious problem for homeowners in the Long Island area. Excess mold is a grave health concern and it can also damage your house and furnishings.To keep mold at bay, there are some simple things you can do before hose mold takes over:

  • Inspect your home from top to bottom once or twice per year. Look for damp areas and water stains and make a to do list.
  • Fix everything you have found asap, whether is a quick fix, like a dripping faucet needing a new washer or a roof leak that requires some time and effort to find the source of the problem. Allowing a problem to build can cost you lots more money and time later on.
  • Set up a schedule to maintain your home with special attention to problem spots you have found.
  • Make sure that water is kept away from your home’s foundation with adequate and regularly cleaned and repaired gutters.
  • Cover any crawl spaces with a heavy plastic moisture barrier between the house and the ground.
  • Point sprinklers away from the home.
  • Keep shrubbery trimmed and clear of the foundation as well.
  • Use an exhaust fan when showering and cooking.
  • Insulate exposed pipes to prevent condensation from forming. Don’t over cool your home for the same reason.
  • Carpeting in the basement can trap moisture, so think about another decorating choice if possible.
  • Vent combustion heaters outdoors.
  • Keep air circulating behind and around furniture and curtains by eliminating crowding, especially against the walls and windows.
  • Use a dehumidifier as needed.
  • Learn more about house mold from the Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Contact you local HVAC contractor with any questions about mold or for help removing it.

The experienced professionals at T.F. O’Brien cooling and heating have served Long Island home owners for more than 75 years. We’re happy to provide expert advice about house mold prevention or remediation. We provide reliable, complete estimates for any HVAC work needed on your home and will present you with options and recommendations. Visit our website for information about this and other home comfort topics or contact us.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).   For more information about house mold and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

T.F. O’Brien services the Long Island, New York area.  To get started, get a quote from us or check out our special offers.