Healthy Air Fact or Fiction

Mold is only found in older homes.

False – under the right conditions, mold can grow in any home, regardless of when it was built. In fact, because building practices have changed over the years, many of the newer homes have a bigger problem with mold than the older ones.

I don’t see any mold, so I must not have it.

False – unless you have had flooding in your home, you may never see the mold that is there. Mold likes to grow inside wall cavities and in areas that are hard to detect. One good way to know if you have mold is to use your nose – if you can smell a musty odor, you probably have mold in your home.

If fresh air is good for me, it must be good for my home.

True – Fresh air exchange is essential for your home. Adding fresh air will also dilute volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and reduce levels of carbon monoxide and radon. However, bringing in moist, unfiltered fresh air will increase the humidity in the home and bring in particulates such as pollen. Check out our line of DVA products that can bring the healthiest fresh air possible into your home.

I can take care of the mold in my home by myself.

True and False – The EPA states that with proper precautions, homeowners can safely treat up to ten square feet of mold on their own. However, most people are unaware of the risks and do not take proper precautions when cleaning mold. Mold spores can be extremely dangerous and inhaling them or getting them on your skin can cause a lot of problems. Removing moldy building materials from your home can spread the spores throughout the home, too. If you plan on treating the mold in your home by yourself, we recommend going to the EPA website and reading up on their recommendations first.

The best treatment for mold is bleach.

False – Bleach will turn it white, but it does not kill mold. The best treatment for mold is prevention. Mold needs two things to grow: a food source and moisture. If the humidity levels in your home are kept between 40%-50%, mold cannot continue to grow.

I’ve never had any water problems, so I know I don’t have a mold problem.

False – While flooding presents very obvious mold growth, excess humidity and moisture migration from the ground can cause mold to grow in areas that you may not see, resulting in an unhealthy breathing environment.

I know there is a little mold in the basement, but it doesn’t affect me because I don’t go down there.

False – Every area that is connected to your living space affects your breathing environment. This includes basements, attics and garages. Air is exchanged between these areas and mycotoxins from mold can migrate through floors and walls to mix with the air in your home.