Humidity in your Space

5/9/2022 (Permalink)

If you suspect that your home has microbial growth, we suggest you call SERVPRO of Iowa City/Coralville.

With an increase in temperature and precipitation comes more humidity in the air, which may lead to rising moisture levels in your home or business. SERVPRO knows this can run the risk of microbial growth and wants you to be aware of the following places in your home that may be subject to microbial growth: 

Mold Behind Pillows and Furniture 

If you have your pillows close to/touching the wall and you notice a discolored black shade, this is an indicator that there is mold growth. There could be multiple factors causing microbial growth. Still, two simple suggestions to prevent this is to leave the pillows with a 3-4" air gap between the walls and cushions. Whereas the long-term solution could be purchasing a long-term, constant flow exhaust fan, such as the Panasonic WhisperGreen, which lowers the overall humidity levels in your home. 

Mold Growth in Dead Spots 

The way that air flows creates dead spots in certain spots of your home, leaving cold air in the corners of the room from the bottom to the ceiling. This is caused because airflow patterns are unable to make 90-degree turns. This cold air leads to condensation and, in return, creates perfect conditions for microbial growth. 

Growth on Furniture  

Suppose you have furniture lined up against a wall. In that case, you run the risk of making perfect microclimates that are the ideal conditions for mold growth. This type of mold growth only comes from homes with a relative humidity of 70% or higher. These conditions are created by the limited airflow. The cool exterior walls provide the condition, and the couch makes the perfect surface. 

Condensation on Window Frames/ Windowsills 

Let's say you are unsure how to tell if your home is naturally humid. One of the easiest ways to tell is when you have condensation on the window frames. This is common in homes with condensation collecting on single-pane aluminum windows.