How to Get Rid of Airborne Mold Spores

Is there a musty smell lingering in your home? Are you experiencing a constant runny nose or throat irritation? These are common symptoms of airborne allergens, specifically mold spores—a dangerous loiterer to have in your home. Fortunately, you can take steps to reduce their occurrence and stop their spread before they become a live-in roommate.

What Causes Mold Spores in the Air?

Mold naturally lives in our environment but specifically thrives and grows in damp places. A plethora of airborne mold spores in your home is certainly the result of some kind of moisture issue, such as:

• Roof or internal plumbing leaks
• Poor outdoor drainage
• Poor indoor air circulation
• High indoor humidity
• Improper ventilation
• Malfunctioning HVAC system

Related Topic: Catch the Culprits: Mold

How Long Do Mold Spores Stay in the Air?

Unfortunately, mold spores can remain airborne indefinitely, especially when mold is present, not fully removed, or disturbed in your home. And even if mold is not currently present in your home, mold spores can travel long distances—attaching to you or pets or entering through ventilation. Once inside, they can quickly spread and latch on in unattended damp areas.

Because there are so many opportunities for mold growth in your home between your HVAC systems, ventilation, plumbing, and even outdoor maintenance, regularly inspecting for mold is vital. Maintaining proper air circulation and inspecting air quality will also help to minimize the potential for lingering mold spores.

How to Get Rid of Mold Spores in Your House

As a natural and important aspect of our environment, mold spores cannot be fully eliminated from inside your home. However, they aren’t a health hazard until they begin to amply spread and grow into mold. That’s why if you have a mold spore issue, you likely have a moisture issue, an ideal environment for harmful amounts of mold to begin growing. So, to remove this hazard from your home, you’ll need to tackle the root of the problem as well.

To get rid of the majority of excess mold spores:

• Install an Air Purifier: Using an air purifier to remove mold spores in the air is one of the best ways to initially get the problem under control because they work by capturing and removing harmful pollutants in your home. However, you shouldn’t rely on this alone to fully eliminate spores when they can remain in filters, depending on the severity of the spore amount.
• Ventilate your home: Keep your home properly ventilated by allowing fresh air in occasionally and making sure that humid areas (kitchen, bathroom, basement, and attic) have proper fan ventilation.
• Replace HVAC filters with higher efficiency ones (HEPA): Unlike most HVAC filters, HEPA filters are designed to capture much smaller pollutants like mold spores and can be a much safer option for those who struggle with respiratory issues. However, because they more heavily restrict airflow, your system should be checked for compatibility.

To tackle the root of mold growth and prevent spores from spreading:

• Get a dehumidifier: It’s possible that despite proper ventilation, there is still a lot of natural humidity in your home. A great way to control this issue is with a dehumidifier. This will help keep your humidity levels at a controlled percentage.
• Inspect and clean your air ducts: Incorrect duct sizing or buildup from lack of cleaning can lead to trapped moisture and blockage. Get your ducts inspected, and schedule regular duct cleaning to avoid attracting mold.
• Inspect plumbing and your exterior for leaks: Plumbing leaks can be hard to spot if they’re located in less-visited or even hidden areas of your home—unattended they can lead to a lot of damage and mold growth. It’s also important to maintain the exterior for improper drainage or leaks that will surround your home and lead any mold growth to eventually enter and find other sources of moisture.

Related Topic: How to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Stop the Spread of Mold Spores with Expert Air Purification Services

The bottom line is that to deal with the spread of airborne mold spores; you need to address the root of the problem: excessive moisture. Doing so will remove the hazard of mold and create a more comfortable and efficient home environment. To get started, contact your local Aire Serv for mold spore control. Our Air Purification installation services can help reduce and control humidity and improve the indoor air quality in your home. Give us a call us, or request an appointment online today.