by Lucy Hudson
Every home requires maintenance, and homes in warm, humid climates are no different, especially when it comes to mold. While studies don’t show that mold is more prevalent in waterfront homes than normal ones, studies do reveal that in any given home across the United States there could be one of thirty different types of mold present. Since fixing mold damage is a time and money-consuming project, it’s best to take preventative action before it gets out of hand. The great news is, however, is that it’s pretty easy to prevent as long as you’re mindful about it and put in a little effort.
Clean Regularly to Get Rid of Pollutants
While you probably clean your waterfront home regularly, if you aren’t doing it in the right way, you’ll miss a lot of the small, microscopic toxins that are floating or lying around. Mold is one of the most prevalent and dangerous of these toxins and can cause nasal and sinus congestion, a chronic cough, and even eye irritation. When scrubbing your walls, especially in damp areas like the laundry room or basement, you’ll want to use a non-ammonia cleaner or dishwashing soap and water to remove mold and other small spores that can cause respiratory problems. Using a HEPA vacuum cleaner or air cleaner is a good idea after washing any area of your home in order to remove any leftover mold spores floating around in the air.
Check Humidity Levels
Becaise most waterfront properties are situated in areas that are likely to be more hot and humid, you’ll probably already have a high-quality HVAC system you to cool your home. This is great, as cool air holds less moisture than warm air, and with the right A/C unit you can ensure your waterfront property is receiving dehumidified air. Industry professionals refer to this as exfiltration, and certain HVAC systems will provide you with better exfiltration abilities than others, as well as the ability to monitor the humidity levels in your home. If you live in a particularly humid waterfront area, it’s a good idea to invest in a smart humidity monitor that will alert you if the place gets too humid. Normally, these levels should be between 35% and 50%, but in really humid climates you might have to live with levels up to 55%.
Monitor Your Home Regularly
Preventing mold in a humid climate is something that you might always have to deal with, but it’s so easy to do that the myriad benefits of a waterfront property greatly outweigh that one small task. By properly cleaning your home regularly to avoid the buildup of dust and other pollutants, you can ensure that you’re not providing mold with an environment to thrive in. Investing in a humidity monitor and the right HVAC system will then help keep your property at the perfect temperature and humidity level to enjoy all of the stunning waterfront sunsets comfortably inside of your home.
I never knew that a non-ammonia cleaner will help you to prevent mold growth and its consequences on waterfront properties. My father is thinking about buying a vacation house, and I came across this article since he thinks that the best option is a waterfront property. I will let him know about your recommendations to keep an oceanfront property in good shape in case he chooses to go for it.
My parents are considering getting a lakefront house by the end of this July. It is nice to know that they will want to get a house that has an HVAC system that will help control the humidity levels in the house. That does seem like it would be smart for them to get an inspection done before purchasing a house near the water.
Thanks for the advice on how properly cleaning your home will stop mold from having anywhere to grow. My wife and I have always wanted to live near a source of water. If we do, I’ll be sure to clean it thoroughly every weekend so that mold can’t grow anywhere.
Great points on controlling the humidity of waterfront homes. I love that more people are talking about improving IAQ, and how humidity control plays a critical role in all of this. All that moisture in the air really does require constant cleaning and monitoring to keep your IAQ stable. On top of all your helpful points, I would add that a whole-home dehumidifier would be a great addition to waterfront homes.