Tips to Prevent Mold Growth in Your Home

At Steri Mobile, we’ve helped countless homeowners deal with mold problems that could have been avoided with the right knowledge and maintenance. Mold exposure is dangerous because it can make you sick by causing respiratory problems, allergic reactions and other negative health effects.

The main thing mold needs to grow is moisture, which means that any water infiltration can cause mold. What’s more, our humid summers and cold winters create perfect conditions for humidity problems, which also increase the risk of mold. By taking proactive steps, you can prevent mold growth and protect your home.

If you’re a homeowner, I suggest you read on to learn a little more about how to prevent mold growth in your home through simple preventive actions.

Quick Links

• Getting a Handle on Indoor Humidity
• Stopping Moisture at Its Source
• Room-by-Room Prevention Guide
• In Conclusion
• When to Call the Professionals?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Getting a Handle on Indoor Humidity

Your indoor relative humidity should be below 60%, ideally between 30-50%. Any higher, and you’re creating a mold paradise. In our climate, this can be tricky to maintain, but it’s not impossible. Managing indoor humidity is one of the most effective ways to prevent mold growth.

We recommend:

• Using dehumidifiers in problem areas (basements are usually the worst)
• Running bathroom fans for 30 minutes after showers
• Installing a digital humidity meter (they cost about $20-30 at any hardware store)
• Using your air conditioner during humid summer months

Stopping Moisture at Its Source

The key to preventing mold growth is to catch moisture problems early. Based on experience as mold remediators, we know that most serious mold problems begin with small, overlooked water sources. Whether it’s a tiny plumbing leak, a cracked foundation, or a damaged roof, these seemingly minor issues can create perfect conditions for mold to thrive.

Bathrooms

Your bathroom is practically asking for mold problems. Here’s what works to prevent mold growth in your bathroom:

• Run the fan during and after showers
• Keep a squeegee handy to wipe down shower walls
• Leave the shower curtain spread out to dry

The bathroom is where we see some of the most stubborn mold problems. Think about it: you’ve got high humidity, warm temperatures, and lots of surfaces where water can sit. I always tell our clients that bathroom ventilation is non-negotiable. If your bathroom fan sounds weak or doesn’t clear steam quickly, replace it. We recommend a fan rated for at least 50 CFM (cubic feet per minute) for a typical bathroom. Also, check your shower caulking monthly; even tiny gaps can let water seep into your walls, creating hidden mold problems that might take months to notice.

Kitchens

In your home, you should always:

• Run your range hood when cooking
• Check under your sink monthly
• Clean your garbage disposal and drain it regularly
• Wipe up spills immediately
• Use mold-resistant caulk around sinks and backsplashes
• Check the connections on your refrigerator if it is equipped with a water or ice dispenser

Kitchens are tricky because they generate so much moisture through everyday activities. Cooking alone can add 2-3 litres of moisture to your air daily. That’s why proper ventilation is crucial. Make sure your range hood vents outside (not just through a filter).

Also, check the seal around your sink regularly; often, mold grows under sink rims where water has been seeping through worn-out caulking. And don’t forget about that cabinet under the sink. Place a water leak detector there for early warning of any plumbing issues.

Basements

Basement mold is one of the most common problems along with mold in the attic. Here, prevention is key:

• Keep items off basement floors (use shelves)
• Run a dehumidifier
• Check walls regularly for seepage
• Don’t store cardboard boxes directly on concrete
• Check for water pooling around your foundation after rain

Your basement is naturally prone to moisture problems because it’s underground and usually cooler than the rest of your house. This creates perfect conditions for condensation. We recommend keeping your basement heated to within 5°C of your main floor temperature to minimize condensation risk. 

If you’re finishing your basement, make sure you do it according to the current construction standards. We’ve often had to tear down finished basements because of mold hidden behind poorly installed walls. Always get help from a professional before finishing your basement.

After a flood, you need to act quickly. If you have water under raised floors or behind walls, you need to address the problem within the next 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.

Laundry Rooms

Simple habits make a big difference in laundry rooms:

• Clean your clothes dryer vent every 6 months
• Check hoses for leaks
• Clean your washing machine gasket monthly
• Install a water leak detector

Laundry rooms combine all the risk factors for mold: water, warmth, and often poor ventilation. An average load of laundry can release over 2 litres of water into the air through evaporation. If your laundry room feels stuffy or the walls get damp during laundry cycles, you need better ventilation. Consider installing a dedicated exhaust fan. It’s much cheaper than dealing with a mold problem later. Also, those flexible dryer ducts? Replace them every couple of years. They can develop tiny holes that leak warm, moist air into your walls.

Attics

Attic mold can go unnoticed for years. We recommend:

• Checking for proper ventilation
• Ensuring bathroom and kitchen fans vent outside (not into the attic)
• Looking for roof leaks after storms
• Maintaining proper insulation
• Checking and clearing blocked soffits regularly

Let’s talk about soffits 

Blocked soffits are an issue we see all too often. Your soffits are those vented panels under your eaves, and they’re essential for proper attic ventilation. When they get blocked by insulation, leaves, or even bird nests, your attic can’t “breathe.” This trapped moisture leads to mold growth, especially during our cold winters when warm house air meets your cold roof. 

We recommend checking your soffits every fall and spring. If you can’t see daylight through your soffit vents from inside your attic, they’re probably blocked and need cleaning.

Exterior

Don’t forget about outside factors:

• Clean gutters twice a year
• Ensure downspouts direct water away from your foundation
• Grade soil to slope away from your house
• Keep trees trimmed back from your roof
• Check your property’s drainage system regularly

The outside of your home is your first line of defense against moisture problems. One clogged gutter can pour hundreds of litres of water exactly where you don’t want it, right against your foundation. This is especially true in older neighborhoods where houses are close together, and trees are mature. Consider installing gutter guards if you have lots of trees nearby. They’re not perfect, but they can significantly reduce how often you need to clean your gutters.

In Conclusion

Mold problems can have devastating effects not only on properties and homeowners’ wallets but also on the health of their occupants. As the old adage says, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By following these guidelines for humidity and moisture control, leak prevention, and room-by-room maintenance, you can effectively prevent mold growth and protect your biggest investment and your family’s health. While these steps may seem like extra work, trust me – they’re nothing compared to the headache and expense associated with major mold remediation.

When to Call the Professionals?

While prevention is ideal, sometimes you need expert help. If you spot any of these signs below, call us for a mold inspection:

• Visible mold growth larger than 10 square feet
• Musty odours that won’t go away
• Water stains on walls or ceilings
• Recent flooding or major leaks
• Persistent respiratory symptoms
• After any water damage that wasn’t dried within 24-48 hours

Mold remediation is not a task that can be tackled alone if the problem is significant. Professional mold remediation can completely solve the problem and prevent it from happening again. At Steri Mobile, we are more than certified mold remediation experts. We can also inspect your property for the presence of mold, identify its cause and recommend measures to address the problem and prevent it from happening again.

Have questions about mold in your home? We’re happy to help. Reach out to us. Our mission? Keeping homes in Montreal and the West Island healthy and mold-free.

Frequently Asked Questions