How do Dehumidifiers Help in Mold Control?

When you think of humidity, it probably stirs up memories of sultry summers and stuffy camping trips. In fact, humidity is rarely in the conversation when it comes to home comfort. However, it’s a genuine concern that affects nearly every aspect of your home, from family health to property damage. So, if you’ve never considered the importance of maintaining the ideal moisture and relative humidity levels in your house, it’s time to start now, as this is the starting point of mold growth.

A dehumidifier can significantly help reduce the excess moisture and humidity problems at home and inhibit the conditions for mold growth. However, to wholly eliminate mold, we must first ascertain the category of mold damage and then choose the right professional equipment for mold remediation.

Mold is a form of fungus dreaded by households and can grow both indoors and outdoors. It can be a toxic and dangerous living substance that multiplies in particular conditions. There are several reasons not to want mold in your home. Besides the obvious truth that it’s unpleasant to see and smell, mold can also cause a variety of health issues as well as damage to your property.

Molds produce spores that circulate by floating around in the air and typically thrive in moist, dark environments where temperatures are slightly on the warmer end, ranging from 50°F to 80°F (~ 10°C – 26°C). 

It is crucial to recognize mold in its initial stage and deal with it immediately to avoid expensive restoration and mold remediation services. Unfortunately, in many cases, mold growth is so widespread and often ignored to the point that the average homeowner cannot correctly control and eliminate it themselves.

In such cases, homeowners need the aid of professionals who have the experience, equipment, and tools required to assess and prevent the damage and stop mold growth before it causes any further damage to human health and the property. At Drying Equipment, we offer the most modern range of professional equipment rentals to help homeowners control or eliminate mold growth and other moisture-related issues.

DEHUMIDIFIERS & MOLD – WHAT IS THE CONNECTION?

High levels of dampness and humidity are the most common reasons for mold growth indoors, so if you want to reduce the chances of mold growth in your home, controlling humidity and moisture levels with a commercial dehumidifier is the most common strategy. The key is to get the relative humidity level within the ideal range; 30%-50%.

A dehumidifier is an equipment that removes excess humidity and moisture from the air. A dehumidifier’s primary function is to reduce relative humidity levels in the air as well as remove water, moisture, condensation, and humidity from the air or any surface.

Mold needs certain conditions to multiply and grow. Water, dampness, moisture, and warmth are the conditions that favor mold growth. By reversing dampness and removing moisture from the air, dehumidifiers can significantly control the chances of mold growth in a home. When mold is unable to get all the proper conditions that it needs to survive, such as high levels of humidity, moisture, dampness, water, and a warm environment, the chances of mold growth are minimal.

This is where the role of a dehumidifier comes into play; the equipment heavily attacks the conditions favorable for mold growth and slows down the mold growth process. Of course, dehumidifiers cannot wholly eliminate and prevent mold growth on their own, and they are used as a precautionary measure to control mold growth as opposed to a preventive measure.

DO DEHUMIDIFIERS REALLY HELP IN MOLD CONTROL?

Unfortunately, dehumidifiers cannot completely eliminate or kill mold.

At Drying Equipment, we offer commercial dehumidifiers that remove excess humidity and moisture from the air and other surfaces. First, however, let’s get to the most basic question – does a dehumidifier help in controlling mold? Simply put, the answer is no; dehumidifiers don’t have the capacity to kill or eliminate mold.

As we already know, mold can grow anywhere, indoors or outdoors, and it spreads by reproducing spores into the air. Those spores then land on surfaces, and if there are proper conditions in their favor, such as moisture, food, warmth, and dampness, the mold spores will continue to multiply and grow.

(Source: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/black-mold.htm)

On the other hand, dehumidifiers help remove moisture from the air, but they can’t actually kill mold spores or active mold growing on surfaces. Thus, they are highly effective in attacking the conditions for mold growth. Dehumidifiers can help in mold control by not allowing the mold to multiply but cannot independently kill mold spores. However, using dehumidifiers with other professional equipment such as Air Scrubber with HEPA filter can help prevent mold in the home.

OTHER EQUIPMENT TO ATTACK MOLD GROWTH AT HOME – AIR SCRUBBERS USING HEPA FILTER

At Drying Equipment, we also offer professional Air scrubber rentals, which is an essential equipment in preventing and eliminating mold, but they serve a different purpose. A dehumidifier works by making the external environment less welcoming to mold; i.e., by attacking the mold’s living conditions, such as removing moisture and humidity, a dehumidifier reduces the chances of mold growth.

On the other hand, an air scrubber attacks the mold spores in the air and removes them, making it harder for mold to create new colonies and multiply.

(Source: https://airscrubberhq.com/air-scrubbers-remove-mold-air/) 

HEPA filters are one of the most crucial tools for eliminating mold. These filters that have a mesh-like fabric can trap some of the tiniest particles floating in the air, resulting in purer and mold-free air throughout your home.

HEPA filters are built to meet the efficiency rating of 99.97 percent against 0.3 microns in size aerosol particles. Mold spores can vary tremendously in size, but the average size range is between 4 microns and 20 microns.

This means that even the most minuscule mold spores fall well within the HEPA specification range, allowing the HEPA filter to effectively trap the mold spores that pass through them and eliminate further mold growth. Because the HEPA filter traps the spores and, therefore, the spores cannot multiply and create new colonies, the chances of mold growth are reduced considerably.

OTHER WAYS TO PREVENT MOLD GROWTH – SOME PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

Mold growth at homes is often due to negligence until prevention is no longer an option because mold spores have multiplied considerably. The most effective way to control mold at home is by maintaining the level of relative humidity. Besides using a dehumidifier, there are other ways to reduce humidity.

Ventilation is vital and an effective way to reduce excess moisture at home. If there is excess moisture and wetness in the house caused by internal sources, such as seepage or spills, open the windows and let the fresh air flow in. Moreover, use fans to increase air circulation and significantly reduce the chances of mold growth.

Consistent and immediate cleaning of liquid spills and wetness is crucial. If liquid spills linger, they can eventually become sources of moisture for mold. In extreme cases, a dehumidifier may be helpful in completely drying out the spill and ensuring that the moisture and humidity levels are on track.

REDUCE YOUR CHANCES OF MOLD GROWTH AT HOME – BROWSE OUR RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT 

At Drying Equipment, we use the latest technologies to deliver excellence in the performance of our equipment rentals. Browse our selection of high-performance equipment such as Dehumidifiers, Air Scrubbers using HEPA Filters, Air Movers, and fans to combat all stages of mold recovery. Visit our website for more information and easy booking for all rental equipment – https://dryingequipment.ca