If you’re planning to spend the off-season inside or away from your New England vacation house or cottage, your home is most certainly prone to mold infestation. Regardless of where mold grows in your home, the result often comes from the change in weather and the area becoming vulnerable to humidity. Prepare your home for the off-season by following these four tips to keep mold out of your vacation house.
Contain Your Home’s Humidity
There are unpredictable times when you’re bound to experience different amounts of humidity throughout the day. The humidity source can range anywhere from shower steam to cooking on the stove. If you want to control these fumes or find a better way to mitigate your humidity stress, wipe down all the bathroom walls after you shower, the kitchen walls after you cook, or anything else that creates humidity in your home. Also, consider buying a dehumidifier to keep the levels contained.
Clean Your Home Regularly
Mold grows in many areas, and knowing the type of mold you have in your home can help you decide the best ways to get rid of it. Mold can grow from dirt, scum, and cooking oils. Once a mold spot has formed, you can scrub it away with a disinfectant wipe. When you clean your house frequently, you’ll prevent the onset of mold problems.
Home Temperature Needs Set
Mold grows in temperatures ranging between 77 and 86 degrees. During the summer, it’s essential to have an air conditioner or a row of fans running to keep spaces cool and deter mold. You can easily control a room’s temperature with a thermostat. When you set it, keep it below 77; a comfortable temperature to sit at is 62 degrees Fahrenheit.
Get Your Home Professionally Closed
If you aren’t visiting in the off-season, it’s a good idea to get one last inspection before heading back to your home state. If you close your home and leave water in drains, flooding can happen in attics or basements, leading to many mold issues. Inquire with a professional to properly close your home before you leave. A specialist can drain water from pipes for you. They’ll do a final inspection to ensure no damage or potential mold growth happens while you’re gone for the off-season.
Preventing mold is necessary for any vacation home, especially homes that reside in the great New England region of the US. You can easily protect your home by following our four tips to keep mold out of your vacation home so you can enjoy it for future seasons to come.