Control the Temperature The ideal temperature is between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
The best way to avoid damp and mould is by keeping your room temperature and humidity at the optimum levels. Try to maintain a consistent room temperature of around 20 °C, and avoid letting it drop below 16 °C. The humidity should be between 30 and 60%, any higher and there is too much moisture in the air.
Mold needs water to grow; without water mold cannot grow. Mold also needs food, oxygen and a temperature between 40 degrees and 100 degrees F. Since mold decom- poses dead organic (once living) material it can grow on wood, the paper facing on gypsum board (drywall) and other materials made from wood.
Boiling water can kill mold outright (more on this in the next section), but you can't exactly boil your walls or carpet. However, you may be able to kill mold by heating it enough to dry it out. Most molds can be killed at temperatures of 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, but the effect isn't immediate.
If your home is susceptible to mold growth, set the thermostat at 72 degrees. While the best AC temperature to prevent mold growth is between 68 and 72 degrees, keeping it at the upper end of the range will give you mold-inhibiting results without the high price tag.
Your AC can control the temperature and humidity in your home, which can prevent mold growth. During the hot, humid summers, set your air conditioner between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. The relative humidity in your house should not exceed 50%.
The water in the air then condenses on colder surfaces: visible, for example, on the typical fogged windows in the car and in the home. But condensation also forms on exterior walls that are too cool and can increase the risk of moisture penetration and thus mold growth there.
Many people don't know that mold grows year-round, but it becomes more noticeable in the spring and summer. This is because mold loves moisture, and warm weather creates the perfect environment to grow. Here's what you need to know about mold season and how to keep mold at bay.
Keeping the air conditioner set at 78 degrees or lower prevents mold buildup in the summer. Even when leaving for a few days or vacation, don't set it above 80. A higher setting won't provide enough dehumidification from the cooling process to prevent spores from growing.
Most yeasts and molds are heat-sensitive and destroyed by heat treatments at temperatures of 140-160°F (60-71°C). Some molds make heat-resistant spores, however, and can survive heat treatments in pickled vegetable products. These molds, however, require oxygen to grow.
Molds require oxygen, but not light, for growth. Mold growth can continue indefinitely without light.
Sometimes, humidity or dampness (water vapor) in the air can supply enough moisture for mold growth. Indoor relative humidity (RH) should be kept below 60 percent -- ideally between 30 percent and 50 percent, if possible.
Many fungi grow well at temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which are also ideal temperatures for human comfort. In addition, as mentioned above, temperature gradients often produce the moisture needed for mold growth.
Mould will easily grow and spread if the right conditions are present. So, dehumidifiers don't kill mould, but they can help to prevent it from growing inside your home by reducing humidity. However, the best way to deal with it is to get rid of its source.
In hot and dry climates, mold is less likely to grow outdoors. It can, however, grow indoors. Any leaks throughout your home or moisture from appliances allow for mold growth. Bathrooms and kitchens tend to have a lot of moisture in them and can be conducive to mold growth.
The temperature in your home
Ideally your home should be heated between 18 to 21 degrees Celsius, but older people, babies and people who are less mobile may need it to be warmer.
In general, it's recommended to set your thermostat to 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. This may seem high compared to the freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but it'll help keep the interior of the floor and wall cavities – where your plumbing is often located – safely above freezing temperatures.
First of all, mold loves moisture and high temperatures. That's why mold season in the US is considered early spring to mid-fall. In the spring, the weather starts to warm up, and there is more moisture in the air. Midsummer is the peak time for mold growth.
Mold hates light. Other than moisture there's nothing mold loves more than dark places. An easy prevention against mold growth is opening your blinds and shades. If it's warm enough out, open the windows.
The optimal temperature to discourage mold growth is around 77-78 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, your AC will effectively remove moisture from the air, which is a key factor in mold prevention.
2. Preventing mold through heating. It makes sense that people want to save on heating cost, but one of the best mold prevention techniques is keeping your heating on. If you seriously want to avoid mold in your home then avoid rooms cooling completely.