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How to Prevent Mold in Commercial Buildings

In most commercial buildings, a standard amount of mold is common and often does not pose a significant risk to anyone’s health. However, your mold problem can quickly become a significant disaster if these small mold patches persist and the source of the issue is left untreated.

As a property owner, it’s natural for you to worry about your tenants’ health and safety inside your building. In this blog, we discuss the factors that influence microbial growth in commercial buildings and share tips on how to prevent mold on your property.

Commercial Factors That Influence Microbial Growth

Mold needs three elements to grow: a nutrient source, warm temperatures, and adequate moisture. Of these three factors is moisture, and it’s the most critical as it is a good food source, depending on where it comes from.

In commercial buildings, several factors can help create the right conditions for mold to grow and affect the speed of microbial growth. These aspects of commercial properties include a building’s age, the amount of ventilation available, and the materials used for construction.

Although these three factors do not automatically indicate the presence of mold, they can still influence the likelihood and extent of microbial growth.

Building Age

Older buildings tend to have more exposure to the elements than newer ones, which means there is considerable wear and tear. Unless these buildings are subjected to regular maintenance, any sign of damage could make them more susceptible to mold.

Ventilation

Poor ventilation can lead to condensation due to the lack of air movement inside the building. This leads to a moisture buildup, which in turn, creates an environment conducive to mold. For this reason, commercial mold removal experts emphasize improving ventilation in closed spaces.

Building Materials

The type of building materials used during construction can also influence the growth of mold because of two things. First, certain materials like wood are sufficient nutrient sources for mold. Second, various construction materials are porous and can absorb moisture when exposed to rain, leaks, or condensation, making mold removal a challenge.

Tips on How To Prevent Mold in Commercial Buildings

Since most of the factors above are already present and inherent in the building, not much can be done in those aspects to prevent mold. Fortunately, there are other control methods that you can implement to prevent the growth of mold.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), moisture control is key to controlling mold. The agency also offers the following tips to prevent mold inside commercial buildings:

• Look for signs of leaking in the building and fix them immediately.
• Watch out for wet spots and condensation in different areas of the building. Locate the main source of moisture and correct the issue as soon as possible.
• Ensure all wet or damp spots are cleaned and dried as soon as possible.
• Increase the surface temperature inside the building to prevent condensation from forming. This can be done by improving ventilation, implementing ways to circulate air, and adding insulation.
• If there are any leaks, reduce the moisture levels in the air by repairing them, opening a window to increase ventilation, or using a dehumidifier.
• Keep drip pans from HVAC systems clean. Subject HVAC units to regular maintenance to ensure condensate flows properly and unobstructed.
• Moisture-generating and combustion appliances, such as dryers and stoves, have to be vented outside whenever possible.
• Maintain humidity levels inside the building, ideally between 30 to 50% relative humidity (RH). This can be done by installing humidifiers and dehumidifiers for greater control over indoor humidity levels.

Above all, if you’re already faced with a significant mold problem requiring professional mold removal, call the commercial mold removal experts right away to prevent further damage.

Eliminate Your Mold Problems With Commercial Mold Removal Experts From Minnetonka

Mold exposure can be detrimental to the health of everyone inside your commercial building — but it doesn’t have to reach that point. Based on the information provided above, mold can be prevented with regular building maintenance to eliminate the conditions that help mold grow.

However, in some cases, mold can go undetected until it poses a significant risk to everyone’s health. If you are faced with a similar problem or suspect that you have a mold problem on your hands, call the professional mold removal experts at Restoration 1 of Minnetonka. Our mold remediation experts work swiftly to locate the source of the issue and eliminate your mold problem before it becomes an outbreak. For the fast removal of mold, call Restoration 1 of Minnetonka immediately!