Summer is a great time to Tackle Mold

June kicks off a stretch of the hottest months of the year, especially in Southern states where heavy rain is also the norm. All that heat and moisture provide the perfect climate for mold to flourish, says Phil Kuczak, air-conditioning service and installation manager at Best Home Services in Naples, Florida.  Here are some ways you can stop mold before it starts.

There’s an easy trick you can use to keep mold at bay: Lower your thermostat. “Some homeowners try to save money by setting the thermostat at an unsafe high temperature, especially in high humidity areas,” Kuczak says. “The cost savings on the power bill could quickly be far outdone if you end up with a mold problem.”

Also avoid leaving your AC fan in the “on” position (instead of “auto”). This can cause rapid mold growth, especially in high-humidity regions. Here’s why: If your fan is running continuously, then any moisture that’s condensed on your AC’s evaporator coil during cooling doesn’t have a chance to drain off—and it can be blown back into your home.

Kuczak also cautions against trying to limit or increase airflow to certain rooms by shutting supply grills. That can cause condensation buildup, leading to mold growth around those grills and in the adjacent ceiling or wall.

Call in the pros: If you have a mold problem, expect to pay a small fortune for a pro to remove it. Homeadvisor.com reports that homeowners spend up to $3,200 on average for mold remediation.

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