Tips For Preventing Garage Mold

Posted on: 15 September 2015

Your garage may be attached to your home, but it doesn't usually benefit from the HVAC system that keeps the rest of your house temperate and dry. Instead, the door is opened and closed regardless of the weather, leaving it open to the elements. Moisture can be the main enemy, resulting in mold and mildew growth on the floor, in the walls, or in the ceiling. The following tips can help you prevent mold before it becomes a major issue.

Tip #1: Seal the Doors

A good seal helps keep moisture out, which minimizes mold growth. Take the time to install weatherstripping along the bottom of the garage door. Then, inspect this strip annually to make sure that it isn't damaged. Next, install new weatherstripping around all access doors and windows in the garage. This includes the door between your home and the garage. Not only will this help minimize moisture, it will also improve the energy efficiency in your home.

Tip #2: Install a Dehumidifier

Even with good weatherstripping, moisture will likely end up in the garage when you pull your car in during a rain storm. You can counteract this by running a dehumidifier in the garage when the humidity is high or when the weather is wet. A simple portable dehumidifier is all it takes to keep your garage dry, or you can hook the garage into a whole house dehumidifying system if you live in a moist climate.

Tip #3: Install a Fan

Moving air combined with ventilation helps minimize moisture and inhibits mold growth. You can have a ventilation fan system added to your garage, or simply use a box fan and an open window to increase ventilation. Garage ventilation systems also serve another useful purpose – they ventilate fumes from woodworking or auto repair, which is useful if your garage doubles as a shop.

Tip #4: Avoid Trapped Moisture

Anything that lays on the concrete floor of a garage can trap moisture and cause mold. This means you don't want to lay down carpets or rugs. If you do use a rug, such as in a work area to cushion your feet, hang them up and off the floor when they aren't in use. Also, make sure work tables and other garage furnishings have legs that hold any bottom shelves slightly off the ground so air can circulate and dry out any moisture that collects below the furniture.

Tip #5: Act Quickly

Fast removal can keep mold from spreading if you act as soon as you notice it. Often, garage mold will first begin on the floor in areas that are prone to dampness, such as underneath a vehicle. If you notice mold on the concrete floor, quickly clean it up with a dilute bleach solution. The bleach will kill the mold. The same goes for any mold that you notice on beams or walls. If the problem is extensive, call for professional mold remediation by a company such as Commonwealth Moisture And Mold Specialists Llc so the problem doesn't spread into the main part of the home.

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