The Number That Matters
Keep indoor relative humidity below about sixty percent. Above that, mold can establish on surfaces without any leak at all — ambient humidity alone is sufficient.
Buy an inexpensive hygrometer and actually look at it. Most homeowners have no idea what their indoor humidity is, and in this climate that number is the whole game.
Your AC Is a Dehumidifier
Air conditioning removes humidity by condensing it on the evaporator coil. A system that is oversized cools the air quickly and shuts off before removing much moisture — you get a cold clammy house.
Running the fan continuously can also re-evaporate moisture off a wet coil back into the house. Use AUTO rather than ON unless there is a specific reason otherwise.
The Maintenance That Prevents the Most Mold
- Flush the HVAC condensate line on a schedule. Clogged drains are the leading residential mold source in this climate.
- Change filters on time, correctly sized so air does not bypass around them
- Confirm bathroom exhaust fans vent outside, not into the attic — check this once and it pays for decades
- Run bath fans during showers and twenty minutes after; a timer switch makes it automatic
- Keep gutters clear and extend downspouts well away from the foundation
- Maintain grade sloping away from the house
- Replace washing machine supply hoses every few years before they burst
Ventilation and Air Movement
Use the range hood when cooking and confirm it vents outside rather than recirculating. Make sure the dryer vents outside and the duct is not crushed or lint-clogged.
Pull furniture a few inches off exterior walls and leave closet doors ajar on outside walls. Still air against a cool surface is where condensation happens.
The Vacancy Problem
This catches people constantly. A closed-up Katy home with the AC off will grow mold within weeks in summer. Vacation homes, rental turnovers, and homes on the market are all at risk.
Leave the system running at a reasonable setpoint rather than shutting it off. The electricity costs far less than remediation.
Catch Leaks Early
Put inexpensive leak detector pucks under sinks, behind the washing machine, and at the water heater. They cost very little and catch slow leaks months before you would otherwise notice.
Slow leaks cause more mold than dramatic ones, precisely because nobody finds them.
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