How To Prevent Mold Growth in Your Rental Unit

1/20/2020 (Permalink)

Mold damage in a Mount Prospect, IL apartment

How To Prevent Mold Growth in Your Rental Unit

While owning a rental home in Mount Prospect, IL, may provide you with an additional source of income, it can also mean additional responsibilities. You will need to engage in all sorts of building maintenance, which also includes mold prevention. While the assistance of mold cleanup specialists can be helpful, you can prevent the extra expense by enacting the following practices.

Control Water and Humidity

Water damage and high humidity in general are the key instigators of most mold contamination cases, since mold spores are everywhere and need water to feed. Reduce excessive water by ensuring the plumbing system functions well and looking for signs of malfunction.

• Puddles by toilets and sinks
• Water shortages
• Irregular water activity
• Stained or soft drywall
  

If you or a tenant see any signs of plumbing issues, call a professional. The sooner the problem is resolved, the more you can mitigate potential damage and prevent mold growth.

Regulate the HVAC System

The HVAC system provides valuable heating and cooling throughout the building. However, it can also thwart your mold prevention plans. Even though proper ventilation stops moisture from leading to mold development, it can also distribute mold spores everywhere, resulting in massive spread and damage throughout the entire building. Control the temperature to decrease ventilation cycles, thus preventing additional spore travel.

Mind the Tenants' Plants

Another major source of mold is any plant life maintained by the tenants in the rental unit. The moisture and soil inherent in small gardens and even potted plants can invite mold in the rental unit. You have the authority to forbid plants inside the apartment and avoid the risk. If you are not that strict, you can recommend anti-mold measures such as combining Taheebo tea with regular plant water, which can discourage mold.
The upkeep of the rental units is one of your major responsibilities as a property owner or manager. Mold prevention tactics are important to keep your property intact and your tenants happy.