Summer in Florida is sunshine, beach days, outdoor concerts, heavy humidity and hot, hot, hot! We Floridians rely on the air conditioning inside our homes to give us relief from the intense heat and humidity outdoors. So if the air conditioner fails and the humidity rises to oppressive levels inside, it must be taken care of immediately, not only for comfort, but to avoid quick, concentrated mold growth.

As is the unfortunate case for many homeowners in Florida with broken air conditioners, a condo owner in Fort Lauderdale, Florida was in desperate need of mold remediation after his ac failed. Upon arrival, the technicians with Joe Taylor Restoration discovered extremely elevated moisture levels and visible microbial growth on the ceilings, furniture and clothing in the residence. It was necessary to clean all of the items in the home as well as the HVAC system, including the ducts, vents, air handler, etc. The situation was a mess, but the certified mold technicians at Joe Taylor Restoration were able to clean up and restore the condo, ridding the property of dangerous bacteria, and restoring the environment to its pre-mold condition.

Humidity and Mold

Allowing any kind of moisture into your Florida home creates the right conditions for mold to grow. Taking the following actions will help keep the moisture levels low:

• Increase air movement inside by running the air conditioning and ceiling fans. Air circulation helps dry up standing water and creates a cooling wind-chill effect to keep you comfortable and the humidity levels in check. If the air conditioning breaks, get it repaired immediately.
• Run the bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans when you shower and cook. These activities produce a lot of humidity that you don’t want building up inside your home.
• Keep the windows closed when the humidity level is higher than the ideal 30 to 45 percent. The goal is to keep the humidity of your home below 60 percent; you can use a humidity meter to measure the level.
• Check for water leaks that could be contributing to higher indoor humidity. Look in easy-to-reach spots such as under the bathroom and kitchen sinks, behind toilets and in unfinished spaces. If you notice a leak anywhere in your home, make sure to clean it up quickly and repair the problem. Serious water damage should be handled by a professional.
• Run a whole-house dehumidifier. Air conditioners remove some humidity, but Florida’s muggy climate may need an extra boost. A whole-house dehumidifier runs independently of the air conditioner so you can operate it alone on mild days or in conjunction with the A/C to boost the equipment’s moisture-removing abilities. A dehumidifier allows you to program the humidity level you want so the machine runs when it’s needed and turns off when the ideal home humidity is reached.

A mold problem will not go away on its own. The longer you wait to address the issue, the more mold spores can spread, making the situation progressively worse and becoming more expensive to clean up and more dangerous for people and pets. Joe Taylor Restoration works with over 60 insurance carriers in Florida and will give you an accurate estimate, allowing you to make an informed decision with the help of your insurance agent if necessary. If you are a Floridian dealing with humidity and mold, look no further than the experts at Joe Taylor Restoration.

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave