10 Steps to Prevent Mold Growth in Florida

Florida is notoriously humid year round, even more so in these summer months. All that humidity makes it very easy for mold to take over your home. Indoor mold is a serious health concern for Florida residents.

Here are 10 tips to prevent mold growth in your Florida home:

1. Use adequate ventilation or your air conditioner year-round to keep the humidity levels inside your house below 60%.

2. Do not hang wet towels or clothes to dry indoors.

3. Use a digital hygrometer to test humidity levels inside each room of your house. Record these levels in a log book to diagnose problem areas.

4. Clean air conditioning ducts every three months to get rid of accumulated dust particles.

5. Install HEPA filters inside air conditioner intakes.

6. Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner and mop tile floors daily to remove mold spores and dust.

7. Test each room in your home for airborne mold spores annually.

8. Use your nose. If you smell mold, there is mold growing somewhere, whether it is visible or not.

9. Inspect hidden areas of your home routinely for water leaks, water damage and mold growth.

10. Monitor residents' health. Chronic coughing, sneezing, headaches, skin rashes and breathing disorders can all be a sign of mold in the home.