Specific Recommendations:

• Keep humidity levels as low as you can—no higher than 50%–all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. Bear in mind that humidity levels change over the course of a day with changes in the moisture in the air and the air temperature, so you will need to check the humidity levels more than once a day.
• Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months.
• Be sure the home has adequate ventilation, including exhaust fans.
• Add mold inhibitors to paints before application.
• Clean bathrooms with mold killing products.
• Do not carpet bathrooms and basements.
• Remove or replace previously soaked carpets and upholstery.

This crawlspace in Kenton,OH had a moisture problem, which then led to a mold problem.

If you have a crawlspace under your home it is generally a good idea to open these vents to allow outside air to circulate under the floor in summer to prevent the moisture buildup that encourages mildew and rot. In winter, when the air is drier, the vents are closed to reduce the chance that the pipes in the crawl space might freeze.

The customer's of this home went to Florida over the winter months. In the meantime a water line broke in the bathroom, leading to the mold that you see in this picture, from floor to ceiling.

This vacant property in Hardin county Ohio was unfortunately not being watched over the winter months, and due to the power being off led to the basement filling up with water from the rain/snow melt.

This is a prime example of how mold can occur, even from a small water problem that is not handled appropriately.

Even a small leak can lead to a large problem. In fact sometimes the small leaks are the ones that go unnoticed for longer periods of time, and do the most damage. Rotting wood, encouraging mold growth, deteriorating floor coverings and many other unwanted consequences.

This home that wasn't watched while it's owners were away for the winter quickly went from a simple water damage to a full blown mold remediation/tear out situation. This could have been avoided by winterizing the home and/or shutting off the water sources before leaving for an extended period of time.