Control Moisture and Mold

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(Hot Spot on stained ceiling tile)

Remember...“Water damaged tiles should be discarded”
While it is not certain that all water stained tiles necessarily harbor microbial growth, there is a good chance that they do.
The damaged tiles indicate a present or past problem. Generally, it is a good policy to replace tiles that are damaged to protect occupants. In addition, with such a policy, any sign of water damaged tiles is also a sign of an active moisture problem that should be investigated.

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(Hot Spot over moldy area)

Remember...“Plants should not be watered where spills can not be conveniently cleaned.”
Any moisture source can facilitate mold growth. In this case, watering the plant occasionally resulted in water dripping behind the file cabinet, where mold began to grow, damaging the wall and carpet.

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(Hotspot over window)

Remember...“Condensation should be prevented by increasing air flow, warming (e.g. insulating) the cold surface, or reducing relative humidity.”
Condensing water can drip onto the sill and other locations creating mold and rot.
Condensation on windows may be from poor weatherstripping, inadequate thermal properties of the window, high indoor humidity levels, or inadequate air flow.
If indoor relative humidity is below 60%, check the weatherstripping and thermal properties of the window, or try to improve the air flow around the window area.

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(Hot Spot Over pipe and water leak)

Remember...“Fix outside drainage problems or water leaks to protect the indoor environment.”
Poor drainage or leaking pipes outside will inevitably result in water damage and mold inside. This is especially true in basements and on the first floor.
Controlling water incursions is critical to controlling mold.