Mold can cause a variety of mild to severe problems. Anyone in the family is at risk especially the elderly, infants, and children. It can trigger allergic reactions and cause respiratory illnesses to those with a compromised immune system.
Because of the potential harm mold can cause, it’s so important to take preventative measures to ensure your home is mold-free. Due to our warm, humid climate, Hawaiian homes are more prone to mold outbreaks.
Why Hawaiian Homes Are At-Risk for Mold Growth
When the humidity in Hawaii can range between 51 and 81 percent, mold growth in your home is a possible threat. Mold spores can reproduce and thrive when humidity levels reach 70 percent and higher, a danger zone for local residents.
How Mold Works
You may think that keeping up with housework will keep you in the mold-safe zone. But, even your brand-new, squeaky clean home is at risk. Microscopic mold spores live and exist everywhere. If these spores find a way to a moist area and organic material (which is their food source), entire mold colonies can grow. To best protect your home, you want to prevent creating the “ideal” environment in which mold thrives. The best way to do this is by controlling the temperature and humidity in your home.
How AC Can Help Prevent Mold Growth
Fortunately, there is an easy way to protect your home from dangerous levels of mold growth. A properly running air conditioner can help you to keep your home cooled to at least 74 degrees or lower, which results in a decreased level of moisture. When moisture levels are low, your home is much less likely to become a habitable environment for harmful mold spores. What is important to remember is that cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air. Therefore, it’s best to keep your house cool.
The Benefit of Continuous AC Use
It’s often a habit to shut off all lights when we leave for a day at work. Many Hawaiian residents shut off their air conditioning, as well. But what you may not yet know is that a dark, undisturbed, and warm house creates the perfect environment for mold to grow. Mold can also grow incredibly fast, forming large colonies with a day or two. Running your air conditioner unit when you leave for extended periods is an excellent way to ensure a dry, safe, and mold-free living space.
Safety & Comfort in Hawaiian Homes
Everyone wants their home to be safe and comfortable. With the pressures of mold in Hawaii, it can be stressful to maintain those two aspects. That is why taking preventative measures by using a functioning air conditioning unit makes for an excellent mold-free home action plan. Whether you are at home and relaxing for the day, or leaving to visit family for the week, it’s best to keep your AC unit running to ensure the safest living space for you and your family.
Some ductless mini-split AC systems have a “dry mode”, which is a setting to help dehumidify your home. This mode runs on a low setting.
