If you're lucky enough to have a backyard or balcony, I'm sure summer is coming and your outdoor space is being used a lot. That's great! You just need to make sure that you don't accidentally bring mold into your home.
Why mold grows where indoor and outdoor spaces meet.
Mold can be a problem when you open any door to the outside while running the air conditioner. I often see this happening in homes with folding accordion glass panel doors leading outside.
Open these doors and let fresh air in seemingly harmless or convenient, but when you do, you'll also let excess heat and moisture into your cold home. Whenever there is a large temperature difference like this, too much water accumulates.
Mold is a living organism that requires two things to thrive: food sources (such as organic materials such as dust or insulation and gypsum boards) and water (leaks, spills, or any area with humidity above 60%). Windows, walls, and doors that have formed condensate provide both.
It also increases the chance of mold growing when humid outdoor air circulates at home for long periods of time.
While opening doors or large windows several times is unlikely to lead to toxic black mold, it may promote the growth of allergic mold species, commonly known as cyclomycin or spores, which are still environmental irritants and can be dangerous to use in large quantities.
How to prevent this problem.
If you plan to open doors and windows, it's better to turn off the air conditioner and turn on the fan than to mix cold air with hot air. This will prevent large temperature differences caused by hot and cold air mixing (and save you electricity bills!). ）。
Need to be clear that there is no harm in opening the window to breathe fresh air while turning off the air conditioning. Remember to close the doors and windows when you turn the air conditioner back on later.
Your air conditioner is like a large dehumidifier that adjusts the air and stabilizes it to your preferred comfort, eliminating any lingering moisture in the process.
Signs of mold that need attention this summer.
If you notice any mold around windows and door units, this may indicate a moisture problem that causes mold to grow. Or, if you see any "coffee-like stains" on the walls or ceilings that indicate water is damaged, that's a red flag.
Mold is a living organism that reproduces through spores, so once the spores in your home are abundant, once fresh food and water are found, they begin to grow into new colonies.
I always advise people to open the lid of the toilet tank and check the bottom. If there's mold there, it could mean you have mold somewhere in the house, which provides the spores you need to start stimulating growth in the toilet tank. If you do have a mold problem at home, it's a good idea to ask a professional to help you out.
Bottom line.
If you feel guilty about opening doors and windows while the air conditioning is running, get rid of the habit this summer. It will help you save energy, reduce the pressure on air conditioners, and prevent mold from forming where hot air and cold air meet.
