How to Protect Your Garage Space Against Mold

Mold is often considered more of a nuisance than a real problem. But according to the National Institutes of Health mold in the home can cause a variety of health problems including bronchitis, asthma, wheezing and shortness of breath. Some molds can generate mycotoxins which are capable of producing chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) and other illnesses. And in some cases, inhaled mold can cause fungal pericarditis, a potentially fatal inflammation of the sac around the heart. In this post, the team at C&M overhead door company are going to look at ways you can keep your garage free from mold.

How to Protect Your Garage Space Against Mold

You won't find mold in the middle of the desert because mold needs a damp environment to grow. With that in mind, we present the following tips that will help keep your garage space dry and keep mold from gaining a foothold.

• Inspect the garage for any leaks: One of the most common causes of a damp garage is a leak in the roof or walls. Sometimes window frames allow moisture to seep in around them. And in other cases, a crack in the concrete slab can allow moisture to well up from below. A poorly aimed downspout on the home's exterior may also be directing water against the garage door or another weak point. Once you find any leak sources, fix them immediately.
• Check the weatherstripping on the garage door: As Loveland’s premier garage door installation company we see plenty of old doors with compromised weatherstripping. That’s important because while weatherstripping is not weatherproofing it is capable of stopping most rain and snow from blowing in around the edges of the door and causing mold problems. If your weatherstripping has seen better days call C&M.
• Check the roof: Oftentimes water gets into the garage through the roof. Maybe a branch landed on the garage roof during a high wind event and created a hole. Or maybe a shingle or roof tile was compromised by high winds. Or maybe the flashing around a vent or a skylight has been compromised and water is leaking in that way. If you are not comfortable inspecting the roof yourself, hire a professional.
• Add a vent: Humidity rises when moisture is present and there is no avenue for it to escape. Once enough moisture accumulates in the garage it provides a breeding ground for mold. If your garage has a ventilation fan and you’ve simply never used it, get in the habit of turning it on. If you don’t have a ventilation fan in your garage, have one installed. You may also want to use a dehumidifier periodically to lower the humidity in the garage.
• Remove any standing water: This may seem obvious but we need to talk about it anyway. When you’re inspecting the garage for leaks you should also look for any areas of standing water. It only takes a small amount of pooling water to lay out the welcome mat for mold. So don’t dismiss a small puddle in the corner as being insignificant. Instead, mop it up and allow that area to dry out. After removing the water keep an eye on that part of the floor to make sure it doesn’t return.
• Check the drain in the garage floor: Almost all garages have a drain that allows water to be diverted out and away from the space. This is crucial to maintaining a healthy environment inside the garage and to ensure the long-term viability of the structure. When performing an overhead door installation we sometimes notice the drain in the garage is either clogged with dirt and debris or else something has been placed on top of the drain preventing it from doing its job properly.
• Store things in plastic totes: Cardboard boxes were invented in the late 19^th century and ever since then homeowners have been using them to store things in the garage. While we’ve all done it the fact is we shouldn’t. Not if we want to keep mold out of our garages. Any material that absorbs moisture - like cardboard - is susceptible to becoming home to a mold colony. Oftentimes the mold is hidden out of sight on the bottom of the box only to be revealed when we finally lift the box to move it. Instead of using cardboard boxes use plastic totes. Yeah, they’re a little more expensive, but they’ll last forever and help keep the mold at bay.
• Install a new garage door: An old garage door with loose or cracked panels that jangles and clangs its way up and down the tracks is going to allow all kinds of moisture into the garage even when it's fully closed. The best way to resolve that problem is to talk to the garage door sales team at C&M Garage Doors. We’ll hook you up with a great deal on a new garage door that will solve the problem and help return your garage to a state of blissfully low humidity.

For Expert Garage Door Installation in Loveland Call C&M

Mold is no laughing matter. If you are to make sure your garage is not a health hazard to those who use it you need to solve those issues that allow moisture to penetrate and collect inside. Take the above tips to heart and you should be well on your way to a drier garage. And for expert garage door installation and repair, call C&M today.