The best way to avoid mold is to prevent water damage in all its forms. That is a solution on “how to prevent mold in storage unit.”
We include more specific tips in this article, so be sure to read until the end!
Mold In Storage Units
The optimal humidity level indoors is between 30% and 50%, but with storage units that do not get ventilated much, these levels exceed the normal one. This would then lead to mold growth.
Here is an article talking about humidity levels and mold. Watching out for the moisture levels of your storage unit is necessary; otherwise, your belongings will suffer from fungi.
Causes Of Mold
Moisture and humidity
As mentioned earlier, moisture and humidity levels should be maintained. Otherwise, you will end up with mold growth.
High levels of moisture make an environment perfect for mold growth. It also makes it easier for molds to spread from one surface to another.
Dust and organic material
Mold needs three conditions, specifically, a food source, moisture, and oxygen to survive in a specific environment. There are several potential food sources for molds in a storage unit.
One of them is accumulated dust. Mold feeds on dust which helps it to grow and increase further.
Other sources of food for mold are the organic materials that are stored inside your storage unit. If left alone, the fungi would devastate all of your belongings.
Tips On Preventing Mold In A Storage Unit
1. Store your belongings properly
The ground houses moisture. Hence, if you think your terrain is prone to mold, put a platform to keep your belongings from being in contact with the dirt.
You can also opt to wrap them in a plastic sheet to keep them from being water-damaged as well.
2. Dry your items before storing
One damp item can ruin the other stored items. Mold spreads rapidly, going from one reserved item to another.
Moreover, one wet item would drastically affect the humidity level of the room. This affects the whole area, exposing the entire unit to possible mold growth.
Dry your items under the sun before storing them. Sun drying the items would kill mold spores on the object.
If you need more guidelines on preventing mold spores from spreading, here is an article on how to eradicate mold spores.
3. Monitor the humidity level of your storage unit
As mentioned above, humidity levels should not exceed 50%. Monitoring your humidity levels would help prevent sudden mold growth.
There are two ways you can check your storage unit’s humidity level. First, you can opt to have a professional do it for you.
Professionals would lessen the chances of mistakes in checking the humidity level. Moreover, they would give you recommendations on what to do next.
If you can handle it yourself, you can opt to install a relative humidity gauge instead of asking a professional for help. Both options are pricey, so carefully consider which you will choose.
After checking your humidity levels, do a visual check on the whole storage unit if the degrees are beyond the recommended range. Then, if there is mold damage, assess whether it is extensive or not.
Evaluating the mold damage is crucial because it will help you decide on mold removal. It will determine whether you will ask a professional for help or do it yourself.
Lastly, look into the cause of moisture. Mold removal is counterproductive if the root cause is not appropriately amended.
4. Inspect your storage unit
As mentioned above, if you notice your humidity levels exceed the recommended degree, then you have to look for mold growth. Inspecting your storage unit involves checking for mold growth and looking for causes of moisture.
Another thing to investigate in your storage unit is possible leaks. Look for holes and cracks, as they lead to water damage, resulting in mold growth.
No hole or crack is too small for water damage, so ensure to fix those properly and as soon as possible.
5. Install a vapor barrier
Outdoor moisture is another threat to your storage unit. To prevent outdoor moisture from invading your unit, you can install a vapor barrier.
Vapor barriers are flexible and can be installed even beneath the floors, which lessens the risk of ground moisture. You can buy a vapor barrier for your storage unit here.
6. Use a drying agent
Moisture is the biggest issue in mold prevention. Using a drying agent is one way to keep moisture at bay.
You can use silica gel or charcoal to keep your storage unit mold-free. Silicon gels can be placed in a cloth bag and hung in your unit.
Charcoal, on the other hand, has the additional advantage of eliminating odors. Just make sure that your charcoal does not stain your belongings when you’re using it.
7. Choose a suitable storage unit
Storage units are not built the same. Some units are of high quality and are moisture-resistant.
If your budget allows you, try to consider getting those units instead of standard ones.
Conclusion
We hope the various ways on how to prevent mold in storage unit are helpful to you. These are simplified tips that hopefully lead to action and to avoid mold contamination in storage units.