Photo Credit: CHV-THSTAT by Creston
Mold in South Florida can be a very nasty issue to deal with, especially with the climate in South Florida that can be damp and muggy at times. There are many reasons why it happens, but preventing mold to begin with is top priority of many South Florida residents.
Recently, FPL featured a great article on the subject. I found this article so helpful, that I decided to write a blog post featuring excerpts from the article on how someone can use a humidistat to prevent mold.
As a Pompano Beach Remodeling Contractor, we discuss this issue very often. Many of our clients are Seasonal Residents in the Pompano Beach and Coconut Creek area. It is not uncommon for a seasonal resident to set the thermostat to 85 degrees while they are away. According to the energy expert from FPL, this is not so bad, if you also use a humdistat in your home in the early hours of each day.
Tips for South Florida Residents to prevent mold in their homes with the help of a humidistat:
- Setting your humidistat or dehumidifier -Set the controls of your humidistats and dehumidifiers to 58 percent RH to maintain acceptable humidity, since some humidistat sensors are inaccurate by as many as 10 percentage points.
- Better ways to control mold – If you don’t have a humidistat, another way to control mold when you’re away is by programming the A/C to run at 72 degrees for just two hours before sunrise and at 88 degrees the rest of the day.
- When you do not have a programmable thermostat - if you do not have a programmable thermostat, set the A/C at 77 degrees for condos or apartments and 80 degrees for single family homes and townhouses. (Remember to have the fan switch set to auto.)
- Best ways to control mold for seasonal Florida residents – If you live in Florida seasonally or leave for extended periods of time, the most economical way to prevent mold in a vacant home is by using stand-alone dehumidifiers instead of A/C. Use one for every 1,000 square feet. Prevent mold from developing in your vacant home by controlling the indoor relative humidity (RH). To manage RH, use a programmable thermostat to run your air conditioner at 72° for just two hours each morning before sunrise and at 88° the rest of the time. This will prevent mold by removing moisture from the air during the cooler hours when RH is highest and your A/C runs most efficiently.
- Proper home maintenance for South Florida residents to prevent mold – South Floridians should use preventative maintence in their homes in the fight againt mold. Repairing any leaks around doors, windows and in your A/C ductwork, which will help minimize the amount of moisture getting into your home.
Click on the following link to read more energy saving tips from FPL on effective ways to prevent mold in your home
