It’s fairly common for people to struggle with mold growth on window sills, due to the increased levels of moisture by windows. Mold can cause many different problems, from triggering allergies, causing lung issues, and creating extensive damage to your window sills. Left alone, mold growth on window sills can get so bad that it necessitates the installation of entirely new windows. Here’s what you need to know about how you can prevent mold growth on window sills, from what causes it, to how to remove it, to what can be done to stave it off. Let’s get into it!
What Causes Mold Growth On Window Sills?
Mold requires three conditions along with oxygen and the right food source (like your window sills) in order to grow: moisture, darkness, and warmth. That’s why mold is more prevalent in bathrooms and basements than in spaces like upper level bedrooms or living rooms. It’s also why mold growth on window sills tends to be a bigger problem in the colder months than during the hot summer months, as there’s moisture, less sunlight, and you have your heating system running.
Mold growth on window sills is typically easy to distinguish, as it’s usually a different color from your window sills, and can be many different colors from black to pink to green and more. Sometimes, it can blend in more, depending on what color your window sills are.
Mold growth on window sills is typically caused by 2 primary issues: condensation and improper installation or damage to your windows. It’s easy for water to gather around your window sills, especially in areas like your bathrooms or your kitchen. Leaky windows, either as the result of improper installation or damage or age, can also allow moisture into your home, which allows mold growth on window sills to occur.
How To Remove Mold Growth On Window Sills
If you have mold growth on your window sills, you can either try to remove it yourself or hire a professional to come out and clear it away. It’s best to hire a professional who has the safety equipment and tools necessary in order to remove mold growth without causing the mold to spread further through your home or creating health problems that may occur if you breathe in the spores.
How To Prevent Mold Growth On Window Sills
There are many different steps that you can take in order to prevent mold growth on window sills. The key to preventing mold growth on window sills is to ensure that you create an environment mold won’t want to grow in.
Some of the ways that you can do this include:
- Circulating air through your home through using fans, as this reduces moisture in the air and helps to prevent condensation from forming on your window sills.
- Using dehumidifiers to reduce the moisture in your home, which is especially important if you live somewhere that has regular moisture problems and high humidity.
- Turning down your humidifier can help reduce your mold problems. You want to ensure that you’re not adding too much moisture to your home.
- Adding fans to high moisture areas of your home that lead outside of your home, such as your bathrooms and your kitchen. These don’t blow air around your home, but direct the moist air outside.
- Keeping your ceiling vents open as much as possible, as this helps with air circulation and humidity reduction.
- Frequently cleaning your windows, both inside and outside.
- Ensuring that you use those fans that you have in your bathrooms and kitchens whenever you are showering or cooking.
- Wiping off any condensation that you notice on your windows as soon as you notice it.
- Adding caulking around your windows, as this will seal any leaks and prevent any future leaking.
- Checking your windows for leaks and condensation. If you routinely have mold growth on your window sills, it could be because your windows aren’t sealed properly and are allowing excessive moisture into your home.
How Replacement Windows Help Prevent Mold Growth On Your Window Sills
A common culprit for mold growth on your window sills is leaky windows. This can happen due to them either not being properly installed, because of damages, or because of simple age-related deterioration. Having replacement windows installed will prevent water from infiltrating your home, which lessens interior humidity and makes it harder for mold to grow on your window sills. This is especially true if you have chronic mold problems on your window sills.
Do You Need Replacement Windows?
Peak Windows manufactures, sells, and installs high quality replacement windows. Our replacement windows will seal your home, keeping mold spores from entering and the moisture levels down. Contact us today to learn more about our replacement windows or to receive an estimate.