Are you suffering from allergy symptoms that you can't explain? Your itchy, watery eyes, skin rashes and breathing troubles might not have anything to do with seasonal allergens. Instead, your home may have a problem with mold.

Mold occurs whenever excess moisture builds up on materials that are conducive to its growth –  such as unfinished wood – and where temperatures are warm. Sometimes, mold can be highly visible, but it can also grow in hard-to-reach places.

While certain types of mold, such as black mold, can pose serious health problems, other varieties are milder but no less bothersome. If you are allergic to mold, you don't want it anywhere near your home.

Here are some tips for preventing mold growth:

• Don't let anything stay damp: Whether you spilled water or forgot to close the windows during a rainstorm, don't let surfaces in your home stay wet, especially if they are porous. Mold only needs a couple of days to grow.
• Run an exhaust fan during showers: If your bathroom gets steamy during hot showers, you're making it easier for mold to grow. Running a fan improves air flow and prevents humidity levels from getting too high. Remember to leave the fan on for a minute or too after you get out, just to make sure the air clears.
• Check your plumbing and fix leaks: Even a small leak is enough to set off mold growth. Check your pipes frequently and address any problems as soon as you find them. If you have spare plastic containers, you may want to place these under problematic pipes. They'll collect any liquid and prevent it from seeping into porous surfaces below the pipe.
• Install a dehumidifier: Basements have a tendency to get damp, and are often the first place where homeowners find mold growth. A dehumidifier can control this problem.
• Open your windows: This is especially true on cool, dry days. One of the easiest ways to deter mold is to maintain steady air circulation. If you need to move furniture to ensure that air can move around easier, go right ahead.

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