MOLD AND MILDEW
University Housing at Georgia State University is committed to providing a safe and healthy place for our students to live, learn and succeed. We do that by addressing concerns as quickly as possible and providing helpful information. Humidity can cause mold and mildew to develop in the residence halls/apartments. The combination of Atlanta’s high relative humidity and thermostats set incorrectly can cause the moisture to condense inside the residence halls and create an environment that can foster mold and mildew growth.
Mold and mildew are present everywhere in our environment, inside and outside. Together we can work to make sure the indoor air is within the acceptable standards for indoor air quality.
To help prevent the growth of mold and mildew in your hall, it is essential that you do the following:
- Report any water problems (leaks behind a toilet or under sinks, dripping faucets, wet carpet, leak from a ceiling, moisture under tiles, drips heard behind the air intake cover, etc.) immediately by submitting a Maintenance Request.
- If a bath exhaust fan is provided in your living space, be sure to turn the fan on when showering.
- Clean your space regularly, including your shower liner and the covers of your fans and vents.
- Never allow water to sit on soft surfaces (carpets, towels, sheets, etc.) for long periods of time.
- During the summer months never set thermostats below 72 degrees; during winter months never set thermostats above 68 degrees.
- Do not leave wet towels laying around.
- Do not prop exterior doors and keep windows closed.
- Do not open windows while heating or cooling units are operating. This will cause condensation and may contribute to mold growth.
Tips for Allergy Sufferers
Atlanta’s location, coupled with the abundance of trees in the city can cause issues for those sensitive to pollen and other allergens and even for some that may have never suffered from allergies before. If you experience sensitivity, as with all health concerns, please seek the assistance of Student Health Clinic and/or your own health care provider. Below are also some suggestions to help cope during the high pollen seasons in this area.
- If medication has been prescribed to reduce your sensitivity, follow the instructions of your doctor and/or medical personnel.
- Track the pollen count, and on the days that the count is “high,” try to stay indoors as much as possible.
- Keep windows and exterior doors closed to reduce the number of allergens entering your apartment or residence hall room.
- Vacuum and dust regularly to reduce the number of allergens that may have hitchhiked into your space on you or your roommate’s shoes or clothes. If you find you are extremely sensitive, you may want to invest in a HEPA Filter air purifier vacuum to capture as many allergens as possible.
- Avoid tossing your book bag or the clothes worn outside on your bed to prevent spreading allergens to your sleeping area.
- Consider showering and washing your hair before going to bed to also avoid introducing allergens to your bed linens.
- Additionally, if you remain highly sensitive to allergens, you may consider investing in an air purifier for your area to remove as many allergens as possible from the air.
It is natural to want to have the air tested when there is excess humidity in a room. There are no federal standards for mold and pollen in the air because mold, pollen and other airborne contaminants are always present in the air around us, inside and out. The goal of our trained University Housing Facilities staff is to inspect and find any possible source of moisture and contamination in the room that would cause issues in the room. If a source is found, staff will immediately take steps to remediate the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Molds are organisms that may be found indoors and outdoors. Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present.
- Molds are part of the natural environment and play an important role by breaking down and digesting organic material.
- The number of mold spores suspended in indoor and outdoor air fluctuates from season to season, day to day and even hour to hour.
- There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
- To grow indoors, mold needs moisture and organic materials, including paper, cloth, carpeting, plant material and soil.
- Common sources of water or moisture include building leaks, leaks in plumbing fixtures, high humidity or cold spots in a building (condensation).
- Warm and humid weather can be a factor indoors if windows and doors are left open or when air conditioning units are not appropriately set or operating properly.
- Some people are more sensitive to mold than others. Allergic reactions to mold are common and can produce symptoms including:
- Headache
- Sneezing or Runny nose
- Irritation of the eyes, skin, throat
- Mold exposure may cause or worsen asthma symptoms, hay fever or other allergies.
- Mold exposure may result in opportunistic infections in persons whose immune systems are weakened or suppressed.
- The first step to mold cleanup is to control the moisture problem. The source of the water, humidity or dampness must be identified and corrected.
- Mold can be cleaned and dried off hard surfaces with water and detergent.
- Porous materials with extensive mold growth may need to be discarded (e.g., drywall, carpeting, paper and ceiling tiles).
- All wet materials that can't be cleaned and dried thoroughly should be discarded.
- Mold testing is not recommended, nor is it required by any regulatory agency.
- Knowing the kinds of mold present does not change how you should respond to and clean up mold when it is visible. All mold is remediated the same way.
- Molds can be found anywhere, and mold levels vary widely, depending upon location, weather and time of day.
The key to preventing mold is moisture control. Without excessive moisture in your living space, mold cannot grow. Taking these steps may prevent mold in living spaces.
- Keep windows fully closed as much as possible to prevent heat, humidity and outdoor mold from entering the building. Do not leave the window open when you leave your rooms.
- Keep drapes open during the day if they are not needed for privacy or sleeping. This allows sunlight to enter the room and will help to prevent condensation and moisture from being trapped behind the curtain.
- Use a mid-range setting on temp control (68°-72°). Lowering the temperature of surfaces in the room will cause moisture to condense on windows and other hard surfaces in the room.
- Avoid taking long, hot and steamy showers and make sure that the exhaust fan is running.
- Hang up wet towels or clothing to dry.
- Wipe up any water spills immediately.
- Report any water problems (leaks behind a toilet or under sinks, dripping faucets, wet carpet, leak from a ceiling, moisture under tiles, drips heard behind the air intake cover, etc.) immediately by submitting a Maintenance Request.
Yes, and in every other building you normally occupy, including your home and outside, all the time. Mold spores are always present in outside air and indoor air, except in sterile environments such as certain laboratories and medical spaces.
No. Repeated inspections and testing have confirmed that there are no systemic water intrusion or mold problems in our halls.
- A Housing and Residence Life staff member will visit your room as soon as possible to assess the situation. In most cases, a staff member will respond the same day. When reports are submitted after hours or on the weekends, it may be the morning of the next business day before a staff member is able to respond. In these situations, please make your RA and Residence Hall Director aware of the situation so they can assist in determining if the situation requires immediate assistance.
- You can expect the following steps to take place:
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- Staff member will visually inspect the room to determine if the area of concern is mold.
- A university health & safety officer will be consulted for guidance if warranted following the initial inspection.
- If the area of concern is determined to be mold, staff will clean the location with cleaning solutions which are approved for mold remediation and assess the need for any other repairs.
- The staff member will work to identify the cause for the excess moisture in the room. If the mold is caused by a maintenance issue then the staff will work to correct the issue. If the mold is determined to be caused by environmental factors (AC set too cold, items stored next to AC unit, etc.), the resident will be instructed on what steps need to be completed to correct the situation.