Received a mold risk alert? Mold can turn into a costly problem if left unchecked. Act quickly to protect your unit, and your guests’ or tenants’ health.
How we calculate mold risk
Mold risk is calculated by analyzing the past week's hourly temperature and humidity data. If you have received a mold risk alert, the climate conditions in that room are favorable for mold growth.
A mold risk alert doesn't always mean that mold is present in the unit, just that the conditions support mold growth.
If you want to receive mold risk alerts, make sure indoor climate monitoring is turned on.
When you get an alert
Mold risk is checked automatically once a week for each sensor. The result is shown as no risk, elevated risk or significant risk.
When a sensor moves from no risk to elevated or significant risk, Minut adds an alert to the sensor, records the event on the unit's timeline, and sends a push notification and an email to users who have mold risk notifications turned on.
When the sensor goes back to no risk, the alert is removed and you get an email saying the risk has cleared.
New sensors, or sensors that were offline for part of the week, may show Analyzing until there is a full week of data. A sensor also shows Analyzing if its last mold risk calculation is more than 14 days old.
How to decrease mold risk
Mold is more likely to grow in humid areas with poor ventilation. To decrease mold risk, you can take the following steps:
1.Check your unit for mold
Minut alerts you when there’s a risk of mold growth in your unit, so the very first step should be checking your unit for mold.
Inspect walls, ceilings, and other hidden areas (like under the sinks or behind the curtains).
If you find mold, clean it with vinegar or detergent. There are many mold removal products on the market, so check what’s available in your area. You can also hire a professional to help.
2.Keep humidity within 30% to 50%
Review the humidity graph for the affected area in the Minut app. If the humidity is often above 60%, mold is more likely to grow there. To keep high humidity in check, you can:
Install dehumidifiers.
Improve ventilation by installing exhaust fans.
Air out the unit at every turnover. You can also leave a note for your guests, reminding them to open windows regularly and report any leaks or damp spots.
3.Check for water leaks and HVAC malfunctions
Sometimes, high humidity can be caused by leaks or the HVAC system not functioning properly.
Check the walls, ceilings, and floors for signs of water damage. If you spot a leaky roof, pipe, or faucet, fix it immediately.
Review the area around windows and doors to see if water might be getting in that way.
Inspect the HVAC system, air duct, filters, and gutters to make sure they’re clean and working properly.
4.Insulate the unit
Poor insulation causes condensation on cold surfaces (e.g. windows), which makes mold growth near those areas more likely.
Consider upgrading your insulation to prevent excessive moisture in your unit (and, as a bonus, you’ll save on energy bills, as better insulation means less energy used to heat up/cool down the unit).
Install double-glazed windows.
5.Invest in mold-resistant materials and filters
The previous steps should help you keep humidity within a healthy range. However, if you’d like to go one step further, you can:
Apply mold-resistant drywall, paint, and insulation.
Install HEPA filters to catch mold spores. They help, but they don't replace controlling moisture.
These steps should help you keep your unit mold-free. Because mold risk is calculated from the previous seven days of data, it can take up to a week for improvements to show in the mold risk reading and on the humidity graph in the Minut app.
We advise you to keep an eye on mold risk to prevent the problem from popping up again. This way, you can avoid costly maintenance and ensure a great guest experience.
Keep in mind that Minut cannot be used to confirm the presence of mold and the health and safety conditions of your unit, only that the conditions support mold growth. It reflects the overall conditions in the room and can't detect mold hidden behind furniture, under carpets or inside walls.