2012 DISTRICT LESSON SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF HEALTHY HOUSING KEEP IT DRY

CECP CORE COMPETENCIES: HOUSING & ENVIRONMENT Cooperative Extension Curriculum Project: “The initial focus is curriculum for professional development competencies. The intent of the project is to increase the breadth and quality of training while using human and financial resources more efficiently.” These are just some essential concepts that apply to Keep it Dry. Housing maintenance and care Household cleaning Indoor air quality: General Indoor air quality: Mold and moisture

SEVEN STEPS TO A HEALTHY HOME 1.Keep it Dry 2.Keep it Clean 3.Keep it Safe 4.Keep it Well-Ventilated 5.Keep it Pest-free 6.Keep it Contaminant-free 7.Keep it Well-Maintained

WHY DO WE CARE? Moisture in the home can lead to biological growth (ex. mold and mildew). It can also damage your furnishings and home ! “Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds.” (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

In this order… Find the source of the moisture and fix it Dry the area out Discard damaged materials Clean what you can HOW DO I FIX A MOLD PROBLEM?

Slope and drainage STOP THE WATER FROM GETTING IN… Flashing and gutters

Roofs and windows Prevent water from entering your home through leaks in roofing systems Check for leaking windows STOP THE WATER FROM GETTING IN

Check interior plumbing for any leaking STOP THE WATER FROM GETTING IN

Moisture and mold Moisture can lead to mold. Mold can grow where you can’t see it. How do I find moisture?

ACTIVITY Be a moisture detective

Measures relative humidity Levels need to be between 30-60%; anything higher can lead to mold growth 30-50% is better HYGROMETER If you go to the store and ask for a hygrometer, they might not know what it is. Instead, ask for something to measure humidity inside the house.

Measures moisture content The meters that you have access to have prongs Simply hold the prongs against a surface or poke it and get a reading Scale is on the meter MOISTURE METER The SONIN model pictured here has an on/off switch. Turn it on to use it, off to save the battery

THANK YOU! Keep it Dry