Most of us associate mold with lingering moisture, and we know that in warmer temperatures it can flourish. But, did you know that mold can grow just as easily in the cold?
The Beer Store outlets, when you think of it, consist largely of coolers – refrigeration units – with a small space for the retail end of the store. Recognizing that refrigerators and walk-in refrigeration units, being inherently moist, are also prone to mold infestation, the Beer Store has a regular program of thoroughly checking their outlets on a yearly schedule. That means shutting down the outlet while the inspection goes on – even if it’s the only Beer Store in a small town!
Your Basement Refrigerator
Many of us use the basement area for extra storage, including another fridge or freezer for foods. Basements are inherently damp and if you combine that with the moisture inside a refrigerator, you may be creating the ideal conditions for mold growth.
Some fungi, as a matter of fact, can actually grow best at temperatures at typical refrigerator temperatures of 5C or lower.
- Clean the refrigerator’s drip pan regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The drip pan is virtually always located on the bottom of the fridge and catches the condensation that takes the moisture from your defrost drain in the freezer outside where it can evaporate. In a cooler basement in particular, that moisture can linger and invite mold to grow.
- Check the door seals – if the fridge is not sealed properly, moisture will build up and mold will develop.
If your basement refrigerator is empty and in storage, it too can be a great place for mold to develop and accumulate, so before you close it up for good:
- Clean the interior thoroughly with baking soda and warm water
- Dry thoroughly
- Buy a few pairs of new cotton socks and fill them with baking soda. Place one in each compartment.
Mold… in Your Home?
The conditions that can help to create mold can be multiple and may involve things you don’t know about – like too much condensation around windows that doesn’t ever dry out. Sometimes the only hint you have that mold is present in your home is a persistent musty odour or unexplainable respiratory symptoms.
- Get help from the experts at MoldInspections.ca. Please call us for a hassle-free quote today.
MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and Global news, official supplier to HGTV’s Income Properties with Scott McGillivray and Leave It To Bryan and recommended by local contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.