Transcript 2012 District Lesson

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
http://srpln.msstate.edu/cecp/resources/core_fcs.htm
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)
HOW DO I FIX A MOLD PROBLEM?
In this order…
• Find the source of the
moisture and fix it
• Dry the area out
• Discard damaged
materials
• Clean what you can
STOP THE WATER FROM GETTING IN…
Flashing and gutters
Slope and drainage
STOP THE WATER FROM GETTING IN
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
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
HYGROMETER
• Measures relative
humidity
• Levels need to be
between 30-60%;
anything higher can
lead to mold growth
• 30-50% is better
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.
MOISTURE METER
• 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
• The SONIN model pictured
here has an on/off switch.
• Turn it on to use it, off to save
the battery