Home Design

(MS) - Although homeowners have known for years that mold and mildew can often cause unseen damage in the home, little research has been done to determine what conditions actually encourage the growth of these organisms.

Most people are aware that sustained high humidity can encourage mold growth. But what causes sustained high humidity in a home? To answer this question regarding vent-free supplemental gas heating products, the Vent-Free Gas Products Alliance of the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA) decided to find out.

It's an important question for many American homeowners. Since 1980, more than 12 million American homes have relied on vent-free gas space heaters, fireplaces, logs, inserts and stoves for supplemental heating. These products, which operate on natural gas or propane, are selling throughout the country at a rate of 1.25 million units every year.

The Vent-Free Gas Products Alliance commissioned an independent research study to get the answer. The study, "Impacts of Vent-Free Gas Heating Products on Indoor Relative Humidity," was designed to address this question: "Do vent-free gas heating products generate enough water vapor to raise indoor humidity levels high enough to foster mold growth?"

RESEARCH STUDY RESULTS
Completed in December 2002 by Risk Sciences, LLC, an independent scientific consulting firm nationally recognized for its expertise in human exposure modeling in residential environments, the study concluded that for the vast majority of homes in the U.S., vent-free gas heating products do not generate enough water vapor to raise indoor humidity levels high enough to foster mold growth.

CONTROLLING MOLD
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the best way to control or prevent indoor mold growth is by controlling indoor moisture. If there is mold present, it needs to be cleaned up and the water problem must be fixed. It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. For information on preventing mold in the home, see the EPA's brochure, "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home," which is available online at www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/preventionandcontrol.html.

PROOF POSITIVE
The defining advantage of a vent-free gas product is that there's no need for venting, a hole-in-the-wall or ceiling or a chimney - only access to a natural gas or propane supply line. The 99 percent efficiency of vent-free gas appliances allows the homeowner to save heating dollars by turning down the home's thermostat and still enjoy safe and instant heating. And because most vent-free gas products do not use electricity, they provide heat even during severe electric power outages.

For more information, or to receive free copies of the executive summary of the research study "Impacts of Vent-Free Gas Heating Products on Indoor Relative Humidity"; the executive summary of the research study "The Effect of Properly Sized and Operated Vent-Free Gas Products on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)"; or the "Consumer Guide to Vent-Free Gas Products" brochure, write to the Vent-Free Gas Products Alliance, 2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22201, or visit the Web site at www.ventfree.org. 

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ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY:
For a majority of homes in the U.S., vent-free gas heating products do not raise indoor humidity levels high enough to foster mold growth.

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