They can also be inhaled. Some individuals can have allergic reactions to the inhaled mold spores. Individuals who have health conditions which have weakened their natural immune defenses may acquire serious illness from inhaled mold spores. For these health reasons and to minimize future mold growth in your home, it is important for you to clean and dry your home as soon as possible after a flood. Air Drying Process Wet building materials and surfaces dry as water evaporates from the material or surface.
Evaporation is a phase change, from liquid to vapor, which requires an input of energy.
The air-drying rate depends on the amount of water vapor in the air. Things dry faster if the surrounding air is dry. Conversely, things dry more slowly if the air is humid. The heated air, which has a greater moisture-holding capacity, picks up moisture as it passes through the damp material. The moist air is then exhausted to the outside.