Mold is an inevitable challenge of indoor living. That can be a problem, because exposure can cause allergic reactions, asthma, nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing or skin irritation. If you have a mold problem in your home, the only way to control its growth is to control moisture. Here are some things you can do to control mold growth in your home:

? Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.

? Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24 hours to prevent mold growth.

? Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent and dry completely.

? Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (such as windows, piping, exterior walls, roof or floors) by adding insulation.

? Absorbent materials, such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.

? Don't carpet areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, such as around sinks.

? Reduce indoor humidity to less than 60 percent to decrease mold growth. Vent bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside with a ventilation fan.

A humidity-sensing fan is the perfect solution for proper ventilation. Broan's new Ultra Silent Humidity Sensing fans are automatic-once there is a rapid rise in humidity, the fan automatically turns on to exhaust excess moisture and turns off once the job is done. They're also quiet, making less noise than even a quiet refrigerator.

Energy Star-qualified, the fans use 65 percent less energy, on average, than standard models. The humidity-sensing fan uses Sensaire technology to detect a rapid increase in humidity at the ceiling, where it's most prevalent, unlike humidistats, which only detect simple humidity. This feature makes the humidity-sensing fan more effective at protecting a bathroom from mold and mildew.

Now it's easy to control mold and moisture in the home.