How to get rid of musty, moldy problems

Do your windows have condensation on the inside?

Is mold growing on your ceiling or walls?

Does your home smell like an old cellar?

Poor airflow may be the cause. Your options include:

• When the weather cooperates, open windows and doors to bring in fresh air and flush the musty smell. Do this for several days.

• A dehumidifier can capture the excess moisture that is creating condensation.

• Use exhaust fans in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms to prevent an accumulation of humidity and stale air. The motors for exhaust fans use very little power and last a long time; they’re energy efficient movers of air in damp or hot spaces.

• Check your HVAC system to make sure the filter is clean. If not, its ventilation won’t be able to move the air properly.

• Also, check your attic to see if the ventilation system is working.

• You may want to add HVAC ducts or vents to accommodate rooms that aren’t getting their share of heated or cooled air.

Lighthouse HVAC, based in Brooklyn, has solutions for all sorts of heating, ventilation and air conditioning issues.