Clean up areas where moisture problems are likely to occur. Scrub mold on hard surfaces with a scrub brush and mild detergent solution, such as laundry detergent, mixed with warm water. Allow it to dry.
Wipe down any condensation on windows and walls with a mild cleaning agent. Use a stronger solution if the mold's too tough to remove. Dry the surfaces completely.
Fix leaky plumbing as soon as possible. Turn off water and electrical circuits. Cut a new PVC pipe the same size as the one you're replacing with a hacksaw. Remove jagged edges with a blowtorch. Cut out the leaking pipe section. Put a bucket underneath the open pipes to catch leftover water. Clean both ends of the pipe where the new section attaches. Clean two joints and the ends of the new pipe with pipe solvent. Wipe dry. Coat the new pipe ends and joints with PVC pipe cement. Immediately place the joints on the ends of the new pipe. Allow the cement to set for 15 minutes. Coat the ends of the jointed ensemble at its outside edges. Immediately place the new pipe with secured joints in the space where you cut out the defective pipe. Turn on electrical circuits. Turn on water after a few minutes if the room temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, wait a few hours for the ensemble to set.
Allow warm air to circulate throughout the house. Leave a few inches of space behind furniture near interior walls to increase airflow.
Use exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. Ventilate attic and crawl spaces. Cover earth floors in crawl spaces with plastic tarps.
Secure caulking and weather stripping around windows and doors to prevent moisture from entering the interior of the house. If necessary, replace the caulk or weather stripping.
Keep water away from concrete slabs near the foundation and basement walls by using splashing blocks. Place precast concrete splash blocks under downspouts for controlled drainage of rainwater. Buy them at a home improvement facility or home and garden store.
Use a moisture or humidity meter, a small, inexpensive instrument available at many hardware stores, to measure humidity. Keep indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent.