Have you recently spotted mold growing in your home? If not, even if you don’t see it, there’s a big chance it’s already there. In fact, according to The Truth About Mold, whose mission is to spread facts and statistics about mold, more than 50% of homes in the USA have mold growing and living inside them. That means more than half of American households are at risk for developing health effects due to mold exposure. In order to address mold in your home, whether you know you have it or not, you must first understand what causes mold. This way, you can do what you need to pinpoint why mold is growing in the first place, stop this cause of mold, and finally, eliminate the mold that’s present in your household.
In this article, we discuss five different causes of mold and what you can do to address this issue in your own home.
#1: A Leaking Roof
Just like almost any other living organism, mold requires water to live. So, you can imagine why a leaking roof is a common cause of mold growth in homes. In many cases, you might not even know that your roof is leaking until you discover mold in your home. With other cases, finding mold growing on walls or inside of walls may be a result of finding a leaking roof. In either scenario, a leak in a roof should be addressed as soon as it’s noticed. This will stop mold from having the water source it needs to grow.
#2: Excess Insulation
Most people don’t know that having too much insulation can be a breeding ground for mold. Sometimes, homeowners think that more insulation is good to keep help with heating and cooling. While insulation certainly helps to insulate your home from severe weather conditions, it prevents air from flowing properly. So, too much insulation can often be a bad thing. Basically, without any airflow, moisture from inside insulation cannot escape. And, creates a warm, dark, and wet environment that’s perfect for mold growth. So, if you’re thinking about getting your roof redone anytime soon, it might be a good idea to ask your contractor if you have too much insulation. And, remove some if you do to prevent the growth of mold in your attic.
#3: Condensation in the Home
We learned about condensation in early grade school science. But, although condensation seems harmless and natural, it can actually encourage mold growth. Essentially, condensation happens when warmer air reaches a surface that’s cooler. And, here in South Florida, that can mean any surface of your home if you have your AC running (as the air is ALWAYS hot). Thus, condensation can accumulate on windows, door frames, bathrooms, and basically anywhere warmer air can get into your home. And, wherever there is the accumulation of water, there is a risk of mold growth. To keep condensation from supporting mold growth, there are a few things homeowners can do. Firstly, apply weather stripping to the windows and doors of your home. Second, you can try circulating the air in your home by opening up windows from time to time. And, finally, use fans to keep air moving inside your home to discourage sitting condensation which can lead to mold growth.
#4: Leaking Plumbing
Just like a leaking roof can encourage mold to grow and thrive, so can leaking plumbing. And, like a leaking roof, it can be challenging to know if you have any leaking pipes throughout your plumbing system. Unfortunately, in most cases, homeowners don’t recognize a leak until the mold has already started to form. So, prevention is key. To make sure your plumbing isn’t leaking and prevent mold from living and thriving in your sheetrock, get your plumbing inspected routinely. We suggest an annual inspection by your plumber to ensure your pipes are in good standing.
#5: Dark Areas of the Home
As mentioned, mold likes the dark areas that don’t get any light. Unlike other living things that require sunlight to thrive, mold actually grows faster in darkness. This is because UV from the sun’s rays can actually damage mold spores. So, it’s a good idea to routinely check parts of your home that accumulate darkness. These areas may include your attic, basement, closets, laundry room, and garage. Furthermore, in these dark areas, it’s good to manage humidity levels, as mold requires moisture to live. So, make sure to keep air circulating in these environments to discourage mold from growing.
Already Spotted Some Mold in Your Home?
Now that you know what causes mold, you may be wondering what to do about mold that you’ve already spotted in your house. While the best way to address mold is to prevent it entirely, once it’s already there, it should be addressed by professionals.
If you’re in South Florida and are looking for a professional mold remediation company, A Plus Mold Remediation Inc. is here to help! We offer complete mold removal services which you can check out right from our website! Give us a call today at (561) 247-3506 to tell us about your mold issues so we can provide you with a quote for removal.