Problems to Keep an Eye Out for in Your Home

When you're a homeowner, there are a lot of different areas of the property that you have to maintain throughout the year. Problems and issues can start to develop, which can lead to damage and expensive repairs. Here are a few problems to keep an eye out for in your home to ensure the problems are caught early on and don't start to escalate.

Mold

Mold is one of the most common threats to homes and can make the house uninhabitable due to the health risks it causes. Mold can develop when there is standing water present or a lot of moisture in the air with no proper ventilation or heat, which can cause mold spores to be released into the air and no way to stop it from growing. Unfortunately, mold can be difficult to tackle and can quickly spread to other parts of the building. It's important to hire a professional company that performs mold removal to protect your health and continue spending time in the space.

Pest Infestations

Pest infestations are not only unsanitary but can lead to significant damage to the building. It's important to perform a thorough inspection of your house to determine if termites may be present in the attic or if mice have made a home in your basement. No matter what, when you find the source of the infestation or the nest, make sure to check the area around it for signs of damage to your home. It’s important to make sure that important parts of your home’s infrastructure haven’t been eaten or gnawed away, and that you clear all signs of infestation from the area.

Missing Shingles

The roof is one of the most important features of the property and is responsible for offering protection to the building. Check for missing or curled shingles, which can quickly lead to leaks by allowing the roof deck to be exposed. A professional will need to install new materials and can also tell you if it's time to replace the entire structure.

Dirty Ducts

Many people are unaware of dirty ducts that are present in their homes because the ducts are out of sight. Hire a professional to inspect the ducts to determine if they need to be cleaned. Dirty ducts may seem like a minor issue but can significantly affect your indoor air quality by releasing dirt, allergens, and pet dander back into the air. This can lead to respiratory issues and can trigger allergies. The ducts should be cleaned at least every three to five years.

If you want to improve the quality and condition of your home, you can avoid potential issues by keeping out for problems as they start to develop. This can make it easier to maintain the setting and can avoid surprises that come with being a homeowner.

The Most Common Places Mold Grows in Your Home and How to Remove It

Mold is good for nature, but it is harmful to humans. When you are exposed to mold, you can have serious health issues. For example, nausea, headache, sore throat, and several respiratory diseases. Also, when there is mold in your house, it can degrade your house environment. For example, due to excess mold in your home, your house will be filled with a foul odor, which will degrade the IAQ. However, you can ditch these issues by preventing mold growth. But for this, at first, you will have to know the common place where mold grows.

5 Most Common Places Mold Grows in Your House & Ways to Eradicate It

1. Bathroom

As bathrooms and showers are used every day, they remain damp. Besides, if there is a lack of ventilation in these places, moisture will get trapped and increase the humidity. But should you care? 

High humidity and damp places are perfect conditions for mold to grow. And as the bathroom fulfills these criteria, you can expect mold in your bathroom or shower area, particularly in the bathroom sink and walls.

To prevent mold growth in the bathroom, you must keep the bathroom and the shower area dry. Also, to keep the bathroom's moisture in control, ensure that there is no water leakage and enough ventilation in the bathroom. For example, over time, water taps and pipes start to form leaks, and if you don’t replace them ASAP, they will cause exponential mold growth in the bathroom.

Apart from these, you can use an anti-mold cleaning agent while cleaning the bathroom and shower area. Thus, if there is any mold in the bathroom, you can eradicate them.

Still, if you cannot eliminate the mold in the bathroom, you must hire a professional cleaning expert to eradicate mold from your bathroom.

2. Kitchen

After the bathroom and the shower area, the most common place where mold grows is in the kitchen. You can find mold in the refrigerator, oven, pantries, and stove. Because these areas are usually filled with moisture, and if not fully dried after the usage, mold will thrive in these places.

To prevent mold growth in the kitchen, you will have to dry the cutting board after the usage. Besides, you will have to clean the trash bins regularly. Otherwise, you can see mold growth in the trash cans as well. Also, look for leaks in the refrigerator, and as soon as you find them, you must repair them ASAP.

Don’t forget to check the kitchen sink and kitchen water pipes. If you find any leaks here, you must call a plumber.

And if there is already mold in the kitchen utensil, you can use a vinegar solution to eradicate them.

3. Living Room

Although the living room doesn’t have any water source, still, it can have mold formation. For example, you can find mold in the books, potted plants, mattresses, etc.   

Papers are made of wood pulp, and if the books somehow become damp, mold will grow exponentially in them. To prevent mold formation in your books, you will have to ensure that the books are not damp. For this, you can take all your books from the bookshelf and put them under the sunlight. Thus, you can prevent the dampness from the books or other documents in your living room.

Many homeowners like to have cacti or orchids in their living rooms. But sometimes, they overwater these plants, which can lead to mold growth on the surface of these pots. So, if you have cactus or other plants in your living room, don’t overwater them.

And to eradicate mold from your plant pot, you will have to use a detergent with anti-mold agents.

4. HVAC Unit

Your home heating and cooling unit deal with moisture every day, and if it is maintained properly, you will notice mold in it. And when there is mold inside your HVAC unit, your home environment will get worse. Your house will get filled with a foul odor, and indoor air quality will decrease. Besides, when there is mold inside the HVAC unit, it will spread various respiratory diseases.

To prevent mold formation inside the HVAC unit, first, clean the air ducts regularly. Then you will have to look for leaks in the HVAC unit. As soon as you find any leak in the HVAC system, you must turn off the system and call a professional HVAC expert. Also, you must change the AC filter regularly.

The best way to do all these is by annual HVAC maintenance checkups. During an AC maintenance checkup, an expert technician will check your cooling unit thoroughly, and if he finds any fault, he will fix it on the spot. Thus, your HVAC system will be in good condition, and you can prevent mold formation.

If you notice mold in the air duct, you must call a professional air duct cleaning expert.

5. Basement

The basement and attic lack ventilation, and fungi and mold take advantage of it and grow rapidly. Also, due to pipe leakage, the mold gets its desired environment and increases its colony exponentially. To prevent this, you must ensure ventilation in the basement. And for mold eradication in your basement, you should call a mold cleaning expert.

Conclusion

Mold can be very hazardous. So, as soon as you notice mold in your house, you must act fast and ask for professional help.

Types of Mold and What to Do About Them

Mold can be a severe problem in homes and businesses. It can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and other health problems. Here's a quick guide to the diverse types of molds and what you should do if you find mold in your home or office.

Types of Molds

Molds come in many types, and each type has its unique characteristics. Some common types include the following.

Aspergillus

Aspergillus is a type of mold that can be found in damp areas. It can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and other health problems. Often, it occurs in homes with damp walls, ceilings, or carpets. This type of mold is often found in the lungs of asthmatics and people with compromised immune systems.

Clostridium

Clostridium is a genus of Gram-positive, rod-shaped, anaerobic bacteria that causes disease in animals and humans. It generally affects the digestive system and can be found in soil that is contaminated with sewage or animal waste. It mostly affects the digestive system by producing toxins in foods that will cause food poisoning when consumed.

Cladosporium

Cladosporium is a type of mold that often grows in damp or moist areas. It can be found in soil, carpeting, hay, and plants. It is also common in homes with poor ventilation and high humidity. Individuals exposed to it may suffer respiratory problems and have a lower resistance to illness.

Penicillium

Penicillium is a type of mold commonly found in damp, wet areas. It is also often found on bread and other foods. This fungus can produce penicillin, an antibiotic that has been used in the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections since the 1940s. In its original state, however, it causes respiratory problems, skin irritation, and other health problems in some people. It can also cause allergic reactions and swelling of the mouth, throat, and stomach.

What to Do About Mold

The first step to getting rid of mold is to clean it with soap and water. If that doesn't work, you can try a weak bleach solution (one cup of bleach per gallon of water). Wear gloves and a mask when using bleach. Getting rid of mold on items that can't be cleaned with bleach (like carpet) is your best option. To prevent mold from returning, dry the area completely.

However, a better alternative is to hire a professional mold removal company. Their experience and equipment will enable them to remove mold from your home or business safely and effectively. It will also save you a lot of time and hassle.

Conclusion

As soon as you discover mold in your home or business, you should take immediate action. Mold can cause serious health problems, so it needs to be removed as soon as possible. Working with experts is the best way to get this taken care of promptly and thoroughly.

What Causes Mold Growth And How To Prevent It

If there is one thing you don't want to find in your home, it's mold. Linked to making many health problems such as allergies or asthma much worse for those who suffer from these conditions, mold can also ultimately damage your home. Unfortunately, it can grow anywhere, whether it be on carpeting or even behind walls or inside ceilings. If you're wondering what causes mold growth and how it can be prevented, here are some tips you should remember.

Leaky Foundation

When you have a leaky foundation, you've also probably got mold lurking here and there. Whether you've got a basement that floods after heavy rains or your foundation have lots of wet soil around it on a regular basis, foundation problems need to be addressed quickly.

High Humidity Levels

Whether it's in your basement or elsewhere, high humidity levels in your home create a perfect breeding ground for mold to take hold and grow. Since mold requires having moisture in the air for it to grow and spread, reducing humidity levels by using a dehumidifier will work wonders. For best results, try keeping your indoor relative humidity at no more than 50 percent.

Broken Walls

In many basements, broken walls are a problem that results in mold growth. Often associated with various types of foundation problems, you may notice horizontal or vertical cracks in the walls or even pieces of a wall that may be missing. Whatever the problem, this lets water in and allows mold to grow, meaning you will need mold remediation services from a professional company like 1-800 BusyDog Basement Technologies. By working with a professional, you’ll be able to ask whatever questions you have.

Leaky Roof

When your roof leaks, you not only have the problem of possible water damage to your home, but also the likelihood that mold has already started growing as well. This often leads to mold growing inside attics and within ceilings or walls, meaning it can often go undetected for quite some time. If you notice your roof is leaking, fixing it will help solve your mold problem.

Poor Ventilation

When you have poor ventilation in your home, especially in the basement, kitchen, and bathroom, mold can grow very quickly. To solve this problem, all it takes is opening your windows a bit more often, which allows fresh air to circulate and prevents a stagnant environment that is perfect for mold growth.

Once you discover mold is growing in your home, don't procrastinate. In most cases, it's not just the mold you see that is the problem, but also the mold hiding within walls and elsewhere. By following these tips and relying on mold remediation experts, your mold problems can disappear.