4 Signs Your Home Needs Mold Removal

Mold. It's the stuff of nightmares for many homeowners. Not only is mold unsightly, but it can also cause serious health problems for you and your family. That's why it's so important to be on the lookout for signs that your home might need mold removal. Here are five of the most common signs. 

You Can See It

One of the most obvious signs that you need mold removal is if you can see it growing in your home. Mold loves damp, dark, and humid environments, so check under sinks, in basements, and in any other areas where water tends to collect. If you see mold, it's time to call a professional. 

You Can Smell It

If you can't see mold but you can smell it, that's another clear sign that you need to take action. A musty or earthy smell is a telltale sign of mold, so don't ignore it! Especially if you have areas of your house, such as a basement, that get easily damp or remain dark most of the time.

Health Issues

If you or a family member start experiencing unexplained respiratory problems, it could be due to mold in your home. If you notice more sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, or difficulty breathing when you're at home, those could also be signs that there's mold present. 

Paint Peeling or Wallpaper Bubbling

If the paint on your walls or the wallpaper in your home is starting to peel or bubble, that's another sign of a potential mold problem. Water damage is often the culprit here, so it's important to take action as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your home. 

Mold is nothing to mess around with. If you suspect that there might be mold in your home, it's important to take action right away before the problem gets worse—and before it starts to impact your health. If you see or smell mold, experience unexplained respiratory problems, notice paint peeling or wallpaper bubbling, or just have a general feeling that something isn't right, don't hesitate to call a professional for help. The sooner you take action, the better!

6 Important Things to Prevent Mold Growth in Your Household

Molds are microscopic organisms that live on organic matter. They feed on dead plants, animals, and other organic substances. Molds can grow in damp, dark, and humid environments.

Some people are susceptible to mold allergies due to their genetics or immune system status. The symptoms vary from person to person, including skin irritation, headaches, asthma attacks, fatigue, and sinus problems.

Mold can also cause structural damage to your property, such as peeling paint, rotting wood, and warped floors.

You want to be proactive in your approach to mold prevention so that your home or property doesn’t suffer any structural damage or harm the health of the people living there. It’s even more important to think about mold prevention if you’re renting out your property.

Otherwise, if they find mold in the property and you don’t fix it, your tenants can file a Housing Disrepair Claim against you. The process can be more of a hassle for both of you than simply ensuring that you prevent mold infestations in the property in the first place.

1. Keep Your Property Properly Ventilated

Mold is a fungus that thrives in damp, dark, and humid areas. Ventilation is crucial in avoiding mold growth because when there is no air circulation, the moisture stays in the air and can cause mold to grow.

A house with poor ventilation will have high humidity levels, making the moisture more challenging to dry. This increased humidity can lead to mold growth if not addressed quickly and correctly.

Poor ventilation also causes an increase in CO2 levels in indoor environments because there is not enough fresh air coming in from outside. This increase in CO2 levels can lead to fatigue, headaches, and dizziness because CO2 levels are higher than humans are used to breathing at sea level.

The best way to keep your property from getting mold is to ensure proper ventilation. You should set up ventilation systems to allow airflow so that moisture can escape from the building and not accumulate inside.

2. Check the Basement for Humidity

Mold is a common problem in basements. Basements are often damp and humid, which can lead to mold growth. Checking the basement for humidity can help your property avoid mold growth.

Checking the basement for humidity is one way to avoid mold growth on your property. Humidity in basements is often higher than in other parts of the house, leading to an increased risk of mold growth.

Therefore, to avoid future problems with mold, it’s essential to check the basement for humidity at least once a month and take steps to lower it if necessary.

3. Cover Your Crawl Space Floor

Mold is a problem in crawl spaces because it can grow and spread quickly. It can also cause health problems or make the property unlivable.

Covering the crawl space floor with an impermeable material will help prevent mold growth and keep moisture out of the crawl space. This step will help to keep the property healthy, safe, and mold-free.

To avoid mold growth, you should cover your crawl space floor with a vapor barrier to keep moisture from getting in.

A vapor barrier is a layer of plastic that you lay over the ground in the crawl space to keep moisture from getting in. This step will help stop mold growth and keep the air inside dry. You should also ensure no cracks or holes in the plastic so that water won’t leak through it and create more problems.

4. Use Mold-Resistant Products In Your Home.

Mold thrives in damp environments like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. It may even grow on surfaces that are not wet to the touch. So if you want to keep your property mold-free, you should start by preventing mold growth in your home with the help of mold-resistant products.

The most common mold-resistant products are paints, sealants, and coatings. These products help to prevent mold from growing on the surface of a property by providing an airtight barrier against moisture.

Mold-resistant products are specifically for fighting and avoiding mold growth. They have unique ingredients that keep the environment dry and prevent moisture from accumulating on the material’s surface. Thus, it would be best if you used them in the right places, like in the parts of your home that are vulnerable to dampness.

5. Use Exhaust Fans and Ventilation

Exhaust fans are critical because they remove excess moisture from the air by drawing it out of the home. Air vents are also necessary because they provide an escape route for moist air by drawing it up through the roof or ceiling.

It’s essential to ensure that you have an exhaust fan installed in your bathroom, kitchen, and any other place where water may be present because these areas are more susceptible to mold growth than other parts of a house or building. The exhaust fan will help remove excess moisture from these rooms before it has a chance to get into the rest of your property.

6. Preventing Mold Through Heating

You can prevent mold growth by heating to warm up the air in these environments. This step will dry out the environment and make it less hospitable for mold growth. You can do this through different ways like air conditioning, ventilation, insulation, or heating.

Conclusion

Mold can be a challenge to get rid of once it’s settled into your home or is already there. Thus, preventing it from happening is the best way to avoid having any problems with it. If you live in an area that can be prone to mold, or even if you don’t, these best practices can help make it easier for your household to prevent mold growth, so try these tips out for yourself.

How to Remove Serious Mold From the Bathroom of a Hoarder's House

As junk piles up, hoarders often stop cleaning their homes too. When a dirty bathroom is poorly ventilated or has a leak, mold can grow unchecked, damaging surfaces and creating a health hazard. Spores often infect grout, caulk, and painted surfaces first but can grow anywhere. Here's some advice for getting rid of mold in a hoarder's bathroom that you can use when cleaning anyone's home.

Use Bleach

For visible mold, bleach is usually the first choice. You can buy a chlorine bleach cleaner made for mold and mildew removal or make a solution by mixing bleach and water. Spray it on, let it sit for about 30 minutes, then scrub away the mold with a stiff brush and rinse. Note that bleach will remove the color from painted surfaces and colored grout. Additionally, mold could still exist behind walls or under the floor surface.

Try Vinegar

White vinegar is a natural way to kill mold that is less likely to discolor surfaces. Apply the vinegar to areas you want to treat, let it sit for about 30 minutes, scrub, and rinse. Because vinegar is less powerful than bleach, you may have to do this several times to clean away all visible mold. You can also make a paste by mixing vinegar with baking soda or borax for more scrubbing power. Be sure not to use bleach and vinegar together because combining the two chemicals creates a toxic gas.

Call a Pro

If you see more than a few patches of mold, you may want to call a mold removal specialist that can spot areas you may miss and test air quality after remediation to make sure it's safe. Sometimes, homeowners must move out of their homes for safety during large mold removal jobs to prevent exposure to toxic chemicals or more mold as it's released and cleaned away. These specialists can usually replace surfaces like drywall that are too moldy to save.

Consider Remodeling

Remodeling the hoarder's bathroom may be the best way to get rid of all mold, which can get under linoleum, between the layers of plywood and inside porous drywall. During a remodel for mold removal, you may want to have a remediation company check the property to make sure all mold has been removed and that indoor air quality is acceptable.

Because mold likes the warm, damp atmosphere of bathrooms, it can grow in any home, not just a hoarder's. Fortunately, small amounts of mold can be cleaned away with household chemicals, and professionals can help you get rid of bigger problems.

Does Where You Live Change the Likelihood of Mold Growth?

Mold is a substance that can cause significant havoc in your household. Unlike other substances, mold cannot necessarily be wiped away and then forgotten about. Mold may simply quickly grow back. Further, some mold is dangerous to human health. As a result, you may be wondering if certain locations or dwellings are more inclined to mold. The short answer is yes.

Humid Conditions

Areas that are prone to humid conditions are likely to see more mold growth than dryer regions. Of course, this growth can be seasonal. Regions with hot and humid summers may very well see a decline in mold growth during the cooler seasons. Keep in mind that if your house gets humid due to a lack of air conditioning or air circulation, you might see more mold than you would otherwise.

Rain and Floods

Water inspires mold growth, so regions that are prone to rainstorms and flooding are likely to experience more of this substance. After a flood, getting a proper inspection and cleaning completed by Decon Environmental. Mold can hide in places that can't be seen by the untrained eye. Also, the professionals can help you to determine where the flood water might be coming in from.

Basement Apartments

The dark and humid conditions of basements can also lead to mold growth, so if you have an apartment in this location, be on the lookout for mold. Let your landlord know immediately about any mold sightings. Mold could also form in a basement if any of the pipes leaked or if there was a flood in a bathroom on a higher flood. Basements are also the part of the house most prone to flooding.

Older Homes

Living in an older home could also put you at a greater risk of mold exposure. Old pipes could be at greater risk of leaks. Also, older homes in areas prone to flooding, humidity and heavy rainstorms have had more opportunities for mold exposure. Before moving into an older home, make sure that the space is thoroughly checked out for mold. Scheduling regular inspections is a good idea as well.

Asking questions about mold is important as you want to take steps to reduce your chances of exposure to this potentially dangerous substance. Keep in mind that you don't necessarily need to take homes in flood zones or older houses off of your list of potential dwellings. However, you should know what the risks are and the steps to take to prevent harm.