Mold refers to microbes that grow in damp areas. Their presence is a blessing for outdoor places as they play an essential role in decomposing organic matter. However, mold can become a problem if it grows inside your home.
Damp crawl places and basements are perfect breeding areas for these microbes, but any wet or moist area will do. Window condensation, leaking roofs, and leaky pipes can cause mold growth. Here are some tell-tale signs that your house has dangerous mold.
- Dampness and Water
Mold can grow on different surfaces in your home, including carpets, paper, and wood, according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Its appearance can differ depending on the surface it latches onto and its species. It can be orange, green, purple, white, or black. Water is a common factor in all mold cases. If your home has some damp areas for some reason, expect mold growth if you cannot keep things properly dry. A leaky roof and leaking pipes can get water into some parts of your residential property.
If your home has had flooding recently, mold is likely to start developing. You’ll need to comb every inch of your home to ensure it’s completely free from excessive moisture and dampness. Items in your house can also get damp during the cold weather. You may notice condensation on the windows and walls of your house. To avoid mold growth, keep your home warm in the winter season and ensure everything you bring to your house is dry. If moisture accumulates in your house at any point due to leakages, dry it as soon as possible.
- Bubbly Walls
Damaged wallpapers or walls also indicate mold growth in your house. Excessive moisture can penetrate under wall paint, providing an ideal condition for mold development, leading to bubble formations on the painted walls. Some areas that bubble up are those with excessive moisture, such as bathrooms, basement walls, and the areas close to your windows.
Areas near a leaky pipe or a leaking window are ideal for mold spores to thrive. When ignored, water can seep into your walls, causing irreparable damage to the structure of your home. If you notice bubbly formations on your walls, scrape the peeling paint, clean, and dry the walls immediately before repairing and repainting them.
- Unpleasant smells
Mold produces strange smells, especially when your house has a lot of it. A lingering moldy smell in the indoor air indicates mold infestation. The more lingering the odor, the more severe the mold growth is. You need to check all corners of your house for any signs of mold spores. Standalone air conditioning units in heated basements or closets are often ideal for mold growth. Excessive moisture might also cause mold spores to develop inside your HVAC vents. Not only does mold lead to nasty odors in your cooling and heating system, but it also spreads the spores to other parts of your residential property. If you suspect mold infestation in your residence, always look for moldy and musty odors, especially near damp areas within your property.
- Flu-Like Symptoms and Allergic Reactions
When left untreated or unattended, mold colonies multiply fast, leading to severe health problems for your family. Mold releases small spores that normally float through the indoor air. When inhaled, mold can cause reactions similar to those caused by any other airborne disease. It can lead to respiratory complications and increased attacks in people who have asthma.
If you begin experiencing running nose, itchy nose, sneezing, itchy throat, watery eyes, or breathing difficulties, you should investigate your home for mold. Thankfully, you can find professional restoration contractors in Denver to inspect your home to determine the extent of mold damage. These professionals will eliminate the mold and investigate the root cause of the problem to prevent it from returning. They also eliminate mold efficiently and quickly with little interruption to your daily routine.
Mold is aesthetically unappealing but can also become a health hazard, especially if left unattended or untreated. With this comprehensive guide, you can tell if there’s mold in your residence, the severity of mold infestation, and when to take the next step to get help.
AUTHOR NAME : ALISON LURIE