Does My Home Have a Mold Infestation?

9/21/2021 (Permalink)

Mold spores spread fast in your Greenville, NC, home.

Mold is relatively common in residential spaces. Unfortunately, many times it goes unnoticed until it's out of control. It's good at hiding. There are signs of mold that will keep you more aware if you should have a problem. The sooner you can identify mold in your Greenville, NC, home, the better. Black mold is particularly damaging, possessing a mycotoxin. If you discover mold, it's essential to take action immediately, as it can spread out of control extremely quickly.

How Do I Find and Identify Mold in My Home?

1. Your Home Is Humid

Mold is not picky about where it lives. It thrives in conditions that are dark, humid, and reasonably warm. If your home has high humidity, there's a good chance you could have mold growth, particularly in areas with poor circulation. The indoor relative humidity should be no higher than 50%. You can purchase inexpensive humidity monitors at hardware stores. Keep adequate humidity levels in your home by placing dehumidifiers, running fans, and opening windows (if the humidity is lower outdoors than in). Mold is also prone to grow in bathrooms and kitchens due to the excess moisture created. Utilize the ventilation systems in the bathrooms and kitchen whenever you're taking a shower or cooking on the stove.

2. You See It on Walls or Ceilings

Mold is good at hiding, but it also often grows visibly on walls and ceilings. If you see it on walls or ceilings, it could also be growing within and behind them, even under wallpaper. When you see mold growth, you must call mold remediation experts immediately to begin the inspection and restoration process as soon as possible. They have the professional equipment and expertise to find all of the molds and eliminate it safely.

3. You Find It in Inconspicuous Locations

Look in out-of-the-way areas of your home, such as inside bathroom cabinets and behind appliances and furniture. Spaces that are poorly ventilated and go untouched for some time, such as basements and attics, are even more susceptible to mold growing on and behind things. Both places are also more likely to have water damage that goes unnoticed.

4. You Smell a Persistent, Pungent Odor

If you smell a musty odor in your home, there's probably mold growing nearby. This odor is created by mycotoxin, which the mold produces.

5. You Detect Water Damage

If your home has water damage, such as from a leaky pipe or roof, there will almost certainly be mold growth if it goes untreated for more than 48 hours. This is why it's essential to clean, dry, and repair water damage and its source immediately.

6. You Discover a Bug Infestation

Many people don't realize that mold can attract certain bugs, such as booklice. Despite their name, they aren't restricted to books; they thrive in moldy conditions because they eat mold. The only way to get rid of this bug infestation is to eradicate all of the molds.

From the mycotoxin it produces to the structural damage it can cause, mold can create various severe issues if left untreated for even a short time. It's critical to know the signs of mold, where it lurks, and how to identify it.