Signs That Mold Is Present In Your Home

There are many signs that can point to the presence of mold in your home. Here are some of the most common signs and what they mean for you and your family.

Visible Growth

Mold can grow on many surfaces in the home if the right balance of nutrients, moisture, and the right temperature is present. The appearance of fuzzy substances or even just a spotted appearance many mean that you have a mild problem in your home.

Health Issues

Increased or new allergy symptoms are a sign of mold infestation. Your doctor can test you for mold allergies, or you can have your home tested for mold spores by a certified professional that has the right equipment and protective gear to do an accurate analysis. Coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, skin issues, and more can all be caused by mold.

If you are absent from either a home or office and your allergies improve, then mold may be present in that place. Plenty of people don’t realize that they have such a problem until they spend some time away from home. Even just going to work during the day may cause a decrease in symptoms. If your allergies get worse after you spend a bit of time at home, then you should consult a mold remediation specialist and get your home tested.

Evidence of Water / Mositure

If the water beads up in areas of your house, your basement is damp, or you have leaks in your home, then mold may be thriving somewhere. Moisture issues are not always where you can see them well. Leaks in the home may be present but not seep through to the interior of your home. An older roof or eaves can let water into your home where it can feed mold. Smaller spaces without good ventilation are very prone to moisture issues.

Discoloration around pipes or walls near sinks and other water sources are also cause to hire a mold inspector. Even if the leak was fixed some time ago, that doesn’t mean the area surrounding it was treated appropriately to prevent and eliminate mold.

High humidity in the home can lead to moisture issues. A homes air conditioner also acts as a dehumidifier. Not utilizing the HVAC system in an attempt to save money can lead to moisture problems and ultimately mold growth. A stand alone dehumidifier may be necessary for certain places to prevent excess moisture, at least, part of the year; basements for example.

If you live in an area that has high amounts of precipitation and high humidity, then your home may have experienced moisture at some point that could be causing mold even now. Water intrusion can also occur if a pipe broke in the past. Just because a flood hasn’t happened in many years doesn’t mean the last one could not have contributed to allowing a mold colony to establish itself. Even homes in cooler climates can have water come inside and not develop into a mold problem until the temperature rises; this is very common with roof leaks in attics.

Strange Odors

Since mold problems can initially be invisible to the naked eye, many people first smell mold. You may be wondering what mold smells like. Oftentimes people describe it as a musty, earthy, damp, wet or pungent odor. If you have a good sense of smell it is very possible that mold growth behind walls becomes apparent to you nose before your eyes.

Importance Of Prompt Action

Certain species of mold can be very hazardous to your health, in fact, they produce mycotoxins that can cause a whole range of unpleasant side effects. Some molds can cause lasting damage to those that are exposed for even brief periods of time. A home with clean air is essential to your good health.