Mold is a common household issue that often goes unnoticed or ignored until it becomes a larger and costly problem. Hidden mold, in particular, can be a silent invader, lurking behind walls, under floors, on stored belongings, or in areas with poor ventilation. It thrives in damp, dark places, and its presence can pose serious health risks, including respiratory issues, musculoskeletal pain and allergic reactions. While infants, children, the elderly and immune suppressed are most at risk to the many health effects of mold’s mycotoxins, the chemicals mold releases, mold can affect everyone’s health differently. Some home occupants can experience severe reactions to mold growth while others are unaffected.
Aspergillius, Cladosporium, Penicillium and Stachybotrys Chartarum (known as black mold and potentially the most dangerous), are the four most common types of mold growth found in homes, but there are over 100,000 species of this filamentous fungi that can occupy and move throughout our home. Mold spores are aerodynamic and use the natural air flow in our homes from open windows and doors, air ducts and even occupants moving from room to room, to travel to new places. Once reason mold in properties shouldn’t be ignored is because mold is degenerative, gradually destroying the materials it lands on.
Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, knowing the potential dangers of mold growth is essential for maintaining a safe and healthy environment. In this article, we’ll explore the common areas for mold growth in your home, and what you can do to prevent and address it before it spreads further, causing more damage.
COMMON AREAS WHEN MOLD CAN GROW IN YOUR HOME:
Attic: When roofs and air conditioning units leak, or bathrooms vents send steam into attics instead of outdoors, the water and excess humidity can affect your attic’s wood beams and flooring materials, as well as stored belongings. Having water + warm temperatures and something to “eat” can help mold growth quickly spread in this area of your home. The amount of insulation installed in your attic can also cause mold growth. Too much or too little insulation creates an unproperly conditioned space, leading to sweating or additional moisture.
Basement: From the top of our home to the bottom, basements are notoriously damp, dark, and musty, and filled with plenty of opportunities for mold growth. Hot water heaters, air conditioning units and washing machines are often placed in basements and prone to leaks and hose issues. But there are other causes for mold in basements as well, such as leaks around windows and doors, plumbing pipes that can sweat and create condensation, and poor ventilation or humidity levels. These concerns all produce excessive moisture in a space with wood building materials, insulation, drywall and often our belongings stored in cardboard boxes. From our tools to holiday decorations or seasonal clothes, these items serve as an organic source for mold to grow and spread on.
Bathrooms: We may enjoy a hot, steamy shower, but our bathrooms?! Not so much! The high humidity coupled with a lack of air flow can enhance mold and mildew concerns. This frequently-used space commonly suffers leaks from toilets, plumbing and valve drips, poor caulking around showers, and overflowed sinks and tubs that seeps water behind baseboards, walls and underneath floors. Where there’s a build-up of dust and organic dirt, there’s also an opportunity for mold growth. As we use more eco-friendly soaps and cleaning agents, it’s important to understand that when steam comes into contact with these organic cleaners, it can cause the agents to stick to your bathroom’s walls and tile & grout, providing mold a source to grow on.
Closets: These spaces have stagnant air flow, little sunlight and are filled with our belongings and organic sources like suede, leather and cotton clothes, blankets, towels and shoes. It’s no wonder that mold growth is common in these storage areas that include a smorgasbord of items for mold to thrive on.
Laundry Rooms: Whether it’s water dripping from hoses and valves or wet clothes, the excessive moisture in laundry rooms can lead to mold growth in as little as 24-48 hours. Washing machines and their hoses can leak on floors and walls, discharge lines can back-up, and wet clothes left on floors can provide the perfect condition for mold. Look for water stains on walls, floors and ceilings throughout the room as a sign that the plumbing in these spaces is possibly leaking.
Kitchens: Often referred to as the heart of the home, but mold can definitely be a concern in this popular area due to the combination of plumbing and appliances, warmth and humidity, organic materials and everyday use. Kitchens are particularly susceptible to mold growth underneath sinks where leaky pipes and high moisture from cleaning can create the perfect environment for harmful mold. Mold can grow in more subtle spaces too, like where wet sponges or food is stored, floors and counters where beverages spill, and on decorations and cabinets where dust collects. Even our finger prints from touching walls, light switches or doors leave biomarkers, where mold spores can land and grow. Leaks and drips from refrigerators, coffeemakers, dishwashers and ice makers can also cause mold to grow on floors underneath or walls behind these appliances. And be careful when cooking! Not using exhaust fans when preparing meals on the stove can increase humidity in these naturally warm spaces.
Exterior Wall Cavities: Water from wind-drive rain, overflowing gutters or even leaking windows can build-up in these areas leading to mold growth. And be certain to use the accurate amount of insulation. Like the attic spaces, too much or too little insulation can lead to sweating or improper moisture.
Crawlspaces: Homeowners don’t often check these dark and tight areas that not only serve as an inviting space and home to wildlife and nuisance animals but also mold growth. If filled with dirt and without a proper vapor barrier installed, once the ground in a crawlspace becomes wet, it will remain that way, and water from storms or leaking foundations can flow directly into crawlspaces, keeping them permanently moist. Crawlspaces often have no dehumidification or an inadequate system in place that causes excess moisture and mold.
HOW TO AVOID MOLD GROWTH IN HOMES:
Mold is more than just a smelly nuisance in homes. Any time excessive moisture is present indoors, whether from a flood, a slow leak, broken pipe or just high humidity, mold can begin to grow in as little as 24-48 hours. Avoid mold growth in your home with taking a few preventative measures:
- Fix leaks and plumbing issues immediately and address water mitigation needs
- Improve ventilation by using an exhaust fan or opening windows while cooking or bathing
- Keep homes below 55-60% relative humidity and control humidity levels by using dehumidifiers (remember to keep draining them as needed) or air conditioning
- Stimulate air flow throughout the homes
- Professionally clean air ducts or your HVAC system as recommended by the manufacturer to remove mold spores and debris from circulating throughout the home and affecting air quality
- Frequently inspect appliances, hoses, valves, roofs and basements for leaks
- Regularly clean and dust your home, wiping down areas that are touched frequently like doors, walls, light switches, and counters
Don’t place furniture directly against walls to create space and air flow
PROFESSIONAL MOLD REMEDIATION SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE
Don’t wait to mitigate! If you experience water concerns in homes, have an IICRC certified company provide prompt restoration and mitigation needs quickly to avoid mold concerns. For over 35 years, home and business owners have relied on ServiceMaster By Mason for professional water mitigation, mold inspections, air quality testing and mold remediation to return properties back to normal and create a healthy environment.
