What to Know About Mold In Your Home

Mold is a common problem that can affect any home, regardless of age or location. While mold is always present in our environment, it’s only when it grows out of control that it becomes a concern. An active growth can seriously affect your property and your family’s health. Learn about how mold affects your living in the home, prevention, and remediation.

Types of Mold

Mold is ever-present in the natural world. You see it growing on trees, rocks, and even your cheese sometimes. It loves organic materials. There are many different types of mold, but the most common kind found in homes are Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. Not all the molds you see in the home are dangerous, but some release mycotoxins that pose health risks.

Most people know black mold, scientifically called Stachybotrys chartarum. This indoor mold is particularly dangerous because it releases high concentrations of toxic spores into the air, which can cause serious health issues when inhaled. It loves cellulose, which is found in wood products and drywall. And what are many homes made of? That makes our indoor environments ideal for growing mold.

How Mold Gets Into Our Homes

Keeping mold out is nearly impossible. Its tiny spores are invisible to our unaided eyes and travel easily through the air. Mold spores enter our homes through open windows, doors, and even the HVAC system. They can also be carried in on our clothing, groceries, or pets. 

Once inside, mold needs a moist environment to grow and thrive. That’s why you’ll see blooms around the linings of showers, sinks, and bathtubs. Mold loves dark and damp spaces. It’s also why mold growth can plague basements or crop up in leaky roofs. Find mold growing in ventilation ducts, behind the refrigerator, under sinks, around leaky windows, or behind wettened roof tiles. You could have hidden mold in your home and not know it.

Certain ideas of the home are simply more prone to the effects of mold. You’ll see it growing up damp basement walls, in crawl spaces without vapor barriers and airflow, window seals, and washers.

Mold Warning Signs

So, how do you know if your home has a mold problem? One warning sign is a musty smell. It starts off faint and increases over time as the mold growth expands. Other descriptions of its smell are “stale” or “earthy.”

Moldy surfaces are the most obvious sign of growth. Look for visible discoloration on walls or ceilings, especially in areas prone to excessive moisture.  The discoloration can be of any color, but brown and black spots are common. Examine the texture, as mold typically is fuzzy, slimy, or soft. It smears when touched, or the color lightens after being dabbed with diluted beach. Note: wear rubber gloves when touching mold spots or testing with bleach.

An increase in allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, and respiratory issues, can be another signal. Severe reactions could include more asthma attacks, headaches, throat irritation, and skin rashes. People with suppressed immune systems are at the highest risk of serious infections.

If your allergies or respiratory issues increase when inside, it could be a sign of mold exposure. Note if the symptoms worsen in specific areas of the house, like bathrooms or closets. However, an increase in allergy-like symptoms could signal other problems, like pest issues or the need to clean. 

Other possible signals could be peeling wallpaper (a sign of high humidity,) changes in pet behavior, fatigue, and headaches.

Recent water issues are another invitation for mold. If you’ve dealt with roof leaks, busted pipes, or a basement flood, chances are high the damp environment could soon see signs of mold appear. Regularly check your home for damp spots, especially after severe weather.  Remove any wet materials and make repairs to prevent more water damage as soon as you can.

How to Test For Mold

Promptly addressing the issue is essential. Mold testing confirms its presence. Some home improvement stores sell home mold test kits. These kits can be helpful in confirming the presence of mold, but they are less accurate than a professional inspection. They will not tell you what kind of mold is present; you’ll need to send the sample to the lab for that. Knowing which kind is plaguing the home pinpoints what cleaning products will work the best.

Hiring a professional inspector and mitigation company guarantees a thorough examination of your home for any signs of mold growth. They may take air or surface samples to determine the type and severity of the mold present. This information can help decide the best action to eliminate the hidden mold.

Mold Prevention

The best way to deal with mold is to prevent it from growing in the first place. Here are some simple steps you can take to prevent indoor mold growth:

• Keep humidity levels low: Mold thrives in moist environments. Keep indoor humidity levels between 30-60%. Use exhaust fans when in bathrooms and kitchens. If necessary, use a humidity meter and dehumidifier to control moisture levels.
• Fix leaks promptly: Any water damage, whether it’s from a leaky roof or a burst pipe, can create the perfect environment for mold blooms. Quickly addressing these issues can help prevent mold from taking hold.
• Keep air circulating: Mold loves stagnant air, so keep good airflow in your home. Use ceiling fans or crack open windows to keep fresh air circulating.

Mold Mitigation

If you find mold in your home, take action immediately to prevent it from spreading and causing further damage. 

Mold mitigation typically involves removing the affected materials and thoroughly cleaning the area with specialized products designed to kill and prevent mold growth. 

First, stop and dry any water leaks as soon as possible. This will halt any further damage to your home and remove mold’s preferred living conditions.

Moldy items, such as clothes, furniture, wet carpets, and paper materials, may need to be discarded.

Small mold growths can be removed from hard areas with a diluted bleach solution and cleaning. One cup of bleach per gallon of water is one recipe; others recommend one cup per five gallons. If you plan to do so, dress to minimize your exposure to mold. Wear a mask like a N-95 respirator, rubber gloves, and safety goggles. Make sure the area is well-ventilated while cleaning, as you don’t want to inhale any toxic fumes from cleaning agents.

But what if it’s an extensive growth or involves significant water damage, like after a major event? For example, in the case of drywall, your best option for remediation is to remove the impacted drywall. It and other porous materials like paper products, carpet, and fabrics, are nearly impossible to obliterate all mold spores. That’s why you see mounds of wet carpet and drywall outside buildings after floods. These are hard to dry and prevent mold growth.

There are some mold-killing products out there for harder surfaces, like concrete, tile, and grout. Some will work on exterior walls, wood, and other more porous materials that you don’t want to get rid of. A few paint products also block mold growth or seal in prior dead mold.

A professional mold remediation contractor can explain the best course of action depending on where the mold growth is concentrated. Treating mold growing in an HVAC system differs from mitigating it in a basement.  

Mold in Your Home

While mold may be a common issue in homes, it should not be taken lightly. By understanding the warning signs, conducting regular inspections, and taking preventative measures, you can keep your house safe and mold-free for you and your family. And if you do encounter a mold problem, don’t hesitate to seek professional assistance.