Preventing Mold Growth Inside Your Home

Left unchecked, mold growth can cause all kinds of damage. It can destroy ceilings, walls, carpets, rugs, drywall, and many other items inside the home. In addition, mold spores can affect indoor air quality, causing problems for those with allergies, asthma, and respiratory problems.

Mold spores are found everywhere, including our homes. Try as you might, it’s virtually impossible to keep mold spores out of your home. The tiny, microscopic spores float on the winds and can enter our homes through many ways, including open doors and windows, vents, HVAC systems, and our clothes and pets.

All Mold Needs is a Little Moisture to Start Growing

Once the spores alight on a suitable surface, all they need is a little moisture to start the growing process. Just about any surface is a suitable surface; mold colonies can sprout up on paper and wood products, drywall, carpet, ceiling tiles, carpet, fabric, and upholstery. They do particularly well in dark, damp spaces.

This moisture can come from many sources, including:

• Leaking water pipes, connections, or fixtures
• Poorly sealed windows and doors
• Damp bathroom and shower tiles
• Water condensation inside your home, such as window sills.
• Poor ventilation, particularly in the bathroom or kitchen
• Damp, exposed dirt in crawl spaces
• Spills on carpets or floors
• Flooding and standing water
• A roof leak

You May Have a Mold Problem If…

Mold can grow inside walls, beneath sinks, under carpets and rugs, and in many other places that are hidden from view. While visible mold or mildew growth is an obvious sign you have a mold problem, there are other red flags to be on the lookout for. Moldy, musty smells can indicate that you have a mold problem, as can discolored areas on walls or ceilings. Headaches, allergies, and asthma flare-ups may be the result of mold spores in the air.

Removing the Moisture Mold Needs to Grow

While it’s almost impossible to keep spores out of your home, you can take steps to limit their spread. The key to limiting mold growth inside the home is removing the sources of moisture the mold needs to grow. This involves:

• Identifying and addressing the source(s) of the moisture that’s allowing the mold to grow. Repair any water leaks, or broken door or window seals, and remember to wipe off any damp surfaces after use. Replace any cracking bathroom grout.
• Control the moisture levels inside your home. Make sure the kitchen and bathrooms have exhaust fans to remove moisture from the air. Air conditioning and dehumidifiers help. Remember to mop or wipe up any standing water when you see it. Wash your towels, shower curtains, curtain liner, and bathmats regularly.
• Remove any existing mold or mildew. If you do notice patches of mold, clean the area immediately with a bleach-based mold cleaning solution. You may have to discard any items that have become too damaged by mold.

Don’t Let Mold Damage Your Home or Your Health

If the mold damage is too extensive, or you are unable to find the source of the moisture that spurs the mold growth, you may need professional help. 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration has been providing expert mold cleanup and mold damage restoration services to home and business owners throughout Oceanside, CA since 2012. Our team of licensed mold damage specialists possesses the experience and equipment to locate and eliminate the source of your mold problem, no matter how well-hidden it may be. Our six-step mold restoration process is designed to clean up and repair any damage the mold or mildew may have caused.

It’s important to address mold contamination in its earliest stages. If you suspect you have a water leak or are noticing the signs that you may be beginning to have a mold problem, contact 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration through our website or call us at 866-437-0205.