Your home is your sanctuary and also your investment. When anything destructive or troublesome occurs, you want to handle it immediately to ensure that your space is safe and able to be occupied. If mold is found in your home, the reaction is usually of disgust and rightfully so as mold can have adverse health effects on otherwise healthy people and those with existing respiratory conditions such as asthma. Mold growth is typically the result of water damage and determining the water source becomes one of the most important tasks in the process. When mold becomes visible by sight or smell, it has usually had some time to develop and should be handled as soon as possible. To search for signs of mold in the home, there are certain places or occurrences to keep an eye out for.
Water
Since mold growth requires a water source in order to thrive, water damage is usually the first sign to look out for. This can be in the form of water leaks, flooding or condensation. Mold is able to grow under floors and behind paint. The most common place where mold can be found is around or close by any sink or pipe. Bubbling or cracking in paint and wallpaper or bulging, warped walls can be telltale signs of water damage and mold. Water stains or discoloration on the floor, walls and ceilings are also good indications.
Condensation on windows and doors are also a show of humidity in the home. This in turn also can lead to excess water gathering in certain areas. Humidity is the other factor, in addition to water, that mold needs to thrive. A humidifier can help with regulating the levels in the home to eliminate moisture.
Inexplicable Health Symptoms
If you are a normally healthy person and begin to experience symptoms that cannot be explained or are unusual, this can be a sign of mold growth in your environment. On the other hand, if you are already allergic or have a respiratory condition such as asthma and find your condition worsening at home, this may also be explained by mold growth. To test this theory, take note of how you feel when you are not home. It can be helpful to spend time outside of the home to test what the catalyst for symptoms is. Mold sickness can be severe in some cases and so it is necessary to decipher if there is a relationship between symptoms and the home.
Odors
Many people get tuned in to a potential mold issue when they begin to smell that familiar and lingering smell of must or earth. It may be a good idea to try to follow your nose to where the scent seems to be strongest. If there is a water source nearby, it is probably a good idea to check around the area to see what you may find.
Mold is never a welcome guest in the home and if it is found, needs to be removed and remediated right away. A professional mold remediation company is the most optimal choice as it can not only remove the offending mold, but can also perform any water damage restoration that may be present as well. Mold can be a toxic substance and there can be many complexities when dealing with mold that make using the professionals incredibly worthwhile.
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