It’s common knowledge that mold is something we don’t want in our homes. It looks and smells unpleasant and can also spoil our food. The worst part is when mold invades your living space, it could potentially cause health problems and damage to your home.
Even though mold mitigation is a top concern for homeowners, most people don’t know where to look for early signs of mold. We’re here to give you some information on the effects mold has on your health and home, where you can find it, and the prevention methods you can implement into your cleaning process.
When and Where Mold is Found
The simple answer to where mold can be found is anywhere there is a lot of moisture. Mold grows when a lot of moisture is present in an area. Looking in areas such as under the sink, in the bathroom, basements, or places where flooding has occurred is a great place to start when checking for mold.
Peak Mold Season
The peak of mold growth comes during a time of moisture and high temperatures. The most common period of time mold grows in the U.S. is from early spring to mid-fall. The start of spring going into summer tends to have higher temperatures with a lot of humidity. Once the temperature starts to drop around mid-Fall, the air gets drier which stunts the growth of mold.
Why Mold Needs to Be Mitigated
Effects on The Home
Mold feeds on organic materials such as wood, paper, and other fabrics. The mold will eat these materials and cause serious rotting to the home. We’re not saying that the damage will happen spontaneously to your home, but it can sneak up on you. If mold is left unchecked, it could lead to the collapsing of building materials.
Although mold remediation may be covered within your overall insurance policy after an incident occurs, there may be a cap on the dollar amount the insurance agency covers for mold removal. Also, if you experienced water damage to natural flooding, you would only be covered if you specifically have flood insurance.
Effects on Your Health
The production of mold in your home can also lead to poor air quality that will affect your overall health. Here are the major health issues that can come from mold in your home:
- Respiratory problems
- Headaches and migraines
- Ear infections
- Memory loss
- Allergy like symptoms
How to Prevent Mold
Even though mold is very annoying, the prevention methods are pretty simple. Keeping your home clean from unwanted messes or clutter will not give mold a chance to feed on organic materials. Making sure your pipes are not leaking will also not give mold a chance to start forming. Ventilation in places such as a bathroom containing a shower will help prevent the growth of mold. Lastly, having a dehumidifier during the wetter months will help fight off the moisture.
Do You Have Mold Growing in Your Home?
Have you noticed mold in your home? Give us a call and we can help you out! Intek can track down the source of the mold and do what it takes to make sure it doesn’t grow back.
