What to Do About Mold in a Home

Mold can impact your health and your home's value. Even non-toxic mold can create an unhealthy environment for occupants. What do homeowners need to know about mold in a home and what are their options?

Maintain home value and head off the first signs of mold. Understand more about mold and how to remedy the situation, so that when the time comes to sell your home, you are prepared.

Potential Red Flags

Homeowners and family members can easily walk around a home without realizing that mold is starting to take hold. Mold can form between bathroom tiles, around leaky pipes and even inside the walls in a home. Areas in a home with a high-moisture content, such as bathrooms, basements or crawlspaces can be the perfect environment for the growth of mold. Mold can be forming before it is even visually observable. Musty smells in certain spaces or rooms of a home can indicate the growth of mold.

In addition to a musty smell, condensation can be a sign of a moisture problem in a home. Condensation seen often could indicate moistures issue or a mold problem. Droplets often form on cold surfaces such as metal pipes and windows. Other issues that can lead to mold growth include leaking roofs, water damage, leaking taps, and pipes. Cracks may form in walls and allow additional moisture into a home or wall space.

In order to prevent mold from growing in homes in locations with high humidity, run a dehumidifier, turn on the HVAC or air conditioner, or use intake and exhaust window fans to move air through the home. Homeowners in areas with a 60 percent or above humidity level or those that live near the water may need to take such preventative steps. Use devices to keep humidity levels below the 60 percent threshold level.

There are many types of mold. The majority are not toxic, unlike Stachybotrys chartarum, a black mold, but other forms still cause respiratory problems and can aggravate allergies in those with preexisting issues. Long-term symptoms of mold exposure include constant fatigue, nausea, neurological disorders, asthma problems and chronic bronchitis. In addition, homes with mold problems are known to lose value when it comes time to sell. Take care of mold and prevent mold from occurring to safeguard both home value and the health of all of those living in a home.

Address First Signs of Mold Growth

It can be difficult to identify the source of mold growth. Homeowners often reach out to an expert contractor to locate the reasons for mold growth. Some sources may include leaking pipes, previous flooding, old drywall and improperly waterproofed exterior structures. Owners may need to record any mold abatement procedures undertaken to sell a home in the future. This makes it important to hire a professional to address serious mold problems.

The first steps homeowners can take to address mold is to test for mold or have a mold inspection. DIY spot treatments may address dark patches of mold on a wall but fail to tackle the mold spores in carpets, fabric, HVAC systems and more.

Mold and moisture problems can occur in bathrooms, crawlspaces, basements and other spaces. Mold can form near pipes and spread from HVAC systems. Many people are sensitive to various types of mold and may experience allergy and health complications without realizing that the issue is mold growth in a home and therefore find it difficult to effectively improve their symptoms.

Be on the Lookout

Mold can damage the Del Ray home and create an attractive environment for unwanted pests. Speak with a mold remediation specialist on the best way to remove mold and prevent it from reoccurring.