Live Life Team
Black mold can be a serious problem in afamily home and it’s important that you know what mold is and what to look out for in case it appears somewhere in your property. Mold loves moisture and as a fungus it produces tiny spores that seek out damp places in which to grow. Mildew is the most visible sort of mold and you can see it initially as black spots that then can grow into larger colonies.
You may see black mold on damp walls or in your shower’s grout lines, but it can also be found outside on deck board surfaces and painted siding, particularly in shady and damp areas. If you do find mold, especially inside, don’t ignore it. There are ways to clean up visible mold but what if you don’t know it’s there?
Mold inspection
As with any invasion of your house by unwanted biological organisms, you need to know what may be lurking out of sight. Often you can tell if you have a mold infestation because you will detect musty smells but not be sure where they’re coming from. There could be a real danger to your family members who could have allergic reactions to black mold and its spores so you should take immediate action.
The first step – if you are not certain about where potential mold may be – is to check for any plumbing leaks in your systems. As mold just loves that moisture it will happily feed off a leak nearby, so run your water whilst checking for leaks. Water can get anywhere, so look at surrounding areas for any signs of mold as it isn’t always adjacent to the leak. The fungus can get into dry walls or behind panels and you need to fix any leak as quickly as possible. That doesn’t mean that any mold will instantly vanish but it’s the start of controlling the problem.
Protecting the home
With mold seeking to grow in damp and humid conditions you can help prevent its spread by controlling humidity levels, cleaning any visible areas so spores are unable to develop and float to new areas, and where necessary, call in a professional to give your home a thorough mold inspection. You should do the same if you are planning to move to a new home, being aware that a property that has been empty for some time or has had previous water damage may potentially have a black mold infestation.
Whatever you decide, you should protect your family and home by rooting out any black mold colonies. If you don’t take action when mold is discovered if could cost you a lot of money to put remedial steps in place. If mold is hiding in walls or behind paneling it’s worth getting a professional inspection. Some investigative work may be damaging initially but it’s a lot better than not discovering the problem and having to spend a lot of money to get rid of mold if the problem escalates.
Keep an eye out for visible signs or a nose out for unpleasant smells, and ensure that you deal with any mold problem quickly.
