Mold in Your Home - What to Know!

11/2/2022 (Permalink)

Significate mold clean up in Bellevue, WA home after roof leak. Tech is seen wearing a full personal protective equipment suit & using a Hepa Vacuum.

Mold is a very common household problem, and it's said that over half of the homes in the US have some form of mold. Although unpleasant, mold comes in a variety of miraculous colors including orange, yellow, green, pink, white, black, blue, and brown. Mold plays an important role in the outside environment by breaking down and digesting dead plants and organisms, but it's not something we want inside our homes!  

Bathrooms, showers, under sinks, behind refrigerators, in crawlspaces, and windows are just a few of the common areas mold likes to grow. Although, if given the opportunity it will grow anywhere. Mold spores thrive in warm, damp places and start out invisible to the naked eye at the size of just the tip of a needle! Mold can come inside a home from an outside growth through inadequately sealed windows or doors. 

Although mold spores cannot be eliminated entirely, they will not grow in an environment that is dry and well ventilated. Growth can be prevented by drying wet areas immediately, preventing moisture with proper ventilation, and monitoring humidity within the home. Use air conditioners during the humid seasons and exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms. 

Other areas to monitor moisture to prevent mold growth: exterior walls and surfaces in need of insulation where condensation can build, air conditioner drip pans, ensure crawl spaces are well ventilated, check for damaged seals around windows and door frames, and check for leaks around your refrigerator, tub, and sinks.

Make sure if you do spot mold and/or notice moisture in the area as well, never put a fan or any sort of air movement on the growth, this will only spread the spores quickly throughout your home.

These are a few simple tips for making sure mold is not growing in your home. If you do discover a mold growth, SERVPRO of Kirkland provides mold remediation services for all types of residential and commercial properties. Call us to schedule an inspection and discuss your options!