Mold is one of the most common problems homeowners face, with some sources reporting that upwards of 47% of residential homes have some form of mold infestation. Left alone, mold can wreak havoc on the internal structure of your home and contaminate the air, causing health problems like coughing, sneezing, dry eyes, irritation, and headaches. If you suspect your home may be infested with mold, don’t wait until you experience symptoms to act.
Mold cleanup requires a great deal of time and effort to ensure all mold is removed from your home. For something as serious and potentially dangerous as mold, you should hire professional mold cleaning services to ensure your home is completely and safely cleaned of all contamination.
Mold Prevention Tips
Naturally, there’s always a small number of mold spores in the air, and most of the time they’re harmless. However, when spores encounter a dark, damp surface, they latch onto it and grow. In residential homes, mold is commonly found in rooms with high humidity and poor ventilation, such as bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and laundry rooms.
At first, mold typically appears as fuzzy white spots that eventually change to blue, green, gray, or black. Since it can thrive on almost any surface, it can quickly damage wood, drywall, wallpaper, carpet, ducting, or insulation. The best way to prevent mold is to eliminate the conditions that accelerate its growth. Promptly fix leaks in your roof and pipes to lower humidity and prevent excess moisture on surface—and decrease the chance of water damage too! You can also keep moisture levels low by installing a dehumidifier or using exhaust fans and vents to circulate air in bathrooms and kitchens.
When to Hire a Mold Remediation Company
Large mold infestations require a qualified professional mold cleaner. The most common signs of a large-scale infestation are dark spots, musty odors, warped walls, and increases in allergy-like symptoms among those living in the home.
Dark Spots on Tiles and Walls
The most obvious sign of mold is visual spores on the walls, floor, or ceiling. Mold is frequently mistaken for a stain in its early stages, so examine your home closely or hire a professional mold inspector to sweep your home for signs of mold.
Musty Odor
Most species of mold found in residential areas smell bad—really bad. If you notice a pungent, earthy odor, you should inspect the area for mold. If you can’t locate the problem, it could be hidden with a wall, vent, or crawlspace.
Increased Allergies and Respiratory Issues
Mold infestations release spores into the air as they grow. Excessive exposure to these spores can exacerbate existing allergies and introduce new respiratory symptoms, including:
- Sneezing
- Wheezing
- Sore throat
- Congestion
- Coughing
- Puffy, red, or irritated eyes
- Headache
- Rash
If you experience these symptoms but find they improve when you’re away from home, have your house checked for mold.
Warped and Squishy Walls and Floors
Over time, mold breaks down the material it’s growing on, whether it’s wood, textiles, or paint. If you notice that surfaces in your house are beginning to bubble, crack, or warp, it may be the result of a hidden mold infestation. This is common with walls and floors, since mold can grow beneath the top-level surface material.
Partner with Royal Renovations for Mold Remediation
If you notice warped and squishy walls and floors, questionable dark spots, or a musty odor, you may have a mold problem. While an at-home mold cleaner kit can make a small dent in the problem, a professional mold cleanup job is the best way to treat the source of the problem.
At Royal Renovations, our mold removal experts can assess the issue and provide prompt remediation or removal to stop the spread of mold in your home.