Ever wonder if you have mold in your home? Mold may have started creeping in without your knowledge. It can sometimes grow slowly and discolor building materials at a rate not noticed. Mold also gives off a distinct odor classified as a musty smell. This smell is a great indicator of not only mold but perhaps a moisture problem, especially in a basement or crawls space.
Although the basement and crawl space did not make it on our top 5 mold list, they should be checked at least every six months for high humidity and moisture intrusion. The first line of defense is prevention for mold issues.
Be Aware of All Types of House Mold
Everyone is terrified of black mold, stachybotrys, but a continuous exposure to medium and high levels of other molds like penicillium, aspergillus and cladosporium may also have an affect on your home and health. Remember, mold destroys what it feeds on so keep an eye on these top five mold areas as well as dark rooms, humid areas like a utility closet and spaces not inhabited often in your home.
Top 5 Places to Find Mold In a House
5.) Laundry Room Mold
Due to the water and humidity associated with laundry rooms, mold is able to grow frequently. Mold creeps in behind the washing machine and the dryer because it is typically dark and full of lint.
Small water leaks can be trapped under the washing machine and dryer so make sure any spills or overflows are addressed immediately. Another solution is to install a dehumidifier to help dry hard to reach areas while keeping the humidity controlled.
If you discover mold in any room of your home and you are located in the Knoxville, TN area please contact us for assistance.
4.) Window Mold
When checking for mold around the window, it’s a good idea to check around the frame but also the baseboard are and wall under the window. Water can travel and pool on the floor if there is a significant leak from the roof or window flashing.
Rain and other condensation can build up inside the window frame and go unnoticed as well. This is indicated with a slight discoloration that turns darker as time goes on from mold growth. Homes with heavy dark drapes should checked behind the drapes periodically to ensure water damage and mold have not occurred.
Water intrusion around the window is typically caused from lack of maintenance. Keeping windows caulked with with a good silicone or urethane product is a great way to seal the windows from the outside. Poor flashing installation and wind damage are other causes of leaking windows. Make sure you check your windows and doors after severe thunder or wind storms.
The sills are also vulnerable to mold growth, even more so in the winter due to condensation from extreme cold outside temperature meeting warm inside temperature according to an article by Green Building Elements. Click here to read article.
3.) Carpet Mold
Make sure you clean spills and pet urine from carpets immediately. Carpets and rugs can trap moisture and dust mites while lowering the air quality in your home. It is also worth noting that carpet cleaning methods that use large amounts of water and cleaners may create mold when they are not dried quickly.
Utilizing the homes AC system and fans after cleaning the carpet can help dry the carpet quicker and also control humidity. Wet carpets give off a lot of humidity and secondary mold damage can occur. If you have your carpets cleaned professionally, you may want to ask them to run a dehumidifier as part of the cleaning process.
2.) Kitchen Mold
Small water leaks that often go unnoticed cause mold to grow in your kitchen especially a faucet that runs constantly due to worn out gaskets. The sink, refrigerator, dishwasher and the spaces in between those three places are hot spots for mold.
Using the ice maker or water dispenser located in the refrigerator can splash water on flooring and walls. The ice maker line should always be braided stainless steel. Never use a plastic or copper ice maker line because they tend to kink and bust more easily.
Check under your sink regularly as well. Installing a , under your refrigerator, and under your dishwasher for water and clean the area. You should check those spots on a monthly basis to avoid mold growth in the kitchen.
1.) Bathroom Mold
The bathroom can be gross to begin with but the possibility of mold thriving in it makes it a whole lot more disgusting. Mold can grown on or around a toilet, bath fixtures, the ceiling and where the tub or shower meets building materials.
Condensation can drip from the toilet tank during a hot shower on a cold day. Bathroom tile and metal tubs are bad about condensation as well. Children splashing and dripping water that is not cleaned up quickly leads to mold and high humidity which can cause secondary mold growth on the walls and ceiling not touch by the water.
The sink area, wet towels and shower curtains are all in danger of being homes for mold. If there are any water spots on the ceiling or walls in your bathroom check the area for an unseen pipe leak or potential roof leak. If there is not a leak present, high humidity may be the root cause so install an exhaust fan or even a small dehumidifier if needed.
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