Signs of Mold Issues
Mold can grow in any level of your home if you have excess moisture or humidity issues. Identifying signs of water damage, or problem area early on can minimize your chances for mold growth and thus needing remediation. Here are some of the main area’s inside and outside your home that lead to mold growth:
- Recurring water leaks from plumbing, HVAC systems, and building defects like roofing and/or foundation leaks.
- Adverse health effects which include coughing, runny nose, persistent headaches, etc.
- High levels of humidity in your basement along with musty odors.
- Water stains in walls, ceilings or floors.
Mold Basics
Molds are part of the natural environment. Molds are fungi that can be found anywhere – inside or outside – throughout the year. About 1,000 species of mold can be found in the United States, with more than 100,000 known species worldwide. Indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Problems may arise when mold starts eating away at materials, affecting the look, smell, and possibly, with the respect to wood-framed buildings, affecting the structural integrity of the buildings. Molds can grow on virtually any substance, as long as moisture or water, oxygen, and an organic source are present.
They reproduce by creating tiny spores (viable seeds) that usually cannot be seen without magnification. Spores continually float through the indoor and outdoor air, thus requiring mold remediation .Molds are usually not a problem unless mold spores land on a damp spot and begin growing. They digest whatever they land on in order to survive. There are molds that grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods and insulation, while other molds feast on the everyday dust and dirt that gather in the moist regions of a building. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth often will occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains uncorrected.
All molds share the characteristic of being able to grow without sunlight; mold needs only a viable seed (spore), a nutrient source, moisture, and the right temperature to proliferate. This explains why mold infestation is often found in damp, dark, hidden spaces; light and air circulation dry areas out, making them less hospitable for mold. Molds gradually damage building materials and furnishings. Since mold requires water to grow, it is important to prevent excessive moisture in buildings. Some moisture problems in buildings have been linked to changes in building construction practices since the 1970s, which resulted in tightly sealed buildings with diminished ventilation, contributing to moisture vapor buildup. Since mold requires water to grow, it is important to prevent excessive moisture in buildings. Some moisture problems in buildings have been linked to changes in building construction practices since the 1970s, which resulted in tightly sealed buildings with diminished ventilation, contributing to moisture vapor buildup.
Mold Inspection Services offered for residents of Philadelphia PA, Delaware County PA, Bucks County PA, Montgomery County PA, Chester County PA, Lehigh County PA, Camden County NJ, Mercer County NJ, Burlington County NJ, Gloucester County NJ, Monmouth County NJ and Delaware.