Mold Damage

Mold Spores Are Always Around

Understanding what causes mold to grow can help to control mold damage.  Mold spores are found at all times, both indoors and out. Indoors mold spores are continuously found flying in the air, mixed with household dust or lying on surfaces. Outdoors mold breaks down dead organic materials as part of the cycle of life, but indoors mold causes damage to wood, walls, ceilings, floors and other building parts.  Uncontrolled mold growth will cause extensive and expensive mold damage to your home.  It is impossible to kill all the mold spores in your home so management is imperative to prevent mold damage. 

Mold Control

Controlling mold in the home is simple but can be time consuming.  Regular cleaning with detergent and drying completely any areas that get wet or are dampened regularly, such as bathroom fixtures, can keep mold under control.  Repairing a leaking pipe, weeping window or cracked basement floor as soon as any problem is found will prevent mold damage that is very destructive.  Mold spores float through the air or lay dormant on surfaces until warm, moist conditions initiate the mold growth.  Controlling all moisture causing situations will go a long way to controlling mold damage. For example, after proper repairs are made to stop a water leak in your home, any water spillage must be dried completely within twenty-four to forty-eight hours to prevent mold spores from growing.

Running the bathroom fan or opening the window when showering, cleaning the roof gutters often, making sure the ground slopes away from the foundation of your home and keeping air conditioning drip pans and water lines clean and unobstructed are all simple ways to prevent mold damage.  Cover cold surfaces, such as water pipes, with insulation to help prevent condensation and increase air circulation with the use of open windows or fans. Using a dehumidifier and raising the air temperature will also inhibit condensation from forming.