You Can’t Always See the Mold in your Home
Mold can present a major hazard in a home. Not only can it destroy drywall and other materials, but it can make you and your kids sick. Sometimes mold is evident because you can see it growing on walls and floors. But many times, the mold grows hidden behind walls. That makes it important to heed these five hidden signs of mold.
Moisture
Anywhere you have moisture in your home you have the potential for mold. Mold thrives in moist, warm environments, so a leaking pipe in a wall or a faulty attic vent that lets in rain could lead to mold growth. If you see any signs of moisture, such as water spots on walls, ceilings or floors or buckling or bubbling floors, you should get them checked out by an inspector. If you have had a flooded basement, even if you dried it out thoroughly, you should be on the lookout for any symptoms of mold.
Respiratory Symptoms
Many types of mold cause allergy-like symptoms, including sneezing, a scratchy throat and a dry cough. If your family constantly has such symptoms, even during the winter when seasonal allergies aren’t normal, you might want to have your house checked out. Other physical symptoms that can be caused by mold include headaches and nausea.
Musty Smell
One of the tell-tale signs that mold might be present is a musty smell. Just because you have a musty smell in your home doesn’t mean you have mold, but it is something you should get checked out.
Discolorations
Any type of discoloration on a wall, ceiling or floor, even if it doesn’t look like it was caused by moisture, could be a potential sign of mold and should be checked out by a licensed inspector. Such discolorations often may show up as dark spots on your wall, which could be a sign that mold is thick on the inside of the wall.
Ventilation Problems
If you have ventilation issues in your home, they could lead to mold. Homes that are too tightly sealed up can lead to moisture issues that promote mold growth. If you have any rooms that constantly feel more humid than others, it could be a sign of poor ventilation. You also should check your ducts and vents periodically to look for any signs of mold inside them.
Prevention, Remediation
Obviously, the best way to prevent mold is to prevent any moisture problems in your home. When you are buying a new home, you should insist on handover inspections that include a check for mold. If you do have mold in your home, professional mold testing and removal is the only way to take care of the problem; it’s not something you can deal with properly yourself.
About The Author: This post comes from Patrick, part of a writing team at APM Solutions, which specialize in building inspections. Aside from working, he likes reading, using social media, and reading travel books.
4 comments
Hi my little girls are always sick they get sinus infections ashtma attacks runny noses headaches iratabilty puffy faces dark circles my one gets , complains bout her stomach my clothes in my closet smell musty my floor is leaning my toilet is ready to fall through the floor you don’t see anything the Apt I rent the house was built in 1920 I have a squirle that lives in the house there always getting antibiotics for sicknesses that either don’t help or it does and then illness comes back they get watery eyes that burn
My dishwasher has a musty smell coming from it, but I don’t see any mold in it when I open it. Although the smell is a sign of mold, can it be invisible? I would really like to get rid of the smell and so I would appreciate any advice that you have about doing that.
The second I thought I smelled mold I called a mold removal service and got out of the house.
Yes, if you find that you are always sick or have allergic type reactions but your house is clean and you have done everything possible to stop your “sickness”, have a mold remediation professional check your house.
Mold Removal Doctor