Reasons for Mold Growth in Apartments and How to Get Rid of It
Mold does not just look unsightly, it also has the potential to cause health problems. Research suggests that exposure to mold can cause allergic symptoms such as sneezing, wheezing, watery eyes, running, itching, and breathing problems. If you have a mold problem, schedule professional mold remediation near in Lake County as soon as possible.
Warning Signs of Mold in Your House
Mold spores are everywhere. While some types of mold have several benefits, others can be harmful. Mold in your home becomes a problem when it finds a warm, moist area in your property, where it can feed on organic matter, and continue to grow.
Here are some signs you have a mold problem.
Visible Discoloration or Staining
Are there gray, black, green, or bluish specks along grout lines, walls, or other surfaces? It is likely mold. Keep an eye out for streaks in different shades of pink, red, or brown as well. Mold can have a powdery, fuzzy, or slimy texture. Dark stains on walls, floors, or ceilings typically indicate the presence of mold.
Strange Musty Odors
As mold grows, it releases microbial volatile organic compounds or mVOCs into the air. mVOCs contain strong chemicals such as aldehydes, benzenes, carboxylic acids, and terpenes. A mixture of these chemicals produces unpleasant musty, stale, earthy, or damp odors.
A musty, earthy, or sour smell suggests the presence of mold, even if no visible signs are apparent. If you notice an odor but can’t see mold, hire a professional to check your walls, crawl spaces, and foundation for the presence of mold. Once the source of mold is found, schedule mold remediation in Lake County sooner than later.
Allergy or Asthma Flare-ups
Some types of mold produce a harmful substance called mycotoxin, known to trigger respiratory problems in individuals with allergies and asthma. If someone in your home exhibits signs of an allergic reaction and these symptoms won’t subside, there is a strong possibility that mold is growing in your home.
Your Coffee Tastes Weird
If your coffee tastes unusual, mold may be growing in your coffee maker. Dishwashers, washing machines, and other small household appliances that use water offer ideal conditions for mold growth. Regularly clean and maintain these appliances to prevent mold from growing in them.
Peeling Paint or Wallpaper
Fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels, particularly in the summer, can cause condensation to occur. As a result, moisture gets trapped in the backside of your wallpaper, causing it to loosen. This creates a favorable environment for mold growth.
Mold is not the only reason why wallpapers separate from walls. Faulty gluing can also cause this problem. That said, if your wall feels damp or an unusual odor is coming from it, you may have a mold problem. It makes sense to peel back the wallpaper or scrape away paint in the affected area to check for visible mold growth on the wall surface. If mold is the cause of peeling paint, painting over it is a waste of time, money, and effort as mold will continue to grow.
Why Use a Professional Mold Remediation Service?
Mold remediation near you in Lake County isn’t as simple and straightforward as it looks. If you decide to remove mold yourself, you may make a mistake and end up giving it a chance to cross contaminate. Also, you may inhale or touch mold spores, which can trigger an allergic reaction.
Mold remediation experts know the ins and outs of mold remediation near Lake County. They use HEPA vacuums and air scrubbers to remove fine airborne particles including mold spores from air. Professionals treat the root cause of mold growth to prevent mold from coming back. By addressing the underlying cause of mold growth, professional mold remediation near Lake County prevents future mold problems.
Common Causes of Mold Growth in Apartments
Mold needs moisture to grow and spread. If you have faulty appliances or plumbing, water can make its way into your home, leading to mold growth. Mold can grow anywhere in a house, but is frequently found in areas such bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and near pipes or ducting.
Here are some common causes of mold growth.
Inadequate Ventilation
Mold is highly likely to grow in poorly ventilated bathrooms and kitchens. Inadequate ventilation causes excess moisture to get trapped in a room. Trapped moisture can accumulate on the ceiling, walls, floors, appliances, counters, sinks, and various surfaces in a room.
Airborne moisture can get into your home through small cracks and gaps in your walls and accumulate in dark, humid areas, creating the right conditions for mold growth.
After a shower, turn on the exhaust fan in your bathroom and open the bathroom door to allow moisture to dissipate. While washing dishes or boiling water, switch on the stove’s fan or open a window in your kitchen to improve airflow in the area. Using a dehumidifier, remove excess moisture from your basement and any other areas that may be difficult to ventilate.
High Humidity
Mold and mildew thrive in damp or moist environments. In homes with consistently high humidity, the moisture in the air can permeate walls, floors, ceilings, and furniture, creating conditions that promote mold growth. Some common causes of high humidity include poor ventilation and humid weather conditions.
If you live near a water body, excess moisture may build up in parts of your home, leading to high humidity levels. Improve ventilation in your home to keep indoor humidity levels between 40 and 55 percent.
Roof Leaks
A leaking roof can allow water to enter your attic. If you ignore the problem, moisture can soak into your insulation, walls, ceiling boards, leading to water damage. This excess moisture creates the ideal conditions for mold growth. If mold spreads to different parts of your attic, you may have to get rid of damaged insulation and/or items.
Leaky Water Pipes
More often than not, water damage is caused by leaks behind the drywall or beneath sinks as these leaks can go unnoticed for a long period of time. If you notice a leak, have your plumber repair it immediately or mold may start growing in affected areas.
Home Flooding
Flooding can affect your floors, walls, furniture, appliances, and even its foundation, leading to significant water damage. After a flood, mold can grow on affected items and surfaces. One of the first things to do after a flood is to call a water damage restoration expert. The professional will
- Restore/remove damaged drywall and furniture
- Remove excess water using powerful pumps, and
- Use desiccant humidifiers and high velocity air blowers to get rid of excess moisture
Excess Condensation
Condensation happens when warm air comes in contact with a cold surface, such as an exposed cold water pipe. The water vapor in the air quickly cools upon touching the cold surface, converting into water droplets. Excess condensation can cause damage to your drywall, flooring, and appliances and promote mold growth. To prevent this problem, insulate any objects or surfaces whose temperature tends to drop below the ambient air temperature. Improve ventilation in your home and use a dehumidifier to remove excess water from indoor air.
West Coast Fire & Water offers professional mold remediation services in Lake County. Our mold remediation specialists use tried and tested methods and advanced technology to remove mold hiding in difficult-to-reach areas. To learn more, call 707-462-5326.