Mold inside a home can cause a variety of health problems. Some health problems caused by mold are more serious than others, but either way, you should want your home mold-free. Although there are some preventatives that we can take to prevent the growth of mold, it sometimes still finds its way into our homes.
Mold begins to grow in areas where there’s moisture and our homes are filled with damp warm places ideal for mold growth. The best thing to do to ensure your home is safe from mold growth is to learn how to check for mold at home, possibly by using an at home mold test. For starters, it’s important to know that mold is going to grow in any area where moisture is present.
Now it’s time to start assessing those moist areas in your home. There may be more damp places in your home than you think. Continue reading below for a list of the most common places for mold to grow inside a home!
1. Bathrooms
When staying at most hotels, you’ll notice that the light switch is connected with an exhaust fan. This means that every time you turn on the light, the exhaust fan turns on as well. The reason for this is that bathrooms hold a lot of moisture in the air, especially when taking plenty of hot showers.
Without proper ventilation, moisture and humidity levels can skyrocket quite quickly inside a bathroom. Some places to look for mold inside your bathroom include under and behind the sink, on the tile and grout, behind the toilet, and even on shower supplies kept inside the shower.
2. Crawl Space
If your home has a crawl space, then you’ll want to check it out for mold as well. You might not believe that mold in a crawl space can affect your home or your health, but it can. On inspection, if you find some mold growing, you’ll need to contact a company, that offers Crawl Space Remediation services. When mold begins to grow inside your home’s crawl space, it will make its way onto the floorboards and then seep through into your home.
Proper ventilation and crawl space moisture control will help keep mold from growing. Because the crawl space section of your home isn’t an area that you spend time in, it’s important to remember to inspect your crawl space on a regular basis to ensure there are no problems.
3. Behind Walls
Even if the walls in your home seem to be dry, remember that behind some of those walls are plumbing systems. Any walls that have pipes behind them are susceptible to moisture and mold. This can happen if there’s a leaky pipe in the wall.
Mold also grows well behind wallpaper. If you suspect mold in your home, don’t forget to check behind your wallpaper and inside your walls as well.
4. Damp Carpeting
If a carpet becomes wet or damp for any reason, you’ll want to dry it out as soon as possible. Other than accidental spills, carpets can also become wet due to leaking windows or windows left open when it rains. When moisture reaches the carpet, it then seeps into the fibers and is soaked up by the carpeting pad underneath.
If the carpet is not allowed to dry properly, mold is then given the opportunity to grow. Dry the carpet within 48 hours or sooner to prevent mold from growing.
5. Laundry Room
The laundry room is another area of the home that you might not consider when looking for mold. However, moisture from the washer machine and the accumulation of lint from the dryer create the perfect conditions for mold growth. You’ll want to check behind your washer and dryer to see if mold has grown.
A good tip to help prevent mold growth in your laundry room is to keep your washer machine door open during non-use. This allows for it to dry out completely.
6. Attic
The attic is one of the more commonly known areas for mold growth. When a home suffers from a leaking roof, even if just a small leak, it creates a breeding ground for mold in the attic. Once moisture enters an attic, the dampness mixed with the dark environment creates an ideal home for mold.
Mold in an attic often goes unnoticed because homeowners don’t normally get inside the attic. Be sure to check your home’s attic on a regular basis for leaks and mold.
7. Basement
The basement is another perfect place for mold growth just like the attic is. The basement of a home is also a dark and damp space. If your home’s basement has suffered from a flood or leak of any kind, you’ll want to ensure that it’s cleaned and dried well to prevent mold growth.
Aside from when a leak or flood occurs, you’ll also want to check your basement on a regular basis for mold as well. Some leaks can be minute enough to not raise much concern, such as a basement window that lets a bit of water in when it rains. However, if not repaired, over time the moisture from the window will allow mold to grow.
Learn How to Check for Mold in Your House Before It’s Too Late!
If mold growth isn’t addressed immediately, it could cause serious health concerns for you, your family, and your home. Learn how to check for mold in your house before it’s too late. Mold that’s not treated right way can grow thicker and reach wider areas before completely taking over.
Did you find this post to be helpful? If so, make sure you visit our website daily for more!