Allow mold to grow in your home can lead to serious problems down the road. If mold isn’t addressed right away, it can take over your home before you know it. In some cases, mold can grow inside a home without a homeowner ever knowing it’s there.
This is due to mold’s secret hiding places behind walls, large appliances, or in the basement or attic. One of the best ways to know if mold is present is to test for mold in your house. How do you know if a mold test is the right option for you?
Having a test done will cost you money, and you most likely don’t want to spend money if not necessary. That’s why you need to be on the lookout for signs of mold in your house. To check for mold in your house and catch it in its early stages, continue reading below.
Here are a few signs that mold is hiding inside your home!
1. You Smell Something Musty
Mold has a distinct smell to it. If mold is growing inside your home or is attached to the HVAC vents or ductwork, you’ll most likely get a good whiff of it every now and then. The smell is a musty smell and can take over your entire home.
At times, you might not smell the musty odor because you’re used to it. Try to smell around right after you enter your home after being gone all day. If the smell gets worse over time, then you know that the mold is getting worse or growing rapidly.
2. You See Mold Growth
Another good indication that you have mold growing in your home is if you see the mold yourself. If you can see mold growing, then you know there’s a problem. This should also be a sign that you need to act fast because it means the mold problem is so bad that it’s making its way outside of your walls.
Do keep in mind that there are different types of mold as well. Black mold is the type that most people are familiar with, but mold can come in several different colors such as light pink, orange, or brown. If you start to see color changes to your walls or inside your showers, then you should have the areas checked for mold.
Just because you only see the mold in one area of the home doesn’t mean that’s the only location that the mold is growing in. You’ll need to have the entire home checked.
3. There’s Been Recent Water Damages
Mold thrives in dark and wet areas. If you’re going on a hunt to find mold in your home, you should start with any sections of the home that remain dark and moist. These locations might be the laundry room, the bathroom, under your sinks, and more.
Because mold grows so well in areas that are wet, you need to be on the lookout for it if you’ve had recent water damages to your home. A pipe that’s burst or a leak that caused water damage are two examples of the perfect environment for mold.
Check around the areas where recent water damages occurred. If mold were going to grow, it would grow here. If you experience water damage in your home in the future, then be sure to dry the area out completely as quickly as possible.
4. You’ve Been Ill Lately
Not all mold is dangerous, but mold spores of any kind can cause different reactions in different people. If there’s any type of mold in your home, it’s best to have it removed for this reason.
Mold might not cause serious health issues in all people, but it can be serious for those who already suffer from breathing issues or have weakened immune systems. If you notice that you have a cold that never seems to go away or allergy symptoms that worsen when you come home, then this could be a sign of mold.
Be sure to keep an eye on your health while you’re at home and away from your home. If it gets worse when you’re at home, there might be mold bidding behind the walls.
5. There Are High Levels of Condensation and Humidity
High levels of humidity in the home or high levels of condensation can cause mold to grow as well. There are humidity gages that you can buy to check the humidity levels inside your home.
Be sure to check around your windows as well for signs of condensation build-up. The AC unit, refrigerator, and other appliances might cause condensation as well. If condensation isn’t addressed, it can spark mold growth.
6. You Have a Mold Test Done
If you’ve looked for all of these signs and still aren’t sure if there’s mold in the home, the best thing to do is to have a mold test done. A mold test is a sure way to determine if mold is present or not.
Professionals will come in and check your home for mold and then respond to it appropriately by having mold remediation done. What is mold remediation?
Mold remediation is the process of returning mold levels in the house to normal.
Test for Mold in Your House Before It’s Too Late
If you believe your home might have mold growing inside it, then you need to test for mold in your house before it begins to take over. Mold can grow quickly if not addressed and can cause health issues of all sorts.
Keep your home and yourself safe by checking for mold today.
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