It is distressing for anyone to find mold on their property, but there is no reason to panic. Mold removal professionals are available 24/7 to inspect and remove mold damage. These technicians have the knowledge and equipment to efficiently eradicate mold, but it can be difficult to tell when to call.

There is discussion over whether professionals are needed or if mold removal is something that can be done by the homeowner following proper research. Taking a DIY mold removal approach is less expensive, but riskier, especially if the homeowner does not have construction or restoration experience.

There are certain signs to look for when inspecting a mold infestation that warrant an immediate call to mold removal and remediation services.

1. Musty Smells

Even if you can’t locate the mold, you can probably smell it and likely became aware of its presence through that odor. Various homeowners have reported that mold smells like wet socks or decaying wood. The smell is musty, humid, and moist; luckily, it is also easy to detect as being out of the ordinary.

Musty smells are certainly unpleasant, but they can be more threatening than that. A strong odor means that mold spores are in the air and breathing those spores can be hazardous for your health.

Health problems associated with mold include:

• Allergy symptoms
• Asthma reaction
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Sore throat
• Pneumonia
• Digestive problems
• Inflammation

Don’t hesitate and allow your nose to get used to the smell because that will reduce the urgency of the situation and the mold will remain in your home for a long time. Call a mold remediation professional right away if you suspect an unpleasant odor could be due to mold.

2. Health Risks

Smelling and breathing in mold can easily put residents of the house at risk, especially young children and the elderly. Mold is also dangerous for people with weak immune systems, likely caused by:

• HIV
• Certain types of cancer
• Chemotherapy
• Malnutrition
• Organ transplant

It is important to address the mold problem right away or, if there are delays, move the at-risk individuals to a different residence temporarily. Don’t let health problems become an unfortunate side effect of mold growth in your home.

3. Size of Mold

The larger the mold growth is, the larger your problem is. If you have mold growth covering 10-square-feet or more, it is best to call mold remediation specialists before the mold spreads any further. Fast-growing mold can affect the drywall and cause its need for replacement.

For mold growth covering less than 10-square-feet, it’s manageable to do the repairs yourself, but be sure to do research and properly prepare for the job. If there is simply too much mold for you to tackle easily, regardless of how many square feet, call a professional for efficient and effective service.

4. Location of Mold

The location of the mold in your home is important because it affects how easily it is to detect and/or reach for remediation and removal. The most common areas for mold to grow are where water is prevalent:

• Kitchen
• Bathroom
• Laundry room

However, mold also grows in certain hard to reach spots that make identifying it difficult:

• Attic
• Crawlspace
• Ducts/vents

Mold removal and remediation technicians are skilled in removing mold in hard-to-reach places without damaging the structure of the home. Home improvements performed by the homeowner are not recommended in these cases because it requires expertise they likely don’t have.

5. Excess Moisture

Mold requires moisture to grow and large amounts of moisture on the property can be indicative of a more serious problem. Moisture often comes from water damage in the home, which can quickly spread and ruin appliances and other belongings. Water damage restoration professionals can restore and repair items ruined by water damage. They can also address the structure of the house that may have been weakened due to its exposure to water damage.

As you can see, mold can come from a variety of sources, but the bottom line is that it is harmful to your home and your health. It is important that you don’t wait to call professionals to remediate and remove the mold from your property completely, once and for all.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.