Identifying and Controlling Household Mold

Asthma symptoms that worsen over time may have more to do with your home than your physical health. If you or someone in your family has experienced chest tightness, chronic cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing, you may want to check for mold. It’s a common indoor asthma trigger and spores are everywhere in the air. All they need to grow are darkness, moisture, and a nutrient source that can be found in wood, drywall, or fabric. In just days, spores can grow and worsen breathing issues.

If you smell a musty, moldy odor, try to follow it and look for obvious mold growth. You may find signs of previous water damage, like discoloration on walls or ceilings. Check rooms that use water, like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, and in the basement. Leaky pipes in walls are a common cause of mold. It can grow behind wallpaper, tile, or paneling so don’t forget to check these places as well.

Here are a few tips to control mold growth and lessen the effects on your asthma:

• Repair any water leaks as soon as possible and clean up all standing water and moisture. Use a wet/dry vacuum, fans, and a dehumidifier.
• Appliances that create moisture, like dryers and stoves, should be vented outdoors to keep it out of the air.
• Avoid carpeting in high humidity rooms like bathrooms. Wash bath mats frequently to prevent mold growth.
• Keep indoor humidity below 50% by using a dehumidifier regularly. Cool your home with an air conditioner during the hot, humid summer months if possible.
• Use paint that’s labeled “mold resistant” in high humidity areas like basements, bathrooms, and kitchens.
• Keep drip pans from appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners clean and dry.

At the first sign of mold in your home or business, call the professionals at RestorationMaster for mold remediation services. Mold is dangerous to both people and property and the longer you wait, the more damage is done. Mold removal specialists use only the best testing and cleaning methods in the industry and have completed advanced training in water mitigation and mold remediation.

Mold remediation costs vary, depending on the size of the home and the extent of the damage. According to HomeAdvisor.com, the national average for testing is $770.00 and the national average for cleanup is $2,151.00.

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.