Dangerous Ways Mold Affects Your Home
Mold in your home should never be taken lightly. Other than the musty smell and unsightly look it leaves behind, mold can actually be quite dangerous. Any seasoned homeowner that comes across dark spots on their walls, floors, or even furniture will know that a mold infestation is brewing, and actions need to be taken immediately.
Mold growth can happen anytime and anywhere. After all, they only need two things to survive and thrive— moisture and material to grow on. Since mold spores are all around us, a little bit of humidity and water is sure to jumpstart the process of mold growth.
Mold thrives in damp and humid environments such as basements, bathrooms, or unventilated areas. This is why most mold remediation tips always mention that you should eliminate the source of moisture such as leaks and keep your home cool and dry by increasing airflow.
These microbial spores may look tiny, but what they lack in size, they make up for in their ability to wreak havoc on homes everywhere. In this article, we’re going to explain why you should be concerned when you see these spots popping up in your house and the dangerous ways mold can affect your home.
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When left for long periods of time, mold feeds can cause walls to collapse.
Health Problems for The Household
Mold, especially black mold, is known for causing health problems for the household and reducing the air quality inside the home. They can induce allergic reactions, respiratory symptoms, and in severe cases, even death.
Mold spores produce toxins and when breathed in that can trigger nasal congestion, sneezing, coughs, and respiratory infections.
2. Severe Structural Damage
You might be wondering how something as small as mold can cause structural damage. Mold feeds on organic materials and eats away at materials such as wood, fabrics, paper, and even glue. When they are left for long periods of time, they can cause enough damage that can cause ceilings, walls, or floors to collapse.
3. Permanent Damage to Your Furniture
Other than eating away at your walls and floors, mold can cause damage to your furniture and other items. If your furniture consists of a lot of wooden material, it might be difficult to repair and restore. Black mold on wood can be a nightmare to deal with. Wood is porous; hence, it might be impossible to completely remove mold from a material such as wood.
4. Devaluing of Your Home
If you’re looking to sell your home or rent it out, mold will not only cause health risks for others, it can also devalue your home significantly. Ignoring mold growth won’t make the problem go away.
In fact, you’ll end up with a bigger bill due to the needed repairs and you might have to decrease your selling price due to the mold infestation. Mold doesn’t just look unsightly, it also permeates wood, drywall, and other materials, which makes mold growth a deeper problem.
How to Keep Mold Out of Your Home Once and for All
To keep mold out of your home, you need to take a multi-pronged approach. In addition to removing mold from your walls and floors, it’s just as crucial to prevent mold growth from happening again in the future.
Follow these suggestions to help stop mold growth in your household:
- Remove moisture and spills as soon as they happen
- Keep your floors dry to minimize the risk of mold growth
- Maintain a humidity level of under 60 percent
- Hire a residential cleaner to come by to disinfect and scrub your home’s surfaces regularly, or DIY if you have the time
- Declutter your interior space by removing or storing your unnecessary belongings
Mold thrives in moist, dark places, so be sure to keep your home well ventilated and thoroughly clean up any spills. If mold does grow, be sure to remove it right away to prevent a larger problem from developing in the future. I
Wrapping Up
Mold growth is a serious problem that requires immediate attention. When left alone or untreated, it can become more severe and cause irreparable damage because it continues to spread throughout your house, damaging your health and home’s overall air quality. Preventing mold growth is the best way to protect your home. If your home does become affected by mold growth, the best option is to call a professional for mold remediation.
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.
