Mold is one of the most troublesome sights for a homeowner as it only requires the right temperature and moisture levels to grow but it can be difficult to eliminate. It is important to be proactive in preventing and removing mold because it can cause property damage as well as adverse health reactions to those in your home. Many homeowners are guilty of ignoring signs of mold growth or other problems that could lead to mold as well as using the wrong products for mold removal. This article discusses many common mistakes homeowners make regarding mold remediation and how to avoid making them yourself.

Neglecting or Failing to Notice Mold Growth

If you notice any of the following signs of mold growth in your home, you may be in need of mold remediation.  Ignoring them, or failing to notice, will only make the problem worse.

Mold in a home, picture from Wikipedia

• Make sure to explore the possibility of mold growth if people in your home are developing allergies, asthma, or other health problems.
• If you notice the slightest bit of mold, do not ignore it.
• A strong musty odor could indicate mold growth.
• Water stained walls and ceilings could be harboring mold growth.

Neglecting or Failing to Fix Maintenance Issues

Mold needs a moisture source in order to grow, so the best method of preventing mold is to control the moisture level within your home. The following issues should be fixed right away because they will allow in excess moisture, which can contribute to mold growth:

• Leaks in the roof, plumbing, or sewer line.
• Humidity level of 60 percent or higher.
• Wet or damp basements, crawlspaces, and attics.

Failing to Notice Non-Visible Mold Growth

Not all mold growth in a home is visible; mold can easily grow within walls, ceilings, floors, basements, attics, and within air ducts among other hidden places. If you have noticed some typical signs of mold growth, but have not seen any visible growth, you may need to hire a mold removal service to check these hidden spots because it can be dangerous to assume that no visible mold means no mold at all.

Assuming Lack of Moisture Means no Mold Growth

While it is well known that mold needs moisture to grow and spread, mold spores can actually become dormant if there is no moisture only to grow back when the moisture levels are favorable again.  It is also possible for dormant mold to cause health problems for those that are sensitive to mold.

Treating Mold Growth with Bleach

Many homeowners assume that bleach is the best method of household mold removal but bleach is not strong enough to effectively kill mold.  Your best option is to hire a mold removal service to completely remove all mold growth.

Mold Removal Cost

The ultimate cost of mold remediation services will depend on the extent of the mold growth in your home as it can range anywhere from $500 to upwards of $30,000.  Mold remediation often involves repair of the affected surfaces as well as removal of the mold itself so it is possible that even small jobs can cost up to about $1000.  It is important to contact a professional for mold removal immediately because the longer you wait to take action, to more the mold can spread which will make the remediation process even more expensive.

When you inspect your home for mold, make sure to take these tips into account so that you do not make one of these common mistakes which can lead to a bigger problem.  If you do discover mold growing anywhere in your home, contact a professional for mold remediation services to have the problem eliminated.

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.