When Is Mold Season?
Mold forms when its airborne spores encounter moisture and food sources, such as wood, dirt, and paper. Moisture can be found in humidifiers, leaky roofs and pipes, flooding, and other types of water damage in the home. Mold growth is ugly, has an unpleasant odor, and causes damage to the structural core of the building. It also increases the risk of allergic reactions and infections in the residents of the home. Young children, the elderly, and those with weak immune systems are the most at risk for health problems.
Mold is a common occurrence, but more so during a certain time of year. Homeowners should be more aware of “mold season” and the repercussions it has on both the building and their health.
Mold Season
Mold season refers to the time of year when mold is most likely to grow due to factors like location and climate. Mold can grow any time, but there are certain months out of the year that mold growth is most common. Mold growth is most prevalent from early spring to mid-fall, but its peak is during late summer. Be sure to check for excess moisture on your property during weather and climate changes, such as snow thaw, rain, and humidity.
Mold often grows on walls exposed to moisture.
Winter is the season when mold is dormant, but that doesn’t mean the threat is completely gone. Mold doesn’t die out during winter – it “hibernates,” especially in areas with extremely low temperatures. Areas with mild winters may experience mold growth all year long. After the mold has been dormant for the winter, it can find hosts in damp places or dead plants. To prevent this, have all mold removed and bleach the locations it spread to.
Mold is a problem any time of year, but mold season is when mold growth is at its peak. Be alert during early spring to midfall and learn about mold damage during each season.
Early Spring
Spring is the season where dormant mold begins to grow again after the wintertime. Spring is the worst season for mold in areas that experience heavy rain because “spring showers” create lots of moisture for mold to invade. Check the following places for standing water or excessive moisture in your home: the attic, basement, crawlspace, windows, and doors. Pay attention to unusual odors and crumbling drywall in your search. These could be symptoms of hidden water damage or mold issues.
Summer
Summer is the worst season for mold in areas that experience high humidity. Typically, midwestern and southeastern regions are the most humid and homeowners should be aware of the high possibility of mold growth. Kitchens and bathrooms are prone to spikes in humidity due to the consistent use of appliances with hot water, so these rooms have the highest risk for mold growth.
Air conditioning units reduce humidity inside the home and typically, the extracted water is sent to a nearby drain. However, poor ventilation systems or units may cause this water to leak into crawl spaces or basements. It is important to check these places for moisture and remove it to prevent mold growth. Condensation often grows on windows and doors when it is cool inside and humid outside, so check and clean these areas often.
Mid-Fall
Fall is the time of year when mold slows down and begins to “hibernate” during the winter. Fall is the easiest part of mold season because the mold becomes dormant due to cold weather and homeowners don’t have to worry about rain or humidity causing mold growth. However, continue to check your home for mold in mid-fall to remove the dormant mold before wintertime.
Mold Allergy Season
Early spring to mid-fall is also the time of year when allergies are most severe. Mold season can trigger allergic reactions and each season affects those allergies differently.
Mold can trigger severe allergic reactions.
Spring is when mold continues to grow after winter and an active mold infestation can cause early allergy symptoms in spring. A seasonal increase in rain and wind can also increase airborne mold spores. Mold and dust both cause nasal congestion, watery eyes, and frequent sneezing.
Summer is when the mold spore count is particularly high because of humidity. You are advised to stay inside to avoid mold grown on grass and grains, but mold spores will continue to bother your allergies if mold is present in the home.
Fall is like spring in terms of allergic reactions caused by mold. As the weather transitions to fall and becomes windier, mold spores increase. Season fall allergies often worsen due to frequent exposure to mold of fungi.
Contact Us
If you discover mold on your property at any time of the year, don’t hesitate to call a mold remediation company. Our technicians are trained to remove mold from your property and restore items and structures affected by mold. It is best to let mold remediation professionals remove mold for you rather than attempt to do so yourself, especially if you have mold-affected allergies.
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.
