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How to Spot Signs of Mold

Updated: Apr 21, 2020




Mold can do a huge amount of damage to a home. But many homeowners don’t even realize that they have mold in their house. We are going to give you some tips on how to spot the effects of mold and what to do about it.

Allergies Mold not only affects your house, but it can also affect you. Some people are more susceptible to mold. If you are having unusual allergic symptoms then it is possible it is being caused by mold. Reactions to mold include sore eyes, runny nose, sneezing, or congestion. If you notice that your allergies flare when you are at home, it is likely there is mold in the house.

Smell If mold is growing somewhere in your house that isn’t visible, then often the only way you’ll know it is there is by the smell. The smell if mold is normally a musty odor. You might have smelled this in a basement before. If you notice this smell, you should immediately call Lee Carpet Cleaning to come and inspect your home. Mold that is growing under flooring or in walls may only be noticeable at first by the odor.

How Mold Looks You might think that mold is obvious, but many people mistake small patches of mold for dirt. Which then leads to them ignoring it. Even if the mold patch is small, it can spread quickly. If you see any mold, then this means that your home has the right conditions to grow more mold. Plus if you see mold, there could be much more that you can’t see. Not all mold looks the same, and many types don’t look like traditional mold. There are types of mold that are white, gray-brown, and even gray-green. If you have wallpaper that has mold growing behind it, it could appear pink or orange.

If you have moisture in your home for a long period, it is very likely that you will have mold. If you see water stains or discoloration, this can help you clue in on areas to check for mold. You can also look for surfaces in your home that might be cracking or bubbling. Obviously, if your walls are damp, then you have a problem. If you are unsure but are experiencing some of the signs of mold, then you should call a professional to come and help.

Usually, water damage is caused by leaks, this can include your roof, or it could be plumbing. There are many ways that leaks can happen, but these are the most common. The problem with leaks is that they often happen inside walls or under cabinets, which means the damage can go unnoticed for a while.

Flooding Flooding is one of the worst things that can happen to your house. If your home has flooded in the past, it is almost a guarantee that it will have mold. Especially in a basement, if water sits for any length of time it can do a huge amount of damage to anything it touches. It is difficult to remove all the moisture, and that is why you need a professional water damage company to help.

Condensation Even if your house hasn’t been flooded, it is still possible to have a moisture level that is much too high. This will usually be seen in the form of condensation and you’ll see this on pipes or windows. If something is consistently damp from condensation, it is very easy for mold to grow in this area. You can add insulation to help fight this, and run a dehumidifier to remove the moisture from the air.

If you experience any of these issues or aren’t sure if you have mold in your home, then you should call Lee Carpet Cleaning. We are a full-service professional water damage restoration and mold remediation company and we are able to test your home for mold. You should always utilize an expert for mold removal since if it isn’t all removed it can come back easily. You also have to be careful to avoid spreading mold spores around.

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