Break the mold.
Mold can grow in any house in Connecticut. Even if a home doesn’t suffer from a flood, water can leak into walls or flooring. Mold can then grow inside the walls for years.
Mold crumbles internal structures, threatening the home’s constitution. It can enter into the human body, triggering heart and neurological damage. You need to get rid of mold as soon as it enters.
But many people don’t know the signs of mold. Here is a quick guide to seven.
1. You Smell Odd Odors
When mold reacts to the air, it can create a few different odors. If you walk into a room and smell a musty odor, it could be mold in your walls.
Mold can also produce sour or bitter smells. You can mistake mold for weeds, spoiled food, or other products.
If you detect an odd odor, begin to investigate. Smell close to your walls and carpeting. If you notice a strong scent there, look closely with a strong light source.
Many molds do not produce odors until they have grown significantly. Other molds don’t produce any odors at all. An odd scent is a prominent sign of mold, but you need other signs to determine if you have mold in your walls.
2. You Have Sudden Allergic Reactions
Mold can trigger a number of symptoms. Mold allergies are similar to many seasonal allergies. Mold causes sneezing, runny noses, and coughs.
Mold allergies inflame asthma. On occasion, contact with mold can spark an asthma attack. If you have sudden symptoms, mold may be in your home.
Black mold is the most infamous type of mold. It can trigger allergic reactions, and anecdotal evidence suggests it can cause neurological damage. Children and pets can accidentally eat black mold, which can cause food poisoning.
Dust, pollen, and many environmental allergens trigger similar symptoms. You may have mold alongside dust or another allergen. Be thorough when investigating and treating mold in walls in Connecticut.
3. Your Wall Is Discolored
Mold can come in a variety of colors and shapes. It can grow on walls, behind wallpaper, or within wall materials.
If your walls change color, mold may be growing in them. Mold can warp your wallpaper, causing it to crack or swell. Mold can produce gas, producing bubbles behind a coat of paint or wall decoration.
You cannot stop mold from growing by applying paint over it. You will need to open up your wall and remove your mold. You will also need to stop moisture from leaking into your room.
4. Your House Had a Flood
Your home may not be on the water, but it can still flood. Rain can pour through a window or door, flooding a basement or room. Your pipe can burst at the seams.
A snowstorm can drop feet of snow on your property. Snow can damage your gutters, causing water to fill your home. A snowstorm can cause your pipe to freeze, triggering a catastrophic leak.
A company can remove water and salvage your home. But water removal does not mean mold removal. Mold can build up in your walls, even months after a flood.
5. Your Ventilation Doesn’t Work
Mold can start in your walls and enter into other features in your home. Air conditioning units connect to your walls and windows. Mold can seep upward, entering into your vents and appliances.
Mold can cause your AV unit to malfunction. It might not turn on at all. You may detect strong odors coming from your unit, even after you clean it.
Mold can clog your bathroom exhaust fans. To test your fans, circulate steam through your bathroom, then run your fans. If they don’t circulate clean air after a few minutes, mold could be clogging them.
6. Condensation Builds Up
Condensation builds up in a lot of people’s homes. Most condensation does not lead to mold. But if the condensation is significant enough, mold can penetrate into walls and window linings.
Condensation occurs when warm and moist air collides with a cool surface. If you heat your home too high, hot air will collide with cold windows. This causes condensation and mold to build up.
Turn your heating down, especially when you’re not home. Open your windows to allow condensation to flow out. Weatherize your window with firm seals to keep moisture from leaking into your walls.
Clean the condensation off of your windows. Remove any visible signs of mold from your home in plastic bags.
7. You Use a Humidifier
Humidifiers are a cost-effective way to care for your skin. But humidifiers can cause mold to grow.
Move your humidifier away from the wall. Mold can crawl from your humidifier into your wall through the electric socket. Water can also drip down your humidifier, pooling inside your walls and flooring.
Inspect your humidifier every time you use it. If you notice any mold, remove it right away. If your humidifier gets too moldy, throw it out.
Keep your humidifier away from windows to avoid condensation build-ups. Do not use your humidifier in rooms where you notice signs of mold. Steam in the air can feed mold in walls.
The Seven Essential Signs of Mold
Not everything is made from the same mold. Mold can grow in any wall at any time. Learn the common signs of mold and you can remove it immediately.
Odor and sudden allergic reactions are the two most common signs. Discoloration can also occur in walls, paint, and carpeting. After any flood, you need to inspect your walls and floor for mold.
Take note of when your ventilation doesn’t work since mold can grow in it. Condensation can build up on windows, feeding mold. Humidifiers can also spread mold through steam and outlets.
Get a mold inspection as soon as you notice signs of mold. A-Team Plumbing offers premium inspections at affordable prices in Connecticut. Read about our camera line inspections, and call us at (203) 599-3992.