June 29, 2022 by David Mobley

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Indoor mold can wreak havoc on the health and safety of your home. Molds are not only unsightly, but they can cause health conditions such as allergies, rashes, and respiratory illnesses in people who are exposed. If you see mold growing in your house, it’s crucial to your family’s health and safety to determine the cause, correct the problem, and have the mold professionally removed from your home.

What Causes Mold To Grow Indoors

While moisture is the root cause of mold growth, it also needs these conditions to grow in a home:

• Mold spores
• Oxygen
• Warmth
• A food source such as wood, drywall, fabric
• Moisture such as humidity and water leaks

Essentially, if you see mold in your home, you have moisture problems. The most common sources of indoor moisture are the following.

Humidity

If you live in a region prone to high humidity, you are most likely used to battling unwanted mold growth indoors. Even in areas that only experience a few days of high humidity a year, mold can quickly take root. When it rains for several days, you may find mold starting to grow on walls exposed to the wet air. To combat indoor humidity, dehumidifiers and specific HVAC systems can help reduce the moisture levels and keep mold growth at bay.

Leaking Pipes

Water leaking from pipes is a common source of indoor mold problems in homes. Often, leaking pipes go undetected for some time, hidden behind walls and underneath cabinets out of view. Most homeowners don’t discover the leak until mold growth has spread in the house and the source is tracked down and fixed.

Leaking Roofs

Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against the outdoor elements. When it is in disrepair or needs to be replaced, water can seep into your attic spaces and leak into your home every time it rains. The attic leaks can cause mold growth as attics provide the added warmth mold needs to thrive. If you see any leaks in your roof, have it inspected and repaired or replaced as soon as possible to avoid dangerous and expensive mold growth.

Poor Ventilation

Airflow is crucial to healthy indoor air quality. If your home has poor ventilation, pockets of stagnant moist air can be perfect for mold growth. Inadequate ventilation also means wet surfaces won’t dry out as quickly, giving more time for mold spores to flourish.

Flooding

If your home experiences flooding, whether from a storm or a problem with something indoors, mold is sure to grow. A flooded house or room in a place takes a long time to dry out, which gives mold more than enough time to take over. Most molds only need a surface to be wet for 24 hours to grow, but some dangerous toxic molds require several days to infest your home.

If you see mold growing in your home, track down the source and correct the problem as soon as possible.

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