Initial Signs That You Might Have a Mold Problem

Having mold in your home is no joke. Not only can mold cost you a great deal of time, money and trouble, but having mold, especially black mold, in your home can be a serious health risk. Since mold is sometimes hidden and hard to find, it’s important to understand what it is, how to recognize it and what you can do to prevent and treat it.

What is Mold and Where Does It Grow?

Mold, often presenting as mildew, is a fungus which grows in warm, moist areas. The kind of mold that grows in your home can often be found in showers and basements. Unfortunately, it can also form literally anywhere in your home with access to water or condensation. You should be especially concerned about the potential of mold if your home has had flooding, water damage, leaking pipes, or a leaking roof. It should also be top of mind if you experience consistent condensation around windows, on walls or in any other part of your home’s structure.

Signs of Mold in Your Home

The sooner you can detect and address mold in your home, the easier it is to deal with. It’s helpful to know the early signs of mold that you might not notice or attribute to mold right away.

Trust Your Nose– Mold and mildew have a distinct musty, old smell. Even a small or short whiff of it is reason to go on a search for other signs of mold.
Use Your Eyes– While it’s tempting to think visual signs of mold are obvious, one might assume it’s just dirt, or small amounts may go entirely unnoticed. General discoloration of your walls, peeling or bubbling paint or wallpaper can often be signs of previous water damage and warrant a closer search for the more obvious signs of mold. Mold isn’t always black. It can appear as strings or threads of white, tiny to large black spots, or all size blotches of gray, brown, orange, purple or pink. Even a tiny amount of mold requires attention to determine if it needs to be removed.
Listen to your Body– Mold can be a health concern, and your body will pick up on its presence with signs you should listen to. Have you or family members experienced more allergy symptoms than usual? Does it happen more often or is it more severe in your home than outside? Many specific physical symptoms can easily be misattributed to having a cold or other malady, however mold symptoms will be persistent, combining seemingly unrelated issues. It’s important to check for mold in your home at the earliest onset of these symptoms to avoid higher risk of serious health concerns. Some molds are dangerous toxins that affect respiratory and neurological systems, sometimes causing physical damage to your body. These symptoms should always be taken seriously.

Breathing issues, wheezing, shortness of breath, lung pain, asthma symptoms
Runny nose, itchy eyes, sore throat, watering and/or red eyes, coughing
Headaches, lack of focus or concentration, dizziness, memory trouble

Prevention and Treatment of Mold

The best way to prevent mold in your home is to control moisture levels. Old damage must be addressed or removed. Any leaking or condensation must be prevented or immediately addressed before water damage can occur. Mold may never have to develop if plumbing and structural issues are prevented or addressed as they occur. If you spot mold, or suspect you may have it in your home, give Home Angels a call. We’ll complete a thorough check and help you determine your next steps.