It’s always disappointing to find mold growing inside your home. Unfortunately, though, it’s pretty common. Mold is caused by several factors, many of which are attributed to water damage. If you just bought a new home or are planning to, it’s recommended that you get a black mold inspection. In some cases, this may rule mold out. However, it may also help you catch mold in its early stages before it gets worse.
Here’s everything you need to know about mold, including where it grows:
Where You’ll Find Mold in the House (And Where a Black Mold Inspection Tech Will Search)
As briefly mentioned above, mold usually develops after water damage. However, that’s not to say that a spill here and there will always lead to mold.
When it comes to mold development, it needs to have the right environment. This includes moisture and humidity. For example, an overflowing sink isn’t enough on its own to lead to mold. However, if it sits for a long time and there is no airflow to break up the humidity and moisture in the air, it will lead to mold. This is why, if your home’s HVAC system isn’t working properly, you should get it fixed as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could be promoting a mold infestation without even knowing it.
Here are some of the areas in the house where you’re likely to find mold growth:
- Kitchen
- Laundry Room
- Attic
- Basement
- Bathroom
- Bedroom Closets
Kitchen
Your kitchen is home to many different pipes, both under the sink and behind the walls. However, it also has the most appliances in the house. Your refrigerator and dishwasher can both leak water. While a dishwasher leak will be easier to notice, a leak behind the fridge could be unnoticed for a long time. As such, you may have mold growth without even knowing it.
When these appliances or your sink overflow, it could lead to mold damage in as little as 24 hours. Not only can this cause mold, but your kitchen’s high humidity rate aids in mold development.
Laundry Room
Typically, your laundry room houses your washing machine. If this springs a leak, you’re facing the same type of mold growth as the kitchen. Why? Because your dryer will create a lot of humidity that won’t have anywhere else to go.
Attic
Mold growth in the attic is typically caused by a leak in the ceiling. Though roof shingles can typically last between 15 and 20 years (at minimum), this is only if they’re taken care of. Strong winds and heavy rain can damage roofing shingles over time. When this happens, it makes your roof more susceptible to leaks.
Unless you’re visiting your attic every day or a few times a week, a leak like this could be easy to miss – and so could the mold infestation.
Basement
Your basement is in the same category as your attic. However, water damage in your basement could have several causes. One of the most common is a broken water heater. A situation like this could easily flood your basement. Likewise, heavy rainstorms and actual floods will affect your basement first.
One culprit of basement water and mold damage could include clogged gutters. Your rain gutters are designed to move water away from the house. If these are clogged, they won’t move water where they should. Instead, it will spill over the sides. And where does this go? You guessed it: straight into your basement.
Water damage caused by clogged gutters is easy to miss because the leak is so minimal. However, over time, it can lead to mold. In fact, out of all the rooms mentioned on this list, you’re most likely to find mold in the basement.
Bathroom
Like your basement, your bathroom is another common place for mold to grow. It has the most potential for water damage, including overflowing toilets, tubs, and sinks. It also has the highest amount of humidity of any room. Plus, water tends to sit and become stagnant after showers and baths. Couple this with the potential for burst pipes during the winter, and your bathroom is likely to develop mold at some point of you owning your home.
Bedroom Closets
Another place you want to have a black mold inspection is inside your bedroom closets. Water pipes are usually behind or close to the walls lining the back of your closets. There may be mold and water damage and you do not even know it.
But why should you get your bedroom closets checked for mold? If left untreated, mold can lead to physical symptoms. This includes coughing, sneezing, gastrointestinal issues, and skin rashes. However, it could also lead to headaches, anxiety, and even insomnia.
These symptoms are the last ones you want to encounter while relaxing in your bedroom.
Can Mold Grow on Any Type of Surface?
The answer is yes, mold can grow on any type of surface. This includes wood, wallpaper, pipes, windows, roofing shingles, ceiling tiles, paint, drywall, and paper products. It can also grow on different types of fabric, including your couch, carpet, blankets, and clothing.
Do You Have Mold or Do You Want to Check for It? Call PNW Restoration for a Black Mold Inspection Today!
A black mold inspection can either rule out or find mold so you can get someone to treat it. If you need a professional to help with your black mold inspection, call PNW Restoration. We have years of experience in conducting black mold inspections. And if we find mold, we’ll treat it at the source.
