When you own a home in Barrington, IL, you take great pride in making sure that you keep your home in tip-top condition. One of the most devastating things that a homeowner can discover in their home is a serious mold problem.
Mold spores are microscopic and can float around in the air freely until they land on a spot that is conducive to mold growth. After that, it is only a matter of time before the mold begins to appear and take over.
From the interior of the walls to the insulation in the attic, crawl space areas to ceiling tiles, and any other exposed area, your home could have mold growing in places that are not obvious or visible. It is important that homeowners are aware of the ways in which mold grows, the causes of a mold problem, and the right ways to prevent mold growth in your home.
Why Is Preventing Mold So Important?
So, why is mold such as problem? It has two primary issues: health problems and structural integrity issues. Mold exposure, especially for those who have current respiratory problems, can have serious adverse effects. Asthma and allergic reactions can develop or become worse. For some individuals, this could mean time in the hospital due to toxic mold exposure.
Secondly, your home’s structural integrity could be at risk. Mold is known for attacking any and all surfaces in the home, including insulation, wood, ceiling tiles, crawl spaces, organic material, and even the foundation. Unless the mold growing in these areas is taken care of, it will continue to infest the home until the building is uninhabitable. That is why it is important to mold-proof the home and get rid of any moisture problem.
Causes of Mold Growth in Your Home
In order for mold to grow, the specific environment must be correct. If you detect a musty smell in any area of the home, that is likely moldy surfaces expelling the odor and air movement bringing it to you. To prevent mold and that terrible smell, you have to eliminate the environment for mold growth.
Mold will develop with the right temperature (warm), high humidity levels, and standing water. If mold prevention is your goal, you must eliminate these 3 requirements. Things that produce moisture problems include a leaky pipe, foundation leaks, steamy showers with no ventilation for moisture control, floods, leaking roofs, and a variety of other circumstances. Even a spill can result in excess moisture if it is not cleaned quickly.
Strategies for Stopping Mold Growth
Now that you understand why mold is so terrible for your home and the many reasons why mold can grow, you need to know how to prevent mold from growing. Making sure that no problem develops is the best way to ensure that you will not have to worry about the health effects of the mold or any structural issues with your largest financial investment – your home.
Here are some of the top tips for preventing mold from growing in your Barrington, IL, home:
Ensure Proper Ventilation in Moist Areas
Any areas that are regularly damp (kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, basement) should be well-ventilated. Open windows during your showers or while cooking to get the steam out of the house. If there are no windows, use exhaust fans to pull the moisture out of the room and keep air circulation going. Proper ventilation of indoor humidity is key to keeping damp rooms from growing mold.
Also, if there is wet clothing in the bathroom or basement, it should not be left there for too long. Use clothes dryers to eliminate the dampness or leave wet clothes outside to air dry before washing them.
Inspect Your Air Conditioner and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning System.
Mold likes to hide in places like air conditioners and the HVAC system. Be sure to have your air conditioning and furnace checked regularly for any signs of mold growth. This is especially important since the vents are able to affect indoor air quality.
Get Rid of Standing Water and Its Causes
If you have any standing water – even very minor instances such as indoor plants collecting water in the plant-soil – it should not be left too long. Plumbing leaks should be repaired immediately so that they do not cause water to collect on the basement floor or elsewhere. Any appliances that are leaking should also either be repaired or replaced before the water creates humid climates in your home.
Track the Moisture Content in a Humid Basement
Basements and crawl space areas are hotbeds for mold because they are often very damp. It is critical to check the floor, walls, and plumbing for any leaks or signs of water collecting in the area. Also, a dehumidifier is an excellent investment to eliminate excess moisture from the basement and maintain a 50% moisture level for your indoor air.
Reach Out to Us for a Breath of Fresh Air in Your Home in Barrington, IL
If you are a resident of Barrington, IL, or the surrounding area and you are dealing with a moisture problem that may be leading to the development of mold in your home, contact Powerhouse Restoration. Our water damage restoration experts have the mold-killing products and techniques for controlling moisture that is needed to keep your home mold-free.
Our team at Powerhouse Restoration has been serving residents and owners of commercial buildings since 2006, and we are well aware of the dangers of mold. We are dedicated to helping you reduce moisture in your home and clean mold from any areas that have been infested. The Powerhouse Restoration team is available to take your call 24 hours per day, 7 days per week so you can rest assured that there will be a live person to talk to whenever you need us.
We are fully licensed, bonded, and insured, and our professionals are committed to keeping you and your family safe. Contact us today to get a free estimate for mold remediation in your Barrington, IL, home.