Mold.
It is a word that no one wants to hear, but many homeowners ignore the warning signs until it is too late.
Oftentimes, we receive calls from homeowners who have been dealing with mold issues for months or even years without knowing what caused it. Taking a closer look underneath their home in the crawl space… we are able to identify the culprit.
A crawl space that does not have a vapor barrier or encapsulation can create an ideal environment for mold to grow in. As a result of the combination of a dark, cool space combined with damp air and condensation, mold will be able to grow just as it should. It is natural for crawl spaces to be dark, but that does not mean that they have to be moist – and they should not be moist either.
In most cases, homeowners do not realize the mold problem is caused by their crawl spaces and only notice the signs of mold elsewhere in their homes. The mold spores can easily make their way from your crawl space into your home through vents or even through your subfloor. As they travel into your home, the spores can attach to the walls, and the floor and cause mold growth in certain areas of your home. You may have mold in your home if you notice greenish-black spots on the walls or floor of your home.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you remove mold as soon as possible as it may pose a health hazard to you. In most cases, you can see mold in the form of small patches that are fuzzy, discolored, or slimy. There is often a comparison made between the color of the fabric and the colors found on the forest floor. Sometimes, however, mold isn’t visible to the naked eye. It is more likely for homeowners to smell a dank, musty, or rotten odor in their homes, which is an indication that mold is growing in them. When there is standing water or an issue with moisture, mold can grow anywhere there is a source of moisture. There are many places where this can be seen, such as bathrooms, window moldings, around refrigerator doors or air conditioners.
In the event that you believe you have a mold problem in your home. Taking action as soon as possible is important, and it is better not to wait too long. There is no guarantee that the problem will simply disappear on its own but instead, it will gradually get worse over time.
Here are 4 reasons you should address the mold issue in your home as soon as possible:
#1 Mold Grows Quickly
It only takes mold 24 to 48 hours in wet, warm conditions to grow and spread from one place to another.
#2 Mold Isn’t Always Easy To See
It is common for homeowners to notice mold based on its physical appearance or smell, but not always. In the past, I’ve received calls from homeowners who simply felt that the brain fog or fatigue they were experiencing in their homes might be caused by mold in the house.
#3 Mold Is Expensive To Remove
There is no doubt that the damage to your home that is caused by mold will only become more costly as time goes on. The severity of the mold problem can have a big impact on whether or not you have to remove and replace walls or floors, which can be very expensive very quickly, depending on how bad the mold problem is. As for the cost of removing the mold itself, that does not include the cost of removing the mold itself.
#4 Mold May Cause Health Issues
If left untreated, mold can cause mild to severe respiratory health problems for you and your family, depending on its severity.
Do you think that there may be mold growing in your crawl space or in your home? We encourage you to give us a call if you believe you may have a mold problem and your home also has a crawl space. The mold may be originating in your crawl space and spread throughout your home. Our team can evaluate the crawl space to find out for sure. If mold is found, we can put the best plan in place to remove the mold as quickly as possible and take preventative measures to drastically reduce your chances of mold growing in your crawl space again.
