Ventilation Issues And Moisture Buildup
If your home has poor ventilation, you may have an increase in humidity and a need to get rid of mold in your ducts. A free flow of air is needed to properly circulate vapors, and stifling that flow can lead to condensation building up on the windowsills, basement windows, or other areas where the colder internal air clashes with the heat from the exterior. Many times, an HVAC unit will extract a certain amount of water from the air, but if the unit is older and doesnt route the water to a free-flowing drain, there is a greater likelihood of leaks or overflowing drip pans. The presence of moisture creates an opportunity for mold.
Black Mold Smells Like Must And Mildew
Small areas of molds are often concealed behind wallboard and never really breakthrough to the visible side. But the clumping molds often have a very distinct aroma when growing.
Small areas of molds are often concealed behind wallboard and never really breakthrough to the visible side. But the clumping molds often have a very distinct aroma when growing.
The smell of black mold is quite distinctive, commingling mildew with a must. The odor is usually most noticeable after it comes into contact with a surge of air, such as when pushed through a homes ducts. Or after people have not been around the rooms indoor air for some time, such as in Joe and Cathys case.
Mold Growth Conditions Indoors
The reasons behind why mold has decided that a home is the perfect environment to start its development can stem from a multitude of factors. Mold is said to thrive in warm, dark environments where there is moisture present and a surface that the mold can have as a food source. Generally, moisture is an instrumental cause of mold growth since the other conditions that are needed in a home are typically already present in the home beforehand.
Humidity within the indoor environment will also play a role in mold growth as the levels increase it will promote the growth of these funguses. Moisture intrusions in the home will also add to the increase in humidity levels, particularly if ventilation is poor within the environment.
How Does Mold Spread
Mold is a difficult contaminant to remove from a home, especially due to its rapid ability to spread throughout the whole environment both on the surfaces and in the air. The element of mold that gives this fungus the ability to spread thoroughly throughout the environment is mold spores, a reproductive spore that is produced from mold in an effort to grow the mold in the environment. Mold spores easily travel in the air and are not detected by the human eye, due to its minuscule size.
As mold spores travel in the air, they will eventually settle onto surfaces in the environment, evoking the growth of the mold on the surface. This will ultimately lead to the spreading of the mold in the confined space of a home.
Also Check: Cleaning Bathroom Mold On Ceiling
Can You Dry The Water Damage Yourself
While you might think that you can dry out your water damaged areas yourself by using fans and wet-dry vacuums, weve found that most homeowners never fully dry out the water damaged areas. This is simply because they dont have the proper tools to detect hidden pockets of mold-growing wet areas.
Your best bet is to hire a professional like Jenkins Restoration to dry out your water damaged areas. These companies have specialized equipment that dries out wet areas and they both prevent and deal with mold regularly.
The cost to professionally dry your water damaged areas is almost always covered by insurance so it doesnt cost you anything more to have a restoration company like Jenkins Restorations dry out your water damaged areas to speed up the time to getting life back to normal.
How Long Does It Take For Mold To Become Visible
Although mold begins to grow within a day or two of taking root after a water or excessive moisture issue, it takes a bit longer for the mold colony to become big enough to be seen with the naked eye. If left unchecked, mold will become clearly visible within about two to four weeks. Other factorssuch as high humidity, warm temperatures, lack of airflow, or contaminated watercan also speed up this process, making it easier to identify sooner.
Also Check: Installing Stair Nose For Vinyl Plank Flooring
Who Is Most At Risk For Health Problems Associated With Exposure To Mold
People with allergies may be more sensitive to molds. People with immune suppression or underlying lung disease are more susceptible to fungal infections. Individuals with chronic respiratory disease may experience difficulty breathing. Individuals with immune suppression are at increased risk for infection from molds. If you or your family members have these conditions, a qualified medical clinician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment.
How Do I Know If I Have Mold In My House
Mold can be seen with the naked eye, but you may not always see it right away. Mold often starts out as a small spot that slowly grows over time. You might notice a musty odor or find discolored areas of paint, wallpaper or carpeting. You might also see stains on your walls or ceilings where water has leaked through the roof. If you see any of these signs, you might have mold in your home.
You May Like: Shower Ceiling Mold Removal
What To Do To Keep Mold From Generating After Water Damage
There is a 48-72 hour window between the water intrusion and the beginning of mold growth. Indeed, it is considerably hard to extract excess water and dry the areas entirely as water can get into all kinds of materials in many parts of your home.
So here’s what you need to do hire a water damage restoration company to get your home back in order.
The Spread Of Mold Growth
Summer is the perfect temperature for mold growth, but the breezes and winds that come through are also ideal for carrying mold spores around the house. Mold will thrive on soggy carpet or cardboard, inside ductwork, on insulation, or the wooden support structures of your home. It grows and multiplies quickly, putting your health and home in danger if left unaddressed. Wherever you have dark places in your home, you need to be more vigilant in checking for the presence of mold. You may end up smelling the musty odor before you see visible signs of growth, but you can be on the lookout for signs of a water leak or water damage.
Also Check: Ozone Machine To Kill Mold
How Fast Does Mold Spread
Mold spreads in as little as a few hours. When a mold spore lands on a moist organic material, it roots into the porous surface and begins to feed off the organic substance. Within hours, the harmful microorganisms start spreading to adjacent moist areas, damaging the structural integrity of the material theyre attached to. Once mold gets a foothold on a surface in your home, it quickly fills the air with thousands of spores that spread throughout the building, affecting more and more areas with every passing hour.
So, the only way to prevent mold from infesting your home following an incident with water damage is to dry the premises within the first 48 hours after the water intrusion.
How Does Mold Form
Mold and mildew are made up of resilient organisms that thrive, not just survive, pretty much anywhere. As long as they have a steady supply of food, oxygen, and moisture, they can multiply quickly and easily take over entire homes and buildings.
Mold feeds off of organic materials like wood, drywall, and fabric. When moisture builds up in areas of the home made with these materials, fungus moves in. With the right conditions, it can quickly get comfortable and start making a home for itself in your house. Even a certain level of humidity can be enough to create the required conditions for growth.
If your water damage is limited, theres still a risk that there could be mold lurking behind the walls and inside the dark corners you cant see. The best way to keep a small problem from growing out of control is by acting quickly.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Mold Off A Bathroom Ceiling
How Fast Does Black Mold Spread
Mold begins spreading the second a spore hits damp, fiber-rich materials wood, cloth, drywall and other porous surfaces are fair game in the spreading of mold. In many cases, black mold can spread to cover an entire square inch of your home per day. This may not sound like much, but the spread can quickly spiral out of control as more colonies develop in your home. Even with just two specific areas of mold colonies, the rate for mold to start covering entire square feet is immediately cut in half.
Unfortunately, black mold is typically already a widespread problem by the time youre able to catch it. Since mold isnt usually visible until it starts colonizing, you may not even realize its growing in your home until almost a month after the spores have begun to develop. Once you do recognize the presence of black mold, you can start assessing the damage right away. Be sure to take note of things like:
- The color of the mold
- Where the mold is located
- The presence of water damage in the area
- Any noticeable smells
- The approximate square footage of mold visible
As a general rule of thumb, you can use the square footage of mold to decide when to get professional help. If there is less than 25 square feet of mold visible, there may still be time to handle the damage yourself once the spread surpasses the 25-foot mark, its best to get in touch with your local contractor to handle the mold professionally.
The Science Of Mold Growth
With this conflicting information, it is time for more research.
Working in conjunction with my fellow instructors, we did a detailed scientific/technical literature review and found a peer reviewed paper entitled Controlled Study of Mold Growth and Cleaning Procedure on Treated and Untreated Wet Gypsum Wallboard in an Indoor Environment, by Michael Krause, CIH, with Veritox Inc.
Krause and his associates performed basically the same test that we did, except they did it with a number of untreated and treated wallboard sheets under very controlled scientific conditions.
According to Krause, it took at least a week to confirm that invisible microscopic growth structures had formed on wet untreated wallboard in a closed office.
Mold growth colonies were not visible on untreated drywall until three weeks into their eight week experiment.
The first mold types seen were Acremonium, Penicillium and Cladosporium. Stachybotrys was never seen. Visible mold did not grow on wallboard that was coated with a primer.
Additionally, a study done by Dr. Michael Berry, prepared for the Carpet and Rug Institute , showed that drywall and framing lumber, when exposed to a controlled environment with a temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 80 percent, did not display visible mold until week five .
A listing of a few of these papers is at the end of this article.
References:
Don’t Miss: Leather Mold Cleaner
Diy Or Call A Professional
If you have a lot of water in the house, hiring a water damage restoration company may be your best bet to get your home back in order as fast and as cost-efficiently as possible. Restoration companies have the right equipment thats needed to dry out your place quickly.
A restoration professional is even more critical for saving your home if it was flooded with more contaminated water like sewage. This type of water is extremely hazardous and best handled by trained and certified water damage cleanup professionals.
Furthermore, if mold has started growing in your home following a flood, its likely that theres even more mold hiding in unseen areas, such as inside walls. Mold removal experts have the necessary tools to detect hidden mold in areas where the eyes cant see.
For professional mold removal services and water damage restoration, contact your local PuroClean office.
How To Get Rid Of Mold
As already understood, mold is not pleasant and it is preferable to get rid of them sooner than later. There are many easy and quick ways to remove the mold at an immediate level. Some of the most obvious ways are:-
1. Remove Excess Water
Excess water will make the whole surrounding quite moist and would encourage the growth of mold.
2. Dry out the area
In extension to the first method, the area has to be absolutely dried after the excess water has been removed. This would not allow mold to find desirable conditions to germinate and hence, the damage, if not totally eliminated, can, at least be controlled to a certain extent.
In a way, this is the maximum we can do on our own. And we do need some secondary and more expert help to control the growth of mold.
Don’t Miss: Best Way To Get Mold Off Bathroom Ceiling
How Does Mold Grow Indoors
Mold grows indoors when there is water damage, leaks or a roof leak. Mold spores are everywhere and can grow in any damp area. The mold needs warm, wet conditions to grow. These conditions are often found inside homes because of plumbing leaks or condensation from air conditioning units that drip into walls and ceilings. Mold needs moisture to grow, and it can grow on almost any surface.
How Mold Growth Can Be Stopped In Your Dfw Home
You can prevent mold from growing by keeping your home dry or removing moisture before mold has the chance to grow.
However, proper drying can be quite difficult as water can find its way into all kinds of materials and spread into walls, under floors, and through ceilings on its route to the lowest point in the house and might not even be visible until it’s too late.
That is why the best way to prevent mold from infesting your home following an incident with water damage is to dry the premises by experienced professionals within the first 48 hours of water intrusion.
Professional Water Damage Cleanup and Mold Removal in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Dalworth Restoration is a fully licensed General Contractor in Texas has been providing mold remediation and clean-up services in North Texas and the DFW Metroplex for over 40 years. We provide a complete range of services to remove, cleanup, and repair mold and water damage to your home or office.
Upon arrival, our IICRC Certified technicians will use our methodical and well-planned mold abatement and remediation process to clean up mold and repair from your property to your satisfaction.
We work within the mold assessment and protocol set by the environmental company and follow all the steps guided by state laws during the whole mold remediation process.
To provide our customers with next-level cleaning solutions we have partnered with industry-leading products and equipment manufacturers such as SteraMist.
Read Also: Mould On Leather
Dealing With Mold After Water Damage
Mold and damp staining painted wall surface around an internal home window.
Mold doesnt need a significant amount of water damage to grow any amount of excess moisture in a particular area is enough to harbor the right conditions for mold growth as long as it has an organic food source and moisture, the fungus can grow anywhere.
Provided that it is a property structure, home and buildings provide plenty of organic food sources on which mold can grow. This includes any porous materials, such as paint, carpeting, drywall, paper products, etc. So the only ingredient needed for mold to grow is the moisture, such as in cases of high humidity or excess water. Give it a couple days and you will have a huge problem.
On the other hand, there are a number of ways in which mold can be prevented: just eliminate the moisture source before the fungus has time to develop. But how much time do you have before it starts to grow? How soon does the area need to be dried before the spores make a nest on your structure?
How Long Does It Take For Mold To Grow In Wet Drywall
Mold spores are present everywhere in the environment, they start developing as soon as the right conditions are made available for its growth and multiplication. Drywall being extremely porous, is pretty sensitive to water-induced damage. Even a small exposure to water can result in severe stains on the wall.
So, Does wet drywall always mold? Well, Once drywall comes in contact with water, there is only a tiny timeframe available to salvage it before the mold or mildew begins to set in the wall. Some mold spores can germinate after just 12 hours of drywall being in wet conditions.
How to prevent mold?
The only way to prevent mold infestation in drywall following a water damage incident is to dry it within 48 hours after water intrusion. The 48-72 hour window is critical to prevent mold growth as it usually takes 24 to 48 hours for mold to germinate and grow. Once fungus gets a hold on a drywall surface, it can be the breeding ground for thousands of spores and quickly spread in the air around the wall with every passing hour.
Moisture trapped in drywall can deteriorate and make the drywall bulge out, crack, or breakdown. You can buy more time and curb the water exposure by using bleach or mold/mildew detergent, which can slow down the mold development of the drywall.
If you do happen to suspect water damage in your home, Pacific Flood Restoration is available 24/7 at pacificflood.com or 230-3588. Give us a call today to schedule a free inspection!
Read Also: Cleaning Mildew Off Bathroom Ceiling
Learn How To Prevent Mold After Water Damage
If youve had any water damage to your home after a storm or flooding, you have roughly 24 to 48 hours to prevent the growth of mold and mildew. This Mold can be extremely hazardous to you and your familys health. Its highly important that you start the process of drying out your water damage or you could be left with repairs to your home that are even more time consuming then they already will be.
Mold after water damage
Not to mention that mold can cause health issues like fever and difficulty breathing. Those with existing health problems such as Asthma are especially susceptible to these issues and should not be anywhere near mold.
If mold begins to grow, the process of getting your home and life back to normal must wait until all the mold is removed and your restoration company is given the OK to get started on the repairs.
Keep in mind that the process of drying out the water damage is not always straightforward and often what appears dry is not. Most moisture is often hidden in the walls and flooring, so its critical to identify and dry all the affected areas to prevent the growth of mold!
