Improve Air Flow In Your Home
According to the EPA, as temperatures drop, the air is able to hold less moisture. Without good airflow in your home, that excess moisture may appear on your walls, windows, and floors. To increase circulation, open doors between rooms, move furniture away from walls, and open doors to closets that may be colder than the rooms theyre in. Let fresh air in to reduce moisture and keep mold at bay.
Contact A Water Damage Removal And Restoration Company
The next important step is to contact a company that specializes in water damage removal and restoration.
Theyll send out a disaster response crew with equipment necessary to dry out your building.
Think giant fans, blowers, and whatever else is necessary to get rid of the moisture and prevent mold.
As experts, theyll also give you an idea of what other steps you need to take to completely dry out the area over the next few days or weeks.
Why Is Drywall Mold A Problem In Homes
A mold is a form of fungi that can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Mold thrives in damp, humid surroundings and can disperse spores into the air. These spores can cause respiratory problems, such as coughing and sneezing, as well as headaches and dizziness.
Mold has been linked to a number of serious health conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, and immune system disorders. If you suspect that you have mold on your property, it is crucial to have it removed by a professional as soon as possible. Not only will this help to improve your indoor air quality, but it will also help to protect your familys health.
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Q: I Just Discovered Mold On The Walls In My Bedroom Is There An Easy Way To Get Rid Of It What Happens If You Paint Over Mold
A: Painting over mold may cover up the dark patches where the mold is growing, but it will not eliminate the problem. Mold is a fungus that will thrive where theres enough moisture to encourage its growth. Its physically possible to paint over mold, but it will always reappear without proper remediation. Using mold-resistant paint works to prevent mold growth, but it wont kill it once its started to grow. Mold can cause severe respiratory issues for people and pets. Before taking steps to clean and kill the mold, identify where the excess moisture is coming from and take steps to treat it. Contact a professional to remediate the mold issue if its growing in a continuously wet area or if the mold covers a large area.
What Causes Mold To Develop Behind Your Homes Sheetrock Or Drywall
It may seem a bit odd to have mold develop behind drywall or sheetrock, but it really isnt. Consider for a moment what is in the walls youve got wiring and plumbing behind the walls. On top of that, youve got condensation and high humidity. The walls you do not see are a breeding ground for mold.
For example, condensation takes place when water vapor in the air hits a cold surface, cools off and turns into liquid. This is typically seen on walls that create the homes perimeter since the walls tend to be cooler than the outdoor air.
However, if your clothes dryer is inside your home, the steam from the wet clothes or hot water steam can increase the homes humidity levels. If the humidity level stays home in the home for quite some time, you could see mold developing on the walls.
A way to combat the humidity levels in your home is to open doors and windows.
Another typical reason for mold to develop behind drywall or sheetrock is a leaky pipe. For example, a burst water pipe due to frozen pipes that goes unnoticed can lead to mold on the wall. Prolonged leaky pipes can quickly lead to mold growth, especially if it lasts for an extended period of time.
Any room where moisture can build up is susceptible to mold growth bathroom, Jacuzzi room, basement, etc.
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Tips For Preventing Mold Before Water Damage
Eliminate the conditions that encourage mold growth or which make it more difficult to properly clean up the water damage.
- Clean carpeting: Dirt in and under carpeting contributes to mold just as much as water. Regularly vacuum the carpeting and occasionally have the carpet professionally cleaned.
- Install mold-resistant drywall: After you’ve torn out the water-logged drywall, replace it with mold-resistant drywall that has a treated core and a fiberglass mat facing, not paper.
- Install a wall vapor barrier: After removing the old insulation and drywall, use a polyethylene vapor barrier for the new insulation.
- Install mold-resistant foam insulation: Sprayed foam and foam board insulation products are mold-resistant. Foam boards work well for framing against concrete or block basement walls.
- Keep fiberglass clean: Fiberglass insulation is actually a poor material for encouraging mold growth since it’s made of spun glass fibers and plastic. Dirt, debris, and water do encourage mold growth, though. So, if you decide to use fiberglass insulation, keep it clean and dry.
- Use dehumidifiers: Use consumer-grade dehumidifiers on a regular basis to keep the humidity level down to 50-percent or lower.
Removing Mold From Painted Or Wallpapered Walls
For mold on painted walls, try a natural remover like white vinegar, borax and water. Youll need a spray bottle and a few other items to scrub the walls.
- Combine two tablespoons of borax with 1/4 cup white vinegar and two cups of hot water in a bowl.
- Pour into a spray bottle
- Liberally apply on painted walls.
- Scrub thoroughly and wipe clean, then spray again and let sit for 10 minutes before wiping dry.
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Tip : Control Indoor Moisture To Prevent Mold
The key to stopping mold and mildew is controlling dampness. The worst infestations usually occur in damp crawlspaces, in attics and walls where water has leaked in from the outside, and in basements with poor foundation drainage. Stopping leaks, ensuring good ventilation in attics, keeping crawlspaces dry and routing water away from the foundation are the best defenses.
Keep Mold Off Household Plants
Treehugger / Christian Yonkers
They’re beautiful and help keep your indoor air cleanand mold loves them. The moist soil in indoor plants is a perfect breeding ground for mold, which may then spread to other areas of your house. Instead of getting rid of your plants, try adding a bit of Taheebo tea to the water you give to your houseplants. The oil of this tree, which withstands fungi even in rainforests, helps hinder mold growth in plant soil and can be found at natural food stores.
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How Can I Tell If I Have Mold Behind My Walls
How can you tell if youre dealing with a mold issue?
Look out for visual signs such as water stains on walls or ceiling, as this is an indication of a potential source of water.
Additionally, it is recommended to conduct home inspections during humid or rainy times of the year. This can help you identify and address any sources of moisture before they become a problem.
If You Have Mold In Your Home
Mold can look like spots. It can be many different colors, and it can smell musty. If you see or smell mold, you should remove it. You do not need to know the type of mold.
If mold is growing in your home, you need to clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem. Mold can be removed from hard surfaces with household products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of household laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water.
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Can I Just Get Into The Wall And Use Bleach To Clean It
It may be tempting to get into the wall and spray everything with bleach by yourself. However, if you have never done this before, it is better to call someone licensed to deal with mold. This is especially true if you have never gone into the wall and dont know how to detect how extensive the mold damage is. Leaving the eradication of mold to professionals will save not only your health but also your sanity. A professional team will have all the protective gear, detection tools and methods necessary to get rid of all the mold in your home.
What Is White Mold
White mold is often found in cool, damp environments such as in basements on walls and other structures. It is often confused with efflorescence, which is a mineral deposit that forms on foundation walls and other masonry surfaces due to water seepage. You can test to see if its mold by spraying it with water. If it dissolves, it is a mineral deposit if it does not, then its most likely white mold.
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Painting Over Mold Without First Removing It Will Cause The Paint To Bubble And Peel
Mold is not just a stain it is a living organism that will grow and thrive under the right conditions. Painting over mold will not prevent it from growing, especially if the damp conditions that led to mold growth in the first place are not remedied. If someone has just moved into a new home and has reason to suspect that the previous owner attempted to conceal mold growth, heres how to tell if mold has been painted over:
- White or pastel walls may show dark discoloration, the paint may be bubbling or chipping in some places, and the surface of the wall may be bowed and misshapen.
- Mildew might show up as a light-colored growth on the surface of the walls or ceiling.
- Another telltale sign is the smell of mold lurking just out of sight. It may be worth the cost to have a mold inspection to confirm whether or not mold is actually present.
Tips On How To Kill And How To Prevent Mold In Drywall In The Bathroom
The easiest solutions to kill mold are bleach, borax, vinegar, and ammonia. These are effective in removing mold from tiles, grout, the shower and bathtub, bathroom basin, and bathroom drains.
To remove mold from tiles or grout, scrub or wipe the area with some cloth. You can use bleach to kill the mold in the grout. You may need to give the moldy areas some good scrubbing with a toothbrush. After that, apply a sealer to the grout. If you find it impossible to remove the mold from the grout, remove it and replace it with some new grout. You can use a flat screwdriver to do this.
If mold is found in the shower and bathtub, you know for sure that grime from body oils and soap scum has been washed off and made its way to the shower or tub. This creates the food source that mold feeds on. To get rid of mold in these areas and prevent its growth, clean the moldy areas with your preferred cleaning product. Next, wipe the shower and tub dry to minimize leftover moisture. Another good idea is to buy plastic inserts for the shower and bathtub. These can be taken out and cleaned easily.
If you have mold caused by blocked bathroom drains, the only solution is to buy chemical products to unclog the drain. Blocked drains are caused by water that has been sitting in the drain, standing for long periods. If water does not drain as fast as how the water runs from the tap, then you know that your drain is clogged.
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Mold Behind The Walls
One common issue people with water damage have to deal with is mold behind their walls. In some cases, mold can be easy to visually identify and take care of, but in many cases, its the mold you cant see that is the biggest problem.
So if you cant see it, how do you know that you have a mold problem? If you start experiencing allergy symptoms such as those listed above, it may be a sign that there is some mold growing out of sight in your home, especially if there has been recent flooding or heavy rain. In addition, mold, even behind the walls, still leaves a trademark odor. If you start to notice a strange smell, this may be another indication that you need to call an expert!
Since mold is usually caused by water damage, it can be helpful to understand the different classes of water damage that can occur in the home. This will help to identify how serious the problem is and how it can be fixed.
Different Types Of Mold
Although most mold on drywall looks like black splotches, mold can appear in various shapes and colors, none of which actually determines the species of mold. Learn the different types of mold so you can detect which kind has affected your home.
Black Mold: Black mold is often found inside houses with excessive moisture damage. The mold itself isnt harmful, but it has the potential to produce mycotoxins that could potentially cause harm to people and pets if left untreated over a long period of time.
White Mold: White mold often grows in cool, damp environments such as basements and is often confused with efflorescence, which is a crystalline deposit of salts that can form when water is present. To test it, spray it with water if the spot doesnt dissolve then its most likely mold.
Blue Mold: Blue mold has a bluish-green color, can grow within 24 to 48 hours and requires little moisture to develop. It can be found in drywall, wallpaper, ceilings, and insulation that has been damaged by water. It can also be found in areas that are often damp such as bathrooms.
Green Mold: Green mold may be identified by its greenish hue and is found in dark, damp recesses. Like blue mold, its often found in damp areas like bathrooms or dark corners.
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Tips For Safe Mold Cleanup
Dealing with mold is not a do-it-yourself project if you have respiratory problems or are immunocompromised, Rogers says, because both the use of bleach and the prolonged exposure to mold can be harmful to people with certain health problems. If you don’t suffer from such health problems, follow these cleanup tips from the EPA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
- Clean up and dry out the building as quickly as possible. Open doors and windows, and use fans and dehumidifiers.
- Remove all porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. These items can remain a source of mold growth. Porous, hard-to-clean items include carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, ceiling tiles, insulation material, some clothing, leather, paper, some wood and wood products, and food. Removal and cleaning are important because even dead mold can cause allergic reactions.
- Clean wet items and surfaces with detergent and water to prevent mold growth.
- Temporarily store damaged or discarded items outside your house until insurance claims can be processed.
- For mold thats caused by floodwaters and cant be removed by the detergent solution, use a mixture of 1 cup of bleach and 1 gallon of water.
Once The Mold Is Removed Use Moisture
After the mold has been removed, its time to choose a high-quality moisture-resistant or mold-resistant primer. These primers are not mold killers, but they will prevent mold growth in the future and prevent any stains from showing through. After applying the primer, paint the area with two coats of semi-gloss or satin paint that repels water. Most good-quality exterior-grade and some interior latex paints have a mold inhibitor in the product, explains NeJame. Do not use an oil paint as sometimes has an ingredient on which the mold feeds. In potentially humid areas like basements and bathrooms, first clean with mold-killing detergent like Fiberlock Shockwave Cleaner and then use a bathroom paint or any paint labeled mold-inhibiting paint, she recommends. Its also important to consider the conditions that caused mold to grow in the first place. Usually, humidity and dampness are the biggest culprits. NeJame notes, Since mold causes health issues, after painting its important that a good bathroom fan and/or dehumidifier run to help prevent mold from growingespecially in bathrooms and basements. For the best results, the cost to paint a room by professional painters can be worth paying since the pros likely have experience in damp or mold-prone homes.
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Drywall Mold Can Also Damage Your Property Leading To Expensive Repairs
When most people think of mold, they envision the greenish-black substance that can form on damp surfaces like shower stalls and windowsills. However, mold comes in many different colors, including white. While drywall mold may not be as noticeable as other types of mold, it can cause just as much damage to your property.
Drywall mold is especially problematic because it thrives in warm, humid environments exactly, the kind of environment that is common in many homes and businesses. The good news is that drywall mold is relatively easy to prevent. Simply keep your property clean and dry, and monitor for any signs of water damage.
If you do find mold, act quickly to clean it up and repair any water damage. Simply by following these steps, you can protect your property from the costly effects of drywall mold.
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