Signs Of Crawl Space Mold
Mold problems dont simply appear, they steadily develop and give subtle signs which can help take early action. This article is written to help homeowners take proactive measures to fix their mold issues.
Its also necessary to understand the role moisture plays in causing mold growth. So, taking future preventive strategies like crawl space encapsulation would be a great idea.
Health Issues From Mold In A Crawl Space
While damage to your home is a significant cause of concern related to mold issues, your health and the wellbeing of your family members are far more essential and priceless.
Unfortunately, mold of any color in your crawl space can easily make its way into the air in your living space, affect your indoor air quality, and cause a myriad of health issues.
Breathing in mold is hazardous to everyones health and can lead to breathing problems, allergies, and sickness in otherwise healthy individuals.
Its even more dangerous and can even be life-threatening for those with existing health conditions like asthma, restricted breathing, or severe allergies.
Mold can also cause skin and eye irritation depending on the type of spore present in your indoor air.
Regardless of the color, extent, or location of mold in your home, it should be treated immediately and professionally to protect the wellbeing of everyone in your house.
What Happens When You File A Mold Claim
If youve read your policy and believe you have a valid mold claim, contact your insurer for next steps. The insurer will ask you for a lot of details, so be prepared to respond. Take photos of the damages and gather up any photos you have of the space before the mold appeared. You should also turn on a dehumidifier in the area to prevent additional mold growth.
Dont clean up or try to fix any issues on your own. The insurance company will send a claims adjuster to inspect the damages personally and determine the cause. Youll want that adjuster to see the full extent of the damage.
Homeowners claims can drag on for weeks. Plan on keeping detailed notes of your conversations with the adjuster and other representatives. Be prepared to follow the insurance companys process meticulously and also respond quickly to information requests.
You May Like: How To Remove Mold From Hvac Unit
Dangers Of Mold Presence In Crawl Space
Wherever mold growth is, theres a potential for damage to the structure in addition to the significant risk posed to health.
Some of the health risks associated with mold growth include lung infections, throat irritation, skin irritation, and coughing or wheezing.
Other common symptoms include eye irritation, asthmatic symptoms , and pulmonary bleeding. Mold growth could also result in kidney conditions, as well as cancer.
These are real risks you get exposed to with mold presence on your property.
It doesnt matter where the problem is. Mold growing in your crawl space could slowly extend or spread to indoor areas starting with hardwood floors. As long as moisture presence causing this growth isnt contained, the growth and spread of mold continue.
Signs You May Have Mold In Your Crawl Space
Over 60% of your crawlspace air flows throughout yourhome so a seemingly isolated mold issue in the crawl space can compromise yourindoor air quality and begin to affect your health. For early detection ofcrawl space mold, it is imperative to know what signs to look for.
- You feel cool air from your crawl space entering your home through the floor.
- There are water stains or green/pink/black spots showing up around the baseboards.
- There is an odd odor coming from your crawlspace. Remember mold can smell like anything.
- Existing insulation is missing or sagging, both of which can suggest you have a water problem.
- Patches or clusters of what looks like dirt or powder on the floor joists, posts, girders, and corners of the area.
- You have an increased number of pests entering your home or have noticed animal activity or scat near or in your crawlspace. When animals gain access to your crawl space they often damage the area which can allow moisture to enter the crawlspace.
- You live on an elevated water table.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Mold In My Yard
How Do I Know If The Mold Is Gone For Good
If the inspection/assessment process was able to pinpoint the source and cause of the mold growth, once that source is repaired, you can be relatively confident about the success of remediation. Ask if your restoration technician has the IICRC certification for Applied Microbial Remediation. You can also request a post-remediation mold clearance from a third-party mold inspector to re-test the area for any remaining traces of mold before the area is treated with a sealer or encapsulant to resist future mold growth.
First Aid For Moldy Crawl Spaces
- Watch out: Do not enter or work in a moldy area without wearing proper respiratory and other personal protection.
- Prevent mold movement into the living area: As with a moldy basement, keep openings between the crawl space and living space closed as much as possible.
- Remove wet or mold-suspect insulation.
- Test representative samples of mold before going to a major expense to be sure youre not just looking at cosmetic mold on framing lumber,or at something else that is not even mold.If a large area of visibly moldy material is present professional cleaning and remediation are probably in order. Inthat case, a building inspection and preparation of a mold remediation plan is a good idea that work should be performed by someone who hasno conflicts of interest in other words, not by the mold cleanup company or their agent.Follow any costly mold remediation jobwith a clearance inspection and test before you make final payment.
- Review MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE Correct the Causes of Mold and Prevent Indoor Mold or other indoor environment problems
Also Check: Do Mold Bomb Foggers Really Work
Preventing Mold Caused By Basement Sump Pump Failure
In a nutshelldont skimp on your sump pump system! Buy the best pump you can afford and make sure to also install a battery backup system.
Many homeowners dont really know what their sump pump does or how exactly the sump system works, which is critical to understanding why a quality sump system is important.
What is a sump system, and how does it prevent flooding?
A sump system is basically a drainage system. There are drain pipes around the perimeter of your homes foundation that lead groundwater into your sump well The drain pipes prevent groundwater from forcing its way through your foundation via cracks. The water is then ejected from the well, usually to the outside far away from the house, by your sump pump.
When a sump pump malfunctions, your drain pipes are basically one-way rivers of water directly into your basement. Youd be surprised at how fast your basement can flood!
Buy the best sump pump you can afford to prevent flooding
Sump pump malfunctions can be caused by both a broken sump pump and a power failure, such as during a storm. We recommend buying the highest quality sump pump your money can buy. Trust us dont skimp on your sump pump. Its not worth saving $100 when a broken sump pump can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage and a massive headache. We also recommend installing a battery back-up system. They are expensive, but they are worth it.
Assessing Damage From The Mold Growth
The dangers of mold to your home go far beyond health concerns. If mold is left unaddressed, you run the risk of serious damage to the floor joists, floorboards, and other support structures of your house. Wood that retains moisture is weakened, and an invasion of mold takes the damage even further. The boards and beams can crack and separate as the fungus eats through the materials. You may not know that your flooring is unsafe until its too late.
After you have thoroughly cleaned up the mold, you need to assess the area for damage. Look at the joists or boards and determine if there are soft spots or areas of deterioration. You want to have any structural concerns evaluated by a professional contractor, as you may need some parts of board, beams, or flooring replaced for safety.
Also Check: How To Prevent Mold From Spreading
Signs Of Crawl Space Mold Problems
Signs of crawl space mold are often evident without having to enter the crawl space at all. Because air moves upwards in a home as its heated, a vacuum is created that will pull air up through the crawl space through a process known as the stack effect. If your crawl space has mold, you will be able to tell your house will smell musty, and you may even begin to feel and/or display symptoms of mold and dust mite allergies.
Additionally, as crawl spaces begin to rot and decay, the floor above will begin to sag, buckle, or become uneven. Doors may jam, mold may grow on first-floor carpeting, and, in the long run, the floor itself will collapse inwards.
In the crawl space itself, warning signs include visible mold growth, musty odors, and discoloration and/or signs of water damage on the wood.
White, powdery substances on concrete walls are not likely to be mold itself, but its indicative of moisture passing through the walls and creating a humid environment. If there are moldy, musty odors, then mold will be somewhere.
Unnecessary Panic: Mold & Fungus In The Crawlspace
I recently received a call from a Realtor who is selling a home. He asked if I could double-check the findings of another home inspection company that requested expert advice on some mold/fungus they found in the crawl space of the home. I gladly obliged.
After my inspection I wrote the following report:
At this home, cool objects include the air conditioning ductwork, the ground and the overlying wood floor system, which is exposed to very cool temperatures due to air conditioning duct leakage. As this moisture condenses on the floor system, it wets the wood. Fungus loves wet wood. As stated, fungal spores are beneath the home because they are in the air we breathe-the same air that gets circulated beneath the home. These mold spores land on the wet wood and take root. But this wetness is only surficial. The wood joists are not soaked wet, its just a light film of moisture on the wood members. Once the summer cooling season ends, and the A/C is shut off, and the outside air cools, and the humidity drops significantly, the cool dry air now flowing beneath the home dries out the floor joists. Now the fungus goes dormant. Its still there and causing stains and scaring inexperienced home inspectors who frighten buyers, but its dormant. Its not growing or feeding on the wood. It is not fair to ask the seller of this home to pay some pest control firm to spray Borate on the floor system. This is expensive and its ridiculous.
Respectfully,
James A. Durham, P.E.
Don’t Miss: How Much Mold Is Too Much
What Are Causes Of Crawl Space Mold
- Foundation vents: Several crawl spaces detail vents that should block moisture problems. However, vents often cause more moisture buildup than they prevent. Some vents feature fan systems, which are supposed to be helpful, but can do more harm than good.
- Muggy and Humid Weather: Whereas vents or crawl space fan systems evoke in air during muggy or rainy weather, the crawl space becomes a breeding place for mold.
- High Water Tables: If your home is in an area with a high water table, the constant moisture can produce persistent mold problems.
Common Causes & Prevention
There are many possible sources of water intrusion into crawl spaces that may lead to mold growth. Some of the more common causes are listed below.
- Ground water evaporation
- Condensation of humidity on cold surfaces
- Water runoff from gutters, improper landscape grading, irrigation systems, etc.
- High ground water tables
As you can see from the list above, some of these issues are more common in Indiana than some other places. With our clay soils, high water tables, high rainfall, and humid summer weather it takes planning and preparation to keep the water out.
Read Also: What Is The Best Way To Clean Mold From Shower
How Do I Know If I Have Mold
Often, the first signs of mold arent found by finding mold growth. Theyre typically discovered by the effects they produce. These include musty smells and allergic reactions If you are experiencing these issues, the first thing to do is attempt to discover its source. You can do this by inspecting your home top to bottom. This means going into the scary places like your attic and crawl space. Once you feel like youve discovered the source for it, the next thing to do is figure out what youve got.
Types Of Mold In Crawl Spaces
Mold and rot fungi can be classified in two ways: what grows on the surface, and what grows within the wood itself.
Surface mold fungi will cause cosmetic discoloration only, and it will not significantly damage the structural strength of the wood. This mold can simply be cleaned off the surface.
One other variety of wood-damaging fungi is dry rot, also known as brown rot and cubical rot. As displayed in the photo above, wood damage from this kind of rot is shown as deteriorating the wood into small squares or rectangles. Often mistaken for termite damage because of its appearance, this is an extremely damaging type of fungi.
One other unique feature of dry rot is its ability to pull water from far-away water sources through rhizomorphs. Rhizomorphs can extend for as much as thirty feet, stretching across brick, concrete, mortar, and similar materials. In the case of Serpula Lacrymans, water has been transported as much as three stories upwards!
Humidity Warning! Some major cases of crawl space humidity stem from where your dryer vents end. If your dryer is sending air into your crawl space, its also sending a ton of humidity with it! This humidity is exactly what mold, rot, and mildew need to start thriving in your home. If your dryer is sending air into your crawl space, fix the problem right away!
Read Also: What Causes Black Mold In Toilet Bowl
Tip : Look For Any Leaks
You might have to get your hands dirty for this one, but we recommend checking your crawl space two to three times per year. Inspect the pipes to ensure that none of them are leaking. You should also look for any plumbing leaks above ground too. Since water travels downward, a leak upstairs can easily make its way into your crawl space.
Fight Mold With Ventilation
Once fungal growth takes hold, it thrives in the wet, stale atmosphere under your home. Ventilating the crawl space circulates fresh air through the area and holds down humidity. That reduces the concentration of air-borne spores, making it harder for mold to spread.
Power Tip: Make sure the clothes dryer vent terminates outside the crawl space.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Mold In Bathroom Sink Drain
Mold In Crawl Space: How Dangerous Is It To Health
Crawl spaces of homes are largely exposed or open and get a great deal of ventilation.
This means mold issues around such areas arent as serious as in confined or indoor spaces. With mold presence in crawl spaces, the focus isnt more on the health risks, but on moisture presence which has to be addressed.
First off, due to exposure to the crawl space, theres always air blowing across the open space. So, mold growth isnt that much. However, it doesnt negate the fact that theres a problem.
Moisture presence in the attic needs to be addressed to prevent further incursion into the home.
Plus, not all mold types are considered dangerous. Certain species pose more health risks than others. The most common types found in crawl spaces are Cladosporium, Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, and penicillium.
Now, lets get into the main focus of our discussion.
Eliminating Mold Caused By Basement Condensation Issues Attention Diy
This type of mold is most often surface mold growth along painted concrete walls. Since theres usually no demo of drywall required, this mold elimination can usually be done by a handy homeowner.
We recommend buying two types of cleaning agents from the local hardware store:
These can be powerful chemicals, so wear a mask and gloves and keep the area ventilated. If youre not comfortable doing this, then please hire a mold professional. Not sure if you can do it yourself, read more about when you need to hire someone.
Don’t Miss: How To Treat Mold In Attic
Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Add Value To Home
Whether youre considering crawl space encapsulation because you have standing water under your house, have heard that it can help you save money on heating and cooling, or are concerned about the negative effects of poor air quality, encapsulating your crawl space will increase the value of your home.
Recommended Reading: Remove Mold Bathroom Ceiling
Cost Of Mold Removal In Crawl Spaces
The national average cost of mold removal in crawl spaces is $2,000. This price typically includes air testing before and after removal to ensure that the mold is entirely removed.
The total cost depends on several factors, including how much surface area needs treatment, how easy it is to access your crawl space, and how much if any damage the mold has done to your construction material.
Small patches of mold in an easily accessible area under your home can cost as little as $500 for removal. Large sections and replacement of damaged wood, insulation, drywall, or other material can cost up to $7,500 or more if the damage is extensive enough to be structural.
Read Also: How To Determine If Mold Is In Walls
