Mold is no joke. Studies have found that each year mold ends up destroying more wood than all fire and termite damage combined. Not to mention the troubles it can cause for people’s health, especially those with pre-existing conditions like asthma. 

But what can – and what should – the average homeowner do about it? 

First, make sure you know the signs of an infestation. Second, make sure you know what to do if they have one. Today’s post will help answer both of those questions.

What are the most common signs of a mold infestation?

There’s one good thing about mold problems: they’re usually pretty easy to spot. Mold isn’t particularly sneaky. There are a few key warning signs, like:

• Something smells funky. It’s important to note that not all mold has a distinct scent, but most varieties do. If you notice a persistent, musty, damp odor in your home, there’s a chance it’s due to mold. 
• You see mold. This one is pretty obvious, but still worth mentioning. Not all mold looks the same, so it’s important to know what visual cues to take note of. Mold can appear as white and thready like spider webs, it can be clusters of small black blobs. It can grow in a variety of colors, too: gray, brown, green, white, and in rare cases even pink, orange, and purple.
• You have water damage. If there’s water damage, there’s an increased chance of mold also being present. Long term moisture equals mold. Do you have water stains on your ceiling, walls, or floor? Check near and behind these stains to make sure there’s no mold development going on.

How do I clean and remove mold from my home?

If you’re going to clean mold from your home by yourself, no matter the size of the infestation, you need to take safety precautions. Before starting any cleaning, make sure you’re wearing old clothes that can be tossed if necessary afterwards. Use goggles, gloves, and a respirator like the N-95 or P-100 masks. Finally, make sure any room you’ll be cleaning in is properly ventilated. Open windows and doors and, if you can, use an oscillating or box fan to direct air current out and away from the room. Now, for the cleaning itself, here’s a step by step guide:

1. Get a bottle of one of the many mold-killing cleaners out there. There are lots of options that will work available for purchase at a local store. If you want to use a homemade product, you can try: diluted household bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or distilled white vinegar. These all work at different speeds, but bleach is the harshest and will require the most ventilation and care to be safe. Remember that you can never mix bleach and ammonia: the combination will result in the development of a poisonous gas.
2. Saturate the molded area with your cleaning spray. Let it sit for a little bit.
3. Scrub using a hand held scrub brush. Mold stains can take time to clean. There’s a chance you’ll have to repeat spraying, saturating, and scrubbing more than once. Be patient and take breaks to get fresh air.
4. Assess the situation after you’ve made initial efforts at cleaning. Is the stain lightening? Are the tiles appearing brighter? Has the grout cleared up? Answer these questions honestly. Do your cleaning and wait a day. Still think there’s a smell or problem? At that point, the problem might be deeper than you initially realized and it’ll be time to call in professionals to help, as the mold might be deeper inside your walls or space. Your initial cleaning efforts will make the professionals’ job easier if they need to be called, so either way your effort won’t be wasted.

How do I prevent mold from occurring in the first place?

The best way to prevent mold from growing is to prevent moisture from sitting. Fix leaks as soon as you notice them, even if they seem small. Don’t let water sit anywhere indoors. Make sure your home has proper ventilation and air flow, especially in small wet spaces like bathrooms with showers. You can also monitor your home’s humidity levels for anything out of the ordinary using a handheld moisture meter like the ones you can find at your local hardware store. The EPA recommends a home’s moisture level stay between 30 and 60 percent to avoid mold build up.

Keep Your Home in Tip-Top Shape

Mold develops most commonly in areas that are dark, out-of-the-way, and with access to moisture. Leaky pipes or other fixtures can help these mold-friendly areas develop. If you’ve had any mold problems in your home, it could be because your water heater or air conditioning units have worn out in some way. 

The team at Welter Heating can help. Give us a call and we can send someone out to diagnose and fix any problems with your home’s heating and cooling: leaks included.