Mold is a tricky substance. It can appear in almost any part of your home without you even knowing. To prevent a potentially dangerous infestation, it’s important to control the substances that lead to mold growth. There are six things that mold needs to grow:
- Moisture
- Oxygen
- Darkness
- Food
- Warmth
- Spores
Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to limit most of the things mold needs to grow. It’s not like you can remove the oxygen from your home! There is one, however, that’s the single most significant source of mold in your home: moisture. Wherever there’s moisture, mold is almost certain to follow. That’s why it’s crucial to call a water mitigation team the minute you notice water damage in your home.
Here are some of the biggest sources of moisture—and therefore, mold—in your home.
Leaking Water Pipes
Your house has water pipes running all over. They’re under your sinks, behind the walls, and above the ceilings. Even the slightest leak from any pipe is enough to cause mold growth.
The worst part about leaking water pipes is that they’re typically hard to see, and even harder to reach, places. You might not even know there’s a leak until it’s way too late to prevent mold growth. Mold can start growing in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
If you have a minor pinhole leak behind your wall, you likely won’t notice any visible signs of water damage until weeks later. By then, mold will have had plenty of time to spread throughout the area. As soon as you notice any leaking pipes that can’t be cleaned up with a paper towel, call a water mitigation expert. They have the equipment and knowledge necessary to remove enough moisture from the area to prevent mold growth.
Roof Leaks
Roof leaks are incredibly tricky to identify. Like leaking water pipes, even the smallest leak is enough to cause mold to form. And how often do you go into your attic to look for leaks? Even if you do look through your attic, chances are you won’t be able to spot minor wet patches in the insulation and wood. By the time you notice a roof leak, it’s probably too late to stop mold from growing.
The best way to catch roof leaks and prevent mold growth is to check your attic regularly. Regular checks will let you see changes over time. If you notice spots getting darker or insulation matting down, there’s a good chance that you have a leak.
As soon as you notice any signs of a roof leak, get them repaired and call a water mitigation team to clean up the excess moisture. Depending on how long the leak has gone on, you might need a mold remediation team as well.
Poor Ventilation and High Humidity
In Florida, we’re quite familiar with humidity. Unfortunately, all that moisture in the air can build up and lead to mold growth in your home.
In high-humidity places like in your attic, basement or crawl space, and bathrooms, ventilation is essential. If you don’t have enough ventilation, the humidity will get trapped and continue to build until moisture levels are prime for mold growth.
In your bathrooms (which is one of the most common places to find mold in your home), make sure your vents work and, most importantly, that you use them! Always, always, always use the vent fan when taking a shower. All that steam can easily raise moisture levels to mold-friendly levels.
Condensation
Do you ever wake up to find condensation dripping down your windows? Well, all that water can run down into the windowsill and drywall and cause mold.
Condensation occurs when humid air interacts with a cold surface like a window, water pipe, or even a concrete floor. The moisture in the air turns to liquid when it touches the cool surface and forms water droplets, just like a glass of ice-cold lemonade on a hot summer day.
In Florida, it’s nearly impossible to avoid condensation. With our hot, humid climate and cool, air-conditioned houses, condensation is all but inevitable. The best way to avoid mold growth due to condensation is to keep an eye on all the places in your home where condensation is common. You can also use a dehumidifier to help remove some of the excess moisture in the air before it’s allowed to condensate.
Flooding and Water Damage
Flooding brings so much water into your home that a mold infestation is almost certain. It can saturate your walls, floors, carpets, and any other low-lying items. You might be fighting mold problems for months or even years after the flood occurred!
Flooding is a common occurrence in Florida. Between hurricanes, heavy rains, and rising rivers, around 35% of Florida homes are at risk of flooding. If you live in one of the 8.9 million homes in Florida that experiences frequent flooding, be sure to contact a water mitigation expert immediately following a flood.
The only way to prevent mold growth after a flood is to use commercial-grade equipment to remove the moisture everywhere it might hide. Again, mold only takes about 24 hours to start growing, so time is of the essence for effective water mitigation.
CFRS: The Water Mitigation Specialists
While leaking pipes and roofs, humidity, condensation, and flooding are the biggest sources of mold in your home, they all have one thing in common: water. Water and moisture are the most significant factors when it comes to mold growth. That’s why if you ever experience water damage of any kind, no matter how minor, professional water mitigation is the best course of action.
A water mitigation specialist like Central Florida Restoration Solutions will use powerful equipment and years of industry experience to assess the damage in your home and clean up all that moisture that could lead to harmful mold growth. You might be tempted to try a DIY water mitigation strategy, but most homeowners don’t have the know-how to find all traces of moisture. If even a small amount of water is left behind, a mold problem is likely in your future.
Avoid mold growth and call the water mitigation experts at CFRS to handle all your moisture cleanup needs. Whether it’s a simple leaking pipe or massive flood damage, our experts are ready to tackle any situation you might have. We have over 20 years of experience helping Central Florida homeowners get their properties back to their original condition following fire, smoke, mold, or water damage.
Contact us today for all the water mitigation support you need. Mold grows fast, so don’t wait!
