Clear Lake Home Health: Identifying Mold in Your Home

6/22/2016 (Permalink)

While mold is pervasive in nature, it is indoors that it can present the greatest challenges.

Homes and commercial properties throughout the Houston area have mold, and many homeowners and property managers don’t even realize it. Because of our climate, and the recent storms and widespread flood damage in the Clear Lake and surrounding communities, extensive mold is to be expected. Unfortunately, mold thrives in areas like ours where humidity remains high throughout the year, and temperatures are warm. While mold is pervasive in nature, it is indoors that it can present the greatest challenges.

While adverse health effects are possible due to mold, mold can also damage the physical structure of buildings, and personal items. It is important to treat mold at the first signs, as it can spread rapidly throughout the property. Mold spores are carried through the air, and if you have an infestation in a lower level bathroom, do not be surprised if you start to smell mildew and see signs of mold in other areas in the house. There is a chance that your air conditioning system, and your duct work may be harboring mold spores and spreading them every time the HVAC unit is turned on. This type of spread may require professional mold remediation to remedy the problem.

SERVPRO of Clear Lake does recommend that homeowners do thorough evaluations of their property, at least quarterly, and after every incident where water damages your Clear Lake home. Mold can start to develop within 48 hours, and the sooner you catch it, and begin the remediation process, the better. With all of this said, here are the top ways you can identify mold growth in your home.

1.      A Pervasive Smell of Mildew. Mildew and mold have a distinctive odor. If you find that odor in your home, chances are you have mildew and mold growth. In the same vein, if your property is musty, or smells damp, mold or mildew growth may be just around the corner. If there is no visible sign, but the smell remains after a thorough cleaning with bleach and water, it is time to call in the professionals. The technicians from Clear Lake SERVPRO have the advanced training, tools, and chemicals necessary to begin the remediation process immediately.

2.      Black, Gray, or Greenish Growth on Drywall. Often mistaken as simple water damage, mold can start to grow quickly. This is particularly true in cases where roofs leak for long periods, and water drips into the insulation and then weeps into the ceiling. Water stains may appear goldish brown at first, but can quickly morph into black, gray, or greenish mold. Insulation, drywall, and even some structural supports may have to be replaced. At a minimum, these items will need to be scrubbed, disinfected, and treated with a mold growth inhibitor prior to rebuilding.

3.      Mold Growth in Grout. Bathrooms are the most common places of the home for mold to grow. It can be easily spotted here in the grout, in floor/wall joints, under cabinets, and on shower curtains. As mentioned above, mold spores spread through the air, and so in order to avoid mold growth in other areas of the home, it is vital that the mold is handled quickly and effectively.

4.      White, Gray, Black, or Greenish Growth in Basements. The dampness of basements, often caused by improper landscaping and weeping foundations, partner with the warmth generated by water heaters to create the ideal haven for mold to grow. If you spot any growth in your basement, and it is partnered with a musty or mildew smell, call professional mold remediation specialists to help remove it.

While it is possible to DIY a flood cleanup, it is not recommended. The same can be said for mold remediation. It takes proper clothing and protective gear, harsh chemicals, dehumidifying equipment, and significant blocks of time to remove mold from your home. While small outbreaks are common in bathrooms, basements, attics, and even in kitchen cabinetry, larger scaled mold infestations require an aggressive approach that the vast majority of homeowners simply are not prepared to handle. Call your locally owned and operated Clear Lake SERVPRO. We are available 24 hours a day, whenever disaster strikes.

About The Clear Lake SERVPRO

SERVPRO of Clear Lake is Faster to Any Size Disaster, helping residential and commercial property owners when natural disasters, water damage, sewage backups, floods, fires, mold remediation, and other events happen. In addition to The Woodlands-Conroe, we also proudly serve surrounding communities.