Protecting the health and safety of yourself and your loved ones should be your first priority, not to mention protecting the investment of your home. A serious mold problem can jeopardize your health and the integrity of your home. That’s why it is so important to make sure a mold problem is dealt with right away and correctly. Here are some reasons why mold can be such a serious issue for homeowners.
Health and Safety
Mold thrives in warm and damp conditions. Making bathrooms, kitchens, and basements a safe haven for mold to flourish. However, mold can grow just about anywhere if provided the right conditions. In fact, mold is prevalent everywhere, however certain types of mold, like black mold, can be more harmful than others. When it comes to mold exposure some people may be more susceptible to illness from mold, while others may have a higher tolerance. Regardless you don’t want to mess around when it comes to mold exposure for health and safety reasons. Mold can cause allergic reactions, asthma, and lung infections immediately or even years after exposure. Some common symptoms associated with mold exposure are:
- wheezing
- watery eyes
- redness of the eyes
- itchy eyes
- runny nose
- coughing
If you find yourself suffering from these types of symptoms without an explanation then you may want to look into possible mold exposure. Aside from allergic reactions toxic mold exposure can also lead to severe mental problems and cause damage to internal organs.
Physical Damage
Mold exposure is not only bad for your health but also for the structural integrity of your home. Mold will eat away at anything with a porous surface. Wood, drywall, fabric, cardboard, paper are all susceptible to mold. Not only in the structure of your home at risk but so are your personal belongings like clothes and pictures.
Taking care of mold exposure right away is the best line of defense. Common places where mold can thrive are:
Bathroom: Check under sinks and around the shower. It’s important to be aware that any time there is an undetected plumbing leak, there is a chance for mold to grow. Routine leak detection is a good defensive strategy against mold.
Kitchen: Under the sink and around any appliances that use water like the dishwasher are good places to routinely check for water leaks. If left unchecked mold can even grow behind cabinets causing an even bigger problem and more expensive repairs.
Laundry Room: Another area that uses a lot of water and creates a warm damp area is the laundry room. Make sure that your washing machine isn’t leaking and that the hoses connecting your water supply are in good condition and free of wear and tear.
Signs of Mold
You should also be on the lookout for any signs of mold damage. Some signs of mold damage may include:
- Any water leaks
- Past Flooding
- Consistent Condensation
- Allergic Reaction
- Visual Mold Growth
- Mold Odor
Swift action is the best plan of attack when it comes to dealing with mold exposure. One of the best ways to stay on top of your mold defense is with routine maintenance for your plumbing system. To learn more about routine plumbing maintenance and how to prevent mold damage check out our other plumbing articles.
