Places You’d Never Think to Look for Household Mold

Most people are aware that basements and attics are likely places for household mold to grow. However, mold can show up in any number of other places around your home. Check for mold anywhere that excess moisture may be present, and be sure to manage the sources.

Common sources of excess moisture include:

• Leaky roofs
• Ice dams that form at roof edges
• Poorly-ventilated bathrooms or kitchens
• Leaky pipes
• Poor drainage of the surrounding property
• Condensation around windows or on exterior walls

Checking for Mold

There are many ways to detect mold, but the most useful are your eyesight and sense of smell. Discoloration of floors or walls or a musty smell are some clues. Look for mold in any of the places where water may have pooled or humidity may be high, including:

• bathrooms and kitchens
• basements and attics
• Walls that house plumbing
• Around air conditioners or vents
• Underneath sinks
• Behind refrigerators
• On and underneath furniture
• Floors and subfloors (especially the ground floor or near a bathroom)

Preventing Mold

To minimize the possibility of mold growth in your home, repair leaks and clean up spills as quickly as possible. Make sure that all appliances, especially the clothes dryer, are vented outside. Install externally-vented exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms.

To prevent outside water from entering your home, keep rain gutters clean and landscape your yard so that the ground slopes away from your home’s foundation. Use a sump pump or a dehumidifier to keep water from collecting in the basement. Finally, ensure that there is no exchange of air between the attic and roof, which will help to prevent ice dams from forming at the edges of your roof and trapping water.

Mold Testing and Remediation

If you suspect that you have mold in your home, don’t try to fix it alone. Mold spores can easily become airborne and harm you or your family. ServiceMaster of Buncombe County offers mold testing and remediation services for cleaning and repair. Contact our experts today!