Flooding has become far more common and far more of a problem for business and homeowners in the last twenty years. Many homeowners may not necessarily end up with a foot of water in their home, but heavy rainfalls and wind can result in leaks in homes and buildings. Those leaks can result in mold contamination, but it’s not always easy to know if a person has mold in their home or not. First, know that mold is a type of fungus that produces spores which can become airborne. It thrives in damp, and usually warm areas. Here are some tips on detecting it:
Past floods – This might not be the most obvious sign of mold, but if a person buys a new home and sees indications in the basement, for instance, of previous floods, then the previous owners may or may not have looked for mold. If they didn’t, it might still be present somewhere in the building.
Allergies – It’s normal for people to have allergies to plants, to cats, and to a number of other things. If, however, people start experiencing allergic reactions inside a person’s home for no apparent reason, this might indicate that there is mold somewhere in the house.
Smelling something is wrong – If a person walks into a home and immediately smells that strange, musty and damp odor in the air, that’s a strong sign that mold is in the house.
Seeing that something is wrong – The most obvious sign of mold in a house is the sight of mold, itself. This should always be approached with caution, and the sight of any mold means that professionals should be called in to determine whether or not the mold is dangerous. There is no reason to panic, however at the sight of mold. Most mold isn’t dangerous and can be cleaned with some bleach and water. It is always best, however, to have the experts in to give their opinion.
Seeing signs of water – This doesn’t involve the direct sight of mold, but could indicate that it exists out of sight. The reasoning behind this is that once water is in the building, the creation of mold might have already begun. Mold needs two things to appear: warmth and water. A home provides the first and a leak provides the second. Once a person has the two, mold can form and cause problems, but still might be concealed in attics, walls, and ceilings. Water damage is usually noticed by brown rings on ceilings or on walls.
Seeing water – This is the next indicator that mold might be in the building. Seeing water actually coming into the house through windows or ceilings, means that it is present in the house, and that means mold could be forming.
Condensation – By itself, this isn’t a bad thing, but frequent condensation could cause problems in a home, as well.
If any of these issues are found within a home, call a professional right away to determine if there is mold in the house!
