Home Mold & Mildew

A growing concern these days is mold in the home. Surviving on moisture, home mold can last forever, posing problems for occupants’ health and for the integrity of a home’s structure. Evidence is there that supports these effects, but just how much it’s responsible for health wise is debatable. The rule here is if there’s even a chance of it being really “bad” then check your home for mold, get it removed and fix the problems causing it!

It’s true that a small degree of mold is in outside air all the time, and that we can never fully eliminate home molds inside. But we CAN ensure our home is not a breeding ground for it to flourish. Since we know home mold and mildew thrives on moisture we can look at places that have moisture. Yep, bathrooms and kitchens do at times, but it usually isn’t enough to be a problem. No, dangerous home mold is caused when a lot of water is available. This can be from undetected water leaks or even in places like musty smelling basements and crawl spaces where a small level of moisture penetrates your home constantly, i.e. evaporation from the Earth’s soil.

If you’re concerned about mold, a visual check and home mold inspection can at least tell you some levels. Home mold test kits can give you a general idea of any mold in your home. From there, fixing damaged materials and eliminating water sources, such as installing vapor barriers, can help stop mold from coming back.