When you hear the word mold most of us think of the blueish green spots that show up on that old bread that got pushed to the back of the pantry or the cheese that got forgotten in the refrigerator. And we’re not wrong! Those are just two examples of one of a couple thousand different types of mold species that are all around us.
Mold can grow in all different types of climates, but they all require three things in order to survive:
An organic compound or food source to feed on; for example wood, paper, or decaying plant material.
An undisturbed area such as a crawlspace, attic, wall cavity, closet, or area not continually cleaned or traversed.
A moisture source. This may be as significant as a water leak or as small as intermittent high humidity.
The good thing is that if you remove just one of these elements, mold cannot grow!
Now, it is difficult to change what our homes and offices are constructed of and we’d be hard-pressed to change the typically undisturbed areas, but what we can control is the moisture.
We can do our best to manage plumbing and roof leaks quickly. We can manage the humidity in the house by ensuring our HVAC units are running efficiently and utilizing exhaust fans in areas of typically high humidity such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens. But we cannot always control the circumstances and in those cases mold may still find a way to grow.
If you do have or suspect mold in your home scheduling a comprehensive mold inspection and analysis may be necessary. We offer this service and would be happy to help! Check out our services and schedule your inspection today.
