Top Signs You Need a Mold Inspection in Your Northern Virginia Home
The East Coast gets a lot of precipitation, but did you know that the wet season (sometimes referred to as “mud season” in northern Virginia lasts over 4 months (from early April to late August)?
Mold needs warm and damp conditions to thrive, and the wet season can promote its growth. While some molds can be completely harmless—like the mold that develops on old bread—others can pose serious health problems when people are exposed. This is why it is important to inspect your home for mold.
What is Mold?
Mold occurs naturally and can exist anywhere with oxygen and moisture. We often see mold on things that decay, soil, plants, wood, bread, etc. You may notice it on a downed log on a trail, forming on bathing suit material if it has sat in a plastic bag in your backpack from that trip to the hot spring a month back, and even on the old cheese in your refrigerator. Tomato plants often develop white mold when these plants become saturated with too much water and too little airflow.
Mold is a fungus. It grows best in warm temperatures and the perfect environment is moist and poorly ventilated. It feeds on organic matter, which is why you often see it on wood, cheese, bread, paper, dust, fabric, and more. But when mold develops in your home, it can be problematic and even dangerous.
Signs You Need a Mold Inspection in Your Northern Virginia Home
So, what do homeowners need to watch for when it comes to mold development? For starters, if you have a water leak or a bathroom or basement that has poor ventilation, these areas have the conditions for mold growth. Improperly sealed doors and windows can also allow moisture to build and create a breeding ground for the spread of molds.
Problematically, homeowners do not always notice the growth because it can happen in corners of the basement not often visited or well-lit, at the foot of the front door or that poorly fitted sliding glass door leading to your back yard. It can also occur underneath your carpet or flooring or in wood that might be rotting from water damage unseen in your seldom-visited attic. Flooding events, power outages, and a pet that frequently has accidents on your carpet can all create an environment that mold can grow in.
What to Do if You Find Mold or Suspect that Mold is Growing in Your Home
You might notice weird surface abnormalities (if your wallpaper is bubbling or you notice that wood in your home is warping or that drywall seems to be falling apart, these are all indicators of a moisture issue) when mold is growing in your home are a musky odor, any kind of water staining indicates moisture or a leak), A known leak can cause bigger problems and should be addressed.
If you notice patchy or dark spots (green, brown, grey, white, black, blue, yellow) then you have found evidence of mold growing within your home and you should call a specialist to confirm and help remediate the situation immediately.
Mold and Health Concerns
There are distinct types of molds, and some of them can pose some serious health risks for you and your family. Mold inhalation can cause allergy-like symptoms. Individuals with autoimmune issues can be especially susceptible to negative impacts.
From asthma to respiratory issues and even infections to more serious concerns like central nervous system disruption and even a condition that can develop from mold exposure known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, the health concerns from prolonged exposure are not insignificant, which is why it is important to eradicate harmful mold growth from your home.
Mold Inspection in Northern Virginia
Fortunately, many home remediation experts are well-versed in mold removal. These trained professionals are skilled at identifying and eradicating mold in buildings.
Are you concerned about the growth of mold in your home in northern Virginia? Coventry Services specializes in mold inspection and remediation. Contact us today for more information on mold inspection and we can schedule a site visit to inspect your home for mold.
