What Causes Mold in Your Home?

Mold is a common enemy of homeowners, but many struggle to determine just where the pesky fungi come from. Through a process of elimination and diagnostic analysis, mold inspection and detection services can assist with finding the cause. In addition, arming yourself with knowledge can help address such mold issues. Let’s examine the causes of household mold growth in more detail.

Mold typically needs only three conditions in order to thrive:

The right temperature
A food source
Moisture

That said, leaks, spills and poor ventilation are all common household problems that increase moisture levels and lead to mold growth.

Once it starts growing, mold will continue to feed off of your drywall, wooden beams, joists, wallpaper and carpeting as long as it has a source of moisture and nutrients.

What may begin as a small mold problem can quickly grow into a larger, more costly and dangerous one. Because of this, it can seriously threaten the structural health of your home and your well-being.

If you’ve spotted what appears to be mold in your home, the best thing to do is to call the certified mold experts at Mold Busters. Servicing Ottawa and Montreal, we’ll help you identify and eliminate mold from your home safely and effectively.

Video: How Does Mold Grow?

A food source

Mold feeds off organic (carbon-based) materials such as wood, drywall and fabrics. That’s why you’ll often find it growing on walls, in carpets and underneath floors.

Knowing which surfaces mold grows on will help you keep them dry. But remember, mold also develops in places that are hard to see and reach, including attics and crawlspaces. For this reason, make sure to get your home inspected by a professional regularly.

The right temperature

Different species of mold grow at different temperatures (2-40°C). Some types can survive in intense heat, whereas others need cooler temperatures.

Keep an eye on warm and humid areas of your home, such as the bathroom, as these areas are prone to black mold problems.

Water (moisture)

Mold grows within 24 to 48 hours of water intrusion so it’s imperative that you fix any moisture problems as quickly as possible.

Here are just some of the most common sources of moisture:

Leaky plumbing (pipes, toilets, faucets, etc.)
Damaged roofing
Cracks in the foundation or walls
Poorly sealed windows and doors
Basement flooding
Poor ventilation and high relative humidity
Condensation
Inadequate or missing insulation

Mold Busters urges you to share this information with friends, family, co-workers and neighbours. Only once you’re aware of the basic causes of mold can you prevent its growth in your home. Help us increase mold awareness in Ottawa and Montreal.

Call Mold Busters now for certified mold inspection, mold testing and mold remediation services with same-day service.