Nobody wants to hear that their home may have a possible mold problem. However, despite doing everything possible to control moisture and keep spaces like attics, basements, and crawlspaces clean, many homeowners still find that they have mold in their homes. Mold can cause an abundance of health issues, so the sooner you catch the problem the better. Not sure what a mold problem looks like? Here are the top 6 signs that your home may have mold.

Humid Environment

Usually anywhere with an abundance of moisture has some mold. Damp, humid, and dark environments are the perfect places for molds to grown and produce illness-causing spores. This is why places like basements, attics, and crawlspaces are the most common problem areas. Investing in a dehumidifier is a great way to help prevent this problem.

Warped Walls

Walls tend to warp when exposed to moisture for a prolonged period of time. Like mentioned in the first bullet, mold loves damp environments. If your walls are warped, you can be sure that moisture is present, and that there is a chance mold is as well.

Visible Water Damage

With recent heavy rain and flooding Sonoma County, be sure to check ceilings and walls for visible water damage. Water from a dripping pipe or broken water line to your ice maker increase your risk for having mold growing in your home if the area affected isn’t thoroughly dried.

Stranger Odors

Molds have a distinct smell that you can’t miss. A musty, dank smell is a sure sign that you have mold growing in the area. The stronger, and fouler, the smell, the better the possibility that mold is present and more severe. You tend to notice this smell, especially in basements and crawlspaces.

Visible Mold

If you see mold, then you know for sure that you have it. Mold has a very distinct shape that you cannot miss. It will appear black, brown, grey, or even greenish depending on the species, and it has a fuzzy appearance. It can grow in small, sporadic colonies, or in single, large patches.

Health Problems

Over 4.6 million asthma patients have the disease due to mold. Thanks to the reproductive spores mold produce in the air, they can cause a lot of respiratory problems. Most of the time, the symptoms are similar to allergies – stuffy nose, watery eyes, a slight cough – but can become as severe as bronchitis and even pneumonia. If the members of your household are all suffering from the same symptoms, you should check to see if mold is the culprit.

Final Thoughts

If you find that you have mold or signs of mold in your home or business, call our professional team here at Restoration Certified Services in Santa Rosa, CA. Our trained experts will help to identify mold afflicted areas and offer options for replacement and repair.