What Causes Mold

What Causes Mold

Biohazard Cleanup USA: What Causes Mold To Grow?

If you are having a mold problem at home and are wondering what causes mold, then you are in the right place. With this question in mind, you will be glad to know that mold is generally easy to remove. If your walls are non-porous, you can simply wipe off the mold using a wet piece of cloth. Alternatively, you could use mold killing products to get rid of the menace. In this article, Biohazard Cleanup USA will be talking about how to kill mold and we will be describing how to use different mold killing products like vinegar, borax, bleach, etc. However, for porous walls like unpainted drywalls, there will be a need to cut away the section of the wall where the mold grows. The reason behind why is because mold grows and thrives inside the material, making it very hard to remove. In this mold removal page, we will be looking at ways to deal with mold in different materials like wood and drywall. We will also be providing a step-by-step guide on what causes mold and how to remove mold growth in large areas of your home. But before looking at how to remove mold, let’s have a look at some of the conditions mold needs in order to thrive:

• Darkness (it cannot grow under UV light)
• Food source (e.,g. cotton, drywall, wood)
• Oxygen
• Warmth (it cannot grow in cold temperatures)
• Moisture (humidity, water leaks)
• Time (most mold variants will start to grow within 48 hours if conditions favor it)
• Mold Spores

However, of all things, moisture is the main cause of mold growth as almost all other conditions on the list above will always be present in a home. So, the one thing that will determine if there will be mold growth in your home or not is if you have a moisture issue.

Humidity Causes Mold

When it has rained for a couple of days, seeing mold start to grow on benches, walls, and different surfaces is quite common. If you live in areas where humidity levels are naturally high like near a large body of water or by the sea, then a mold growth problem is something that you should be ready to fight a lot of the time. At the same time, when moisture inside a home evaporates, it increases the humidity levels indoors. If your home is not well ventilated, humidity levels will remain high for a prolonged period.

Drying clothes indoors on stands or clotheslines is one of the main contributors to indoor humidity problems. Household HVAC systems can also bring about some humidity troubles as they artificially cool or heat the air. Some people use humidifiers in their homes; however, there are specific mold strains that only need humidity levels to be a bit higher than 55% to start thriving. As such, if you have to use a humidifier, make sure that you keep humidity under 55%. High humidity levels not only feed mold but also make it hard for damp materials and puddles to dry out fast. When this happens, wet surfaces could end up creating a mold growth problem of their own.

Leaking Pipes and Mold

Pipe water leaks are another common contributor to mold growth. The worst kinds of leaks are those that go undetected for a long time since they are hidden from sight especially like those inside walls. By the time one discovers these leaks, mold will usually already have started to grow.

Roof Leaks and Mold

Like leaking pipes, roofs that leak into the attic may not be discovered until it is too late. It is, therefore, advisable that you check your attic for leaks on a regular basis and that you always keep an eye on your ceiling which is below your attic. If you see any signs of damage caused by water on your ceiling or signs of mold growth, then know your roof is leaking and you must reach out to Biohazard Cleanup USA for help.

Condensation and Mold

When a surface is cold, and the indoor temperatures are a bit warm, this can lead to condensation. This usually happens on cold concrete floors and metal pipes even if there’s a carpet on top, and also on walls. Such spots promote and support mold growth.

Poor Ventilation and Mold

If a home is not well ventilated, this could lead to the creation of pockets of stagnant moist air where mold thrives. Water and steam evaporating into the atmosphere will create humidity inside a home, something that leads to the creation of humidity. It is, therefore, vital that you keep you try and let air into your house by opening windows to keep moisture levels balanced. Poor ventilation will also mean that wet surfaces dry out much slower. Ventilation is particularly crucial in rooms like the kitchen and bathroom where there’s a lot of steam.

Wet Clothes and Mold

When wet clothes are left in the house for an extended period, mold will start growing on them, and on different surfaces, because of the moisture, the clothes will release in the house. Damp clothes that are left in a pile for more than a day before they are washed could also lead to the growth of mold. Clothes left wet for more than a day after they’ve been washed will also end up promoting mold growth. Drying wet clothes inside a dryer instead of hanging them outside will release a considerable amount of moisture into your house, especially if your dryer isn’t vented outside your home. Clothes drying indoors will also create a considerable of moisture unless the room or space is well ventilated. There are many serious effects to the exposure to mold so do not wait, reach out to Biohazard Cleanup USA today.

Flooding and Mold

It’s almost inevitable that some forms of mold problems will happen after a home has been flooded. Your home will obviously be left very wet for a prolonged period after a flood and could take days and even weeks before drying out. Since mold needs suitable surfaces wet for about 24 hours before it grows, flooding conditions are a huge risk especially when it comes to mold growth. Some of the more dangerous mold variants need extreme conditions than others do. A good example is the Stachybotrys chartarum which requires materials to be in soaking wet conditions for several days for it to grow. Floods could create such conditions as these that could leave your home at risk of being infested by dangerous toxic molds.

Biohazard Cleanup USA Is The Answer To Your Worries

If you are still asking yourself more questions such as “what causes mold” and how to remove it, then you may want to contact Biohazard Cleanup USA to speak with a professional. Make sure to give us a call today by dialing (833) 827-2386. Visit our blog for more.

The post What Causes Mold appeared first on Biohazard Cleanup USA - Crime Victim Services & Crime Scene Clean Up - Unattended Death Specialists.

Biohazard Cleanup USA: What Causes Mold To Grow?

If you are having a mold problem at home and are wondering what causes mold, then you are in the right place. With this question in mind, you will be glad to know that mold is generally easy to remove. If your walls are non-porous, you can simply wipe off the mold using a wet piece of cloth. Alternatively, you could use mold killing products to get rid of the menace. In this article, Biohazard Cleanup USA will be talking about how to kill mold and we will be describing how to use different mold killing products like vinegar, borax, bleach, etc. However, for porous walls like unpainted drywalls, there will be a need to cut away the section of the wall where the mold grows. The reason behind why is because mold grows and thrives inside the material, making it very hard to remove. In this mold removal page, we will be looking at ways to deal with mold in different materials like wood and drywall. We will also be providing a step-by-step guide on what causes mold and how to remove mold growth in large areas of your home. But before looking at how to remove mold, let’s have a look at some of the conditions mold needs in order to thrive:

• Darkness (it cannot grow under UV light)
• Food source (e.,g. cotton, drywall, wood)
• Oxygen
• Warmth (it cannot grow in cold temperatures)
• Moisture (humidity, water leaks)
• Time (most mold variants will start to grow within 48 hours if conditions favor it)
• Mold Spores

However, of all things, moisture is the main cause of mold growth as almost all other conditions on the list above will always be present in a home. So, the one thing that will determine if there will be mold growth in your home or not is if you have a moisture issue.

Humidity Causes Mold

When it has rained for a couple of days, seeing mold start to grow on benches, walls, and different surfaces is quite common. If you live in areas where humidity levels are naturally high like near a large body of water or by the sea, then a mold growth problem is something that you should be ready to fight a lot of the time. At the same time, when moisture inside a home evaporates, it increases the humidity levels indoors. If your home is not well ventilated, humidity levels will remain high for a prolonged period.

Drying clothes indoors on stands or clotheslines is one of the main contributors to indoor humidity problems. Household HVAC systems can also bring about some humidity troubles as they artificially cool or heat the air. Some people use humidifiers in their homes; however, there are specific mold strains that only need humidity levels to be a bit higher than 55% to start thriving. As such, if you have to use a humidifier, make sure that you keep humidity under 55%. High humidity levels not only feed mold but also make it hard for damp materials and puddles to dry out fast. When this happens, wet surfaces could end up creating a mold growth problem of their own.

Leaking Pipes and Mold

Pipe water leaks are another common contributor to mold growth. The worst kinds of leaks are those that go undetected for a long time since they are hidden from sight especially like those inside walls. By the time one discovers these leaks, mold will usually already have started to grow.

Roof Leaks and Mold

Like leaking pipes, roofs that leak into the attic may not be discovered until it is too late. It is, therefore, advisable that you check your attic for leaks on a regular basis and that you always keep an eye on your ceiling which is below your attic. If you see any signs of damage caused by water on your ceiling or signs of mold growth, then know your roof is leaking and you must reach out to Biohazard Cleanup USA for help.

Condensation and Mold

When a surface is cold, and the indoor temperatures are a bit warm, this can lead to condensation. This usually happens on cold concrete floors and metal pipes even if there’s a carpet on top, and also on walls. Such spots promote and support mold growth.

Poor Ventilation and Mold

If a home is not well ventilated, this could lead to the creation of pockets of stagnant moist air where mold thrives. Water and steam evaporating into the atmosphere will create humidity inside a home, something that leads to the creation of humidity. It is, therefore, vital that you keep you try and let air into your house by opening windows to keep moisture levels balanced. Poor ventilation will also mean that wet surfaces dry out much slower. Ventilation is particularly crucial in rooms like the kitchen and bathroom where there’s a lot of steam.

Wet Clothes and Mold

When wet clothes are left in the house for an extended period, mold will start growing on them, and on different surfaces, because of the moisture, the clothes will release in the house. Damp clothes that are left in a pile for more than a day before they are washed could also lead to the growth of mold. Clothes left wet for more than a day after they’ve been washed will also end up promoting mold growth. Drying wet clothes inside a dryer instead of hanging them outside will release a considerable amount of moisture into your house, especially if your dryer isn’t vented outside your home. Clothes drying indoors will also create a considerable of moisture unless the room or space is well ventilated. There are many serious effects to the exposure to mold so do not wait, reach out to Biohazard Cleanup USA today.

Flooding and Mold

It’s almost inevitable that some forms of mold problems will happen after a home has been flooded. Your home will obviously be left very wet for a prolonged period after a flood and could take days and even weeks before drying out. Since mold needs suitable surfaces wet for about 24 hours before it grows, flooding conditions are a huge risk especially when it comes to mold growth. Some of the more dangerous mold variants need extreme conditions than others do. A good example is the Stachybotrys chartarum which requires materials to be in soaking wet conditions for several days for it to grow. Floods could create such conditions as these that could leave your home at risk of being infested by dangerous toxic molds.

Biohazard Cleanup USA Is The Answer To Your Worries

If you are still asking yourself more questions such as “what causes mold” and how to remove it, then you may want to contact Biohazard Cleanup USA to speak with a professional. Make sure to give us a call today by dialing (833) 827-2386. Visit our blog for more.

The post What Causes Mold appeared first on Biohazard Cleanup USA - Crime Victim Services & Crime Scene Clean Up - Unattended Death Specialists.