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As a homeowner, hearing the word “mold” can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand erect and your stomach twist and turn. Outdoors, mold is a necessary part of our thriving
ecosystem, but indoors, it becomes a silent, threatening presence that
festers along your walls. Unaddressed mold can have a lasting impact on
your home's health and your physical health. Let’s take a look at what
mold is, signs and symptoms of the presence of mold, and how to prevent
it in your home.
What is Mold?
While
you may not want this member of the fungi family on your pizza, mold is
just that—a type of fungus. Mold sheds spores that drift through the
air. These spores thrive in moist areas and can make themselves at home
on just about anything: clothes, walls, flooring, toys, food, etc.
How to Detect the Evidence of Mold
If
you pay attention, mold can sometimes leave little clues behind to let
you know you have a problem. Check for odd, musty odors. Look for signs
of discoloration in your walls or flooring. Mold can come in a variety
of colors and textures. Depending on the type of mold, you may see
brown, green, black, or yellow spots, which may have a fuzzy or
dust-like texture. Another clue is warped walls, which indicate moisture
is getting in somehow. Trapped moisture invites the possibility of mold
creeping into your home.
Symptoms of Mold
Another
big clue of mold becoming a problem is changes in your overall physical
health. Pay attention to symptoms that seem to plague you longer than
usual. What seem like allergy or cold symptoms may be the presence of
mold. Keep an eye on coughing, sneezing, wheezing, skin irritations, and
headaches. Always consult a doctor about what you’re experiencing and
check areas around your home to rule out the possibility of mold
affecting your health.
Preventing Mold in Your Home
Addressing
moisture in your home will be the biggest factor in getting mold or the
threat of mold under control. Address any leaks you may be aware of
inside or outside of the home. If excessive humidity is a problem,
consider purchasing a dehumidifier to help reduce the moisture in your
home. You can also open windows to allow air to circulate and help
prevent moisture from remaining trapped indoors. Regular cleaning and
wiping down of surfaces is also recommended. It’s a good idea to use
products that protect against mold in these routine cleaning practices.
Prevention doesn’t just stop indoors — check the drainage around the
exterior of your home as well. Water that stands around your home and
clogged gutters that don't properly drain water away from your home can
quickly become a problem indoors.
Mold is a common,
unavoidable enemy that we all have to fight at some point once it
crosses the threshold of our doors or seeps through our window seals. If
you take preventative steps before mold makes its presence fully known,
you’ll be better equipped to win the battle. In the meantime, if you
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nearly 9,000 agents on REIN.com.
Ready to buy but not sure what you can afford? Check out the mortgage
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and put the power of fresh and accurate listing data in the palm of
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