Purchasing a New Home? Be On the Lookout for Mold!
Mold is a type of fungi that grows in warm and humid environments, and is commonly found in bathrooms, drywall, basements, around plumping, and more. It’s a serious concern that can not only damage your home but can also negatively impact your health.
Since mold can be found in several places and can spread extremely quickly, it’s imperative to act fast. If you’re buying a new house and suspect mold, the following are some telltale signs that can help you determine whether you have a problem and need to call in the professionals.
Health Issues and Allergy Symptoms
One of the first signs of mold being present in your home is you or your family members facing allergy problems. Mold is known for affecting the respiratory system and causes allergy-like symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing, congestion, and an itchy nose. Toxic varieties of mold (such as black mold) can cause more severe symptoms such as bleeding, infections, and even cancer. This is especially troubling for those with compromised immune systems.
If you have any of these symptoms, it could be a sign of mold presence in your environment. If these symptoms are significantly worse when you’re inside your home or outside of allergy season, it’s time to reach out to mold damage restoration services like 911 Restoration.
Visible Mold
This may seem like an obvious sign, but many homeowners mistake mold for dirt, grime, or soot. Mold isn’t always black or green, making it difficult to spot if you’re not aware of how it can look. Whether you notice spots that are gray-brown or thread-like white sections, they could be signs of mold growth. In fact, mold that is hiding behind wallpaper may be pink, purple, or even orange.
The most important thing to know is that small patches aren’t always small. Not only can mold easily spread, but small visible signs may actually indicate a bigger problem hidden away. You may think you’re mistaking everyday marks and strains, but even if you suspect mold, it’s time for an inspection. Look out for a pattern to the stains or marks appearing in the corners of rooms.
Whether it’s in small clusters or dots, or just specks, this should never be ignored. You must target mold immediately by hiring home restoration services that specialize in mold removal.
Warm and Moist Areas
Sometimes there are no signs of obvious, visible mold growth, and you may not even know where to start. In this case, look in environments where mold is likely to thrive. Warm areas or areas that hold stagnant water are some of the biggest culprits for mold and mildew growth. In fact, more mold growth occurs in June-August than in any other month. Whether you’re just out of this season or not, always check high-moisture and humid areas like bathrooms, basements, and under the sink when inspecting a new house to buy.
Strange Odor
Not all kinds of mold produce a strong smell, but those that do are often described as musty, earthy, or damp. Even if there’s no visible mold growth, mold can exist. A strange odor can sometimes be the only sign that there’s a mold infestation. Moldy odors should never be ignored. If you can smell mold before you can see it, you should call mold remediation specialists or services specializing in mold removal and inspection.
Dark Grout Between Tiles
You can also find mold in between the tiles of areas in your bathroom. If you notice grout getting darker, this may be a sign of mold infestation. Some people think that because this kind of mold isn’t toxic, they don’t have to worry or treat it. This could not be further from the truth. Any mold presence is dangerous because it indicates that there could be mold elsewhere on your property. A thorough investigation and removal by professionals like those at 911 Restoration are critical.
Signs of Water Damage
Long-term moisture problems are usually followed by mold formation. Whether it’s flooding, water leaks, or other types of water damage, it can lead to mold growth. A history of flooding and water leaks is warning signs that you may have a mold problem. If you’re buying a new home and don’t know about the property’s history, you can also look for physical signs of water damage.
Look out for bubbling, cracking, or peeling paint or wallpaper, discoloration, water stains, and abnormalities like bowed or building walls. You should also look out for condensation on windows and pipes, rusting pipes.
Call In Mold Remediation Specialists
No matter how insignificant the problem seems, mold is never something that should be ignored or taken lightly. If you even suspect that you may have a mold infestation, you must take action immediately before it has a chance to spread and cause even more damage. Fortunately, the specialists at 911 Restoration can help you with this task.
If you’re in the Boston area, our technicians can even respond to emergency calls. For properties in Boston, Lowell, and Quincy, we come within 45 minutes. We are fully prepared to not only handle your mold problems but also answer all your questions about severity and mold cleanup.
Since we work with every client to develop a specialized plan to tackle their mold problems, you can definitely rely on us for thorough and effective mold damage restoration. Contact us today so that our mold removal techs can get rid of mold as soon as possible.
