Mold in your home is a serious problem and should be dealt with and remediated as soon as it is discovered. Mold can lead to serious health concerns for the occupants of your home, so you don’t want to take this issue lightly. Mold is also an indicator of other potential issues within your home’s construction, so it is a good idea to consult a contractor, in addition to a professional remediation service, when mold is discovered. But, it isn’t always obvious because mold can often be behind the walls. Here are a few of the common signs you might have mold behind the walls to help you identify an issue more quickly and mitigate any additional damages:

1. You Can See Mold Spores

It might seem obvious that you have a mold problem if you are seeing mold spores growing on your walls, floors, or ceilings. Homeowners who encounter this will often use cleaning agents to remove mold from surfaces.

However, when mold is evident on surfaces, it is potentially, and probably, also evident in other unseen places in the home. If you see mold spores on the surface of your walls or ceiling, it is likely that there is also mold behind the walls. As such, it’s a good idea to contact a professional to come and investigate whether or not there is a more serious issue at hand.

2. There is a Damp or Musty Smell

The presence of mold, even if it is not visible, can often be identified by a damp and musty smell inside the home. When this is the case, it is important to act quickly because breathing in mold spores can create serious health problems and should not be ignored or taken lightly.

Basements, attics, and other areas of the home that are dark and experience dampness or are susceptible to condensation are prime areas for mold to begin to grow. These smells are signs your basement has excess moisture. So, be aware of any musty smells in it and also in other areas of your home.

3. There are Visible Signs of Leaks and Water Damage

If you notice water damage to any areas of your home, it is an indication that some type of repairs are in order. For example, leaks are one of the signs that you don’t have proper roof ventilation or that there is damage to your roof. So, you don’t want to leave water damage or signs of leaks uninvestigated.

Contact a licensed contractor to help you pinpoint the origin of the leak. By the time you visibly notice the moisture damage, it is highly likely that some amount of moisture has been accumulating for some time.

This creates an ideal environment for mold to grow and propagate, so it is a good idea to check if any mold is present before you order repairs to your home. Mold remediation should occur in conjunction with your repairs so that it is not left unchecked to continue to grow after your roof or siding is fixed.

4. You Have Symptoms That Disappear if You Are Away From Home for a Few Days

Exposure to mold in your home can cause a slew of health issues with symptoms that seem like a cold, flu, or respiratory issues. When other health issues have been ruled out, mold in your home could be the culprit that is causing your ailments or symptoms.

If you find yourself suddenly battling headaches (frequent headaches that keep getting worse), a higher frequency of nosebleeds without other explanations, respiratory issues, difficulty breathing, runny nose, coughing etc., and these symptoms can’t be connected to a cold, flu, or another virus, it could be that you have mold present in your home.

The symptoms caused by prolonged exposure to mold overlap with a lot of viruses, so it can be difficult to immediately identify. However, if other things have been ruled out, the symptoms disappear after you spend a few days away from home, and seem to return once you get back from your vacation, they could be caused by mold.

These are just a few signs you might have mold behind the walls. Mold growth in a home is a serious issue. Not only is it a health concern, but it can also lead to costly damage and repair bills if it is not addressed immediately. The presence of mold also diminishes the value of your home if you are trying to sell it and can also delay your home renovation project if you are trying to remodel.

For all of these reasons, and more, it is important to be aware of the signs of mold and stay vigilant about keeping it out of your home and protecting your home from water damage. If you need help with some home maintenance or enhancing the market value of your home with a home improvement project, give Zephyr Thomas a call at (717) 399-4708.

Basements are notorious for having issues with moisture, but it doesn’t have to be that way. A basement remodel can help you turn an unfinished basement into a fantastic finished living space. It can also help you proactively take care of moisture issues and prevent damage from occurring. Check out this video of our team remodeling a basement!