Whether you’re sneezing a bit more than usual or feeling like the house has gotten a bit damper and chillier in recent months, mold signs and symptoms are nothing to take lightly. It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with general mold or more toxic forms of fungus. When you find mold in your home, you have to act fast. In homes with moisture leaks and damp spots, mold can easily take hold and spread at a rapid pace if you’re not careful. That’s why it’s so essential to spot mold in its early stages and call a local mold removal service to nip the problem in the bud. If you think you’re dealing with mold growth or moisture leaks in your home, here are a few ways to tell for sure.
You’re Sneezing a Lot More
Mold growth signifies a moisture issue in your house. It also creates an incredibly uncomfortable situation for anyone dealing with allergies in your household. In the same way that a damp, cold environment is likely to have you reaching for the Kleenex, signs of mold can creep up on you and cause cold- or flu-like symptoms, as well as general irritation or exacerbation of pre-existing allergies. If you’re feeling terrible and you have no idea why you might want to start checking the corners of your home for mold growth. In the worst case scenarios, when dealing with toxic mold or black mold, homeowners and family members can develop lung infections and persistent coughing. That’s why it’s so important to keep mold at bay and attend to any unexplained symptoms without delay. You can do skin tests and blood tests to make sure you’re safe, or you can test your home for mold before treating.
You Smell Something Funky
Most of us already know what mold smells like. There’s a specific, heavy scent that’s pretty much unmistakable when it starts growing on food items like meat or cheese. However, when you’re dealing with mold growth on walls or in insulation and carpeting, you’re likely to get a much mustier, drier scent that’s less overpowering at first. The important thing to do is not to ignore the scent and wait until it becomes more present. The first whiff of mold you get should tell you that it’s time to tackle the problem head-on. Since mold is created by leaks and moisture buildup, you’ll want to check the areas in and around your bathroom first when trying to identify where the smell is coming from. If you have a bathroom fan set up, check to see if there’s any mold growth in and around the fan before turning it on after a shower or bath.
You’re Noticing Buildup Around the House
The most obvious sign of mold, of course, is its actual, unmistakable presence on your walls, your ceiling, or in the worst cases, in your home’s insulation. There are many different types of mold to be seen, but the most common household mold types you’re likely to spot are green and black patches overlaid with white fuzz. When you see mold, don’t go right into scraping it off or trying to treat it. The most important thing is to identify what type of mold you’re dealing with first so that you can know whether it needs to be treated with a lot of protective gear or by a professional. Ideally, you’re not waiting until you actually see the first signs of mold pop up in order to get the problem under control. However, mold is a sneaky substance that, when first building up, can look like a normal dirt patch or stain. Keeping your bathroom and kitchen clean and dry is the first step to preventing mold. If you’re scrubbing at a dirt patch that won’t go away near the sink or in the corner, you might want to get a second opinion.
You’re Having Water Leaks
When it comes to mold, one thing is certain: Where there’s a leaky faucet, a broken pipe, or bubbling wallpaper, there’s bound to be mold sooner or later. The key is catching it before it spreads, and making sure your home stays as dry as possible, especially in the winter months or the most humid part of summer. Since mold growth doesn’t always happen in plain sight, always do a cursory check around the wetter areas of your home, such as under the bathroom and kitchen sinks and around the bathtub or shower tiles to make sure you’re not missing anything. Installing fans to help with ventilation and making sure to keep bath mats clean and dry will also help with mold prevention.