Attention Property Managers. ask about our new client portal

Is It OK To Live in a House With Mold?

Name: Exit Mold
Address: 1 Irwin Ct., Lynbrook, New York, 11563, United States
Telephone: (516) 512-7877

You take a lot of pride in the cleanliness and safety of your home. You clean regularly, you tidy up every evening, and you do regular checks around your home for signs of damage or underlying issues.

All of these practices are necessary as responsible homeowners, but unfortunately, it doesn’t always guarantee that issues won’t unexpectedly pop up from time to time. One of these issues that can sneak under the radar is mold. Mold can be found in any home across the country, even where cleanliness and tidiness are prioritized.

If you discover a mold infestation or even just a few spots of mold, you might wonder, “Is it OK to live in a house with mold?” The answer might surprise you. Let’s dive into the details between living in a house with mold and what to do about it.

What Causes Mold Growth in Homes?

Mold spores are found everywhere, and these spores are constantly searching for a place to settle in and grow. Once these mold spores find a moist, dark and undisturbed area, they will multiply and grow into a colony in as little as 24 hours.

Common sources of moist, dark areas include:

Under sinks or other fixtures
Basements
Crawl spaces
Behind or under kitchen equipment
Bathrooms

If these areas are not able to dry out completely or have poor ventilation, mold will eventually seek out these spaces and an infestation becomes much more likely. Microscopic mold spores can also seek out hidden areas of your home. Spores can get behind your walls or under your floorboards and can spread like wildfire once established.

Health Risks of Living With Mold

While mold is a common problem, it is not safe to have in your home. Mold infestations can cause a variety of impactful symptoms and over time, mold exposure can even lead to chronic issues.

Living with a mold infestation impacts your entire family. Mold spores are circulating throughout your home, even in areas where the infestation is not occurring. As your family breathes in these spores, you can expect the following over time:

Short-term symptoms: coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes and skin irritation. All of these symptoms should improve when you leave your home or spend time outside.

Long-term risks: respiratory issues, asthma flare-ups and a weakened immune response. Chronic mold exposure can lead to chronic respiratory issues and discomfort.

Anyone can be impacted by mold exposure, but certain groups of people are more likely to have more severe or obvious symptoms.

These vulnerable groups include:

Children
Elderly
People with allergies
Other immunocompromised people

Mold affects individuals differently, but in most cases, will cause some sort of uncomfortable or persistent respiratory symptoms.

Structural and Property Risks of Mold

Additionally, mold can have a significant impact on the structure of your home. Mold damages wood, drywall and insulation over time. Mold is a living fungus, and it needs to consume organic materials to grow and thrive. It will break down your wood, drywall and insulation as the infestation grows.

Mold can also cause moisture issues over time that will lead to wood rot and structural instability problems. This damage can make it dangerous to be in certain parts of your home as your walls and floors become unreliable.

If you have an unchecked mold problem, it can actually become harder or even impossible to sell your house when the time comes. Not many people are going to want to deal with a mold problem in their new home, so your re-sale value will be impacted as well.

When Is Mold Dangerous Enough To Leave Your Home?

Discovering a few spots of mold shouldn’t prompt you to pack your bags and leave. However, you should identify the reason for the mold and take care of it right away. A small mold infestation or mold issue can usually be cleaned up without needing any demolition or intense remediation.

However, large-scale infestations often require more intervention. If your family is experiencing worsening symptoms while inside your home, it’s time to call a mold removal professional for help.

You should also seek assistance if the signs of your mold infestation are becoming more prominent. If the musty odor is getting stronger, the dark patches on your walls are growing, or the mold keeps coming back when you clean it, it’s time to call for help.

What To Do if You Find Mold

The first thing you need to do is stay calm. Mold infestations can be delicate, and disturbing them in any way can send hundreds of mold spores into the air. Once the mold infestation has been uncovered, back away and secure the room.

Securing your space should involve shutting doors and windows and turning off fans and/or the HVAC system temporarily. Your goal is to contain the issue to that one location instead of releasing more spores into the air that could travel around your home.

After that, call a mold remediation team! Mold removal professionals have the skills required to remove the infestation entirely without causing further damage to your home. They will also have the industrial equipment to scrub the area as well as your air to remove airborne particles.

Investing in a mold remediation team also increases your risk of avoiding another mold problem in the future. During the recovery process, any moisture issues or potential causes of the mold problem are addressed as well. This ensures the mold cannot come back!

In conclusion, is it OK to live in a house with mold? No, any mold problem in your home should be dealt with immediately. Ignoring it or not removing it promptly can lead to serious health concerns as well as structural damage to your property.

Call Exit Mold right away at (516) 512-7877 if you are worried about a potential mold infestation! Our talented team is ready to help you recover faster and more thoroughly.

Common Sense Actions During A Flood Emergency

Emergency Response: What To Do During A Flood

Emergency Response: What To Do During A Flood While we at Exit Mold, a New York home restoration firm serving NYC and the five boroughs

Is a Flooded Basement Bad?

Is a Flooded Basement Bad? Table of Contents Home disasters always seem to happen when we least expect them. After all, who really has

Professional Water Extraction: Why It’s Crucial After a Basement Flood

Professional Water Extraction: Why It’s Crucial After a Basement Flood Basement floods are never a fun experience, and they always tend to happen during the

Related Blogs