To avoid mold in your home, you first have to know why it grows. Certain elements create the perfect home for mold to grow, and once it starts, it can be hard to stop. Read on to learn about what causes mold to grow, how to prevent it, and how mold remediation Saratoga Springs NY can make a huge difference if you discover mold in your home.
A Recipe for Disaster
For mold to thrive, it requires certain elements to be present. When they’re all found in a certain area of your home, mold is likely to grow. These elements include mold spores, moisture, oxygen, warmth, darkness, a food source, and time left alone. Common food sources include wood, drywall, or cotton, and it can take 24-48 hours for mold to start growing in the right conditions. Some of these elements are a given in many areas of your home, like oxygen, warmth, and darkness, so it’s mainly moisture that you should pay attention to.
Pay Attention to Humidity
Mold most often starts to grow in areas with high humidity, leaking pipes, water spills, or poor ventilation. High moisture levels contribute to that perfect mold-forming recipe, so checking throughout various areas of your home for moisture is a great way to prevent mold growth.
Specific Scenarios
Specific places and scenarios where mold is commonly found include damp basements, floorboards, or ceilings near a water leak, leaking roofs, spaces near pipes or windows where condensation collects, places where wet clothes are piled up, or anywhere that has been flooded and not allowed to dry properly.
What to Do If You Find Mold?
First and foremost, if you find mold in your home, it is smart to call in the professionals for mold remediation in NY. Your mold will be removed, the area will be cleaned and sanitized, and any demolition or replacements will take place. You can also request mold-preventing treatments to prevent future outbreaks.