Every year in the United States, mold exposure is responsible for nearly 5 million cases of asthma. Between 2000 and 2010, mold-related insurance claims increased by 1,100%. Clearly, mold is a major issue that homeowners are taking more seriously nowadays. Here are five areas of your home where mold often appears as well as a few reasons why they’re hot spots.
1. Basements That Have Been Flooded
It shouldn’t surprise you that flooded basements are a haven for dangerous mold. Mold spores need damp environments to thrive, after all. Even an un-flooded basement is ground zero for mold infestation under normal conditions. Throw a burst pipe into the equation and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a festering mold situation that must be fixed by professionals.
2. Underneath and Behind Refrigerators
The areas around a refrigerator are prime breeding grounds for mold for a number of reasons. For starters, these appliances are rarely moved and a latent infestation can take hold before anyone notices. Furthermore, the condensation associated with a refrigerator’s internal plumbing can create a prime environment for mold to thrive.
3. Behind Walls That House Plumbing
If you live in a humid climate, your cold water pipes will develop condensation quickly when the mercury rises. That thin layer of drywall won’t stop pipes from sweating. That’s why wrapping pipes with insulation is so important. Sweating pipes will create a moist environment where mold is likely to grow continuously over the long haul.
4. Underneath Drywall Near Leaky Windows
When the wind kicks up in rainy conditions, leaky windows allow moisture to penetrate the exterior shell of a house. That’s why smart homeowners pay so much attention to sealing doors and windows. In a nutshell, moisture builds up on studs and drywall around the openings, allowing mold to grow behind the scenes and degrade interior air quality.
5. Beneath Carpet That’s Regularly Wet
Carpeting can get wet and promote mold growth without exhibiting clear signs of a problem. The synthetic materials that carpets are often made of act as prime incubators and retainers of mold spores. What’s worse, mold-ridden carpeting can quickly spread its poison to sub-flooring and create more expensive problems later on when.
Nipping Mold Growth in the Bud
If you suspect that mold has taken hold in your central New Jersey home, you’d be well advised to call in an expert for an inspection. A quality outfit with years of experience in the field like Flood and Mold NJ can quickly diagnose the problem, suggest the correct services needed, and repair the damagequickly at a price that’s easy to live with.