Signs, Causes, And Solutions For Mold On Home Insulation
Mold is one of the most common issues in homes with moisture, humidity, and leakage issues. There is not a single house that has not experienced mold growth at least once in its life. While mold itself happens to be a dangerous factor in terms of health, it is also a complicated issue when it comes to identifying and getting rid of it. The reason is that most homeowners are not even familiar with how to spot mold and how to do mold removal. This makes the process of diagnosing and removing all too difficult. To help you out, here is all the important information you need to detecting and removing mold from your home insulation without having to waste extra time and money.
What Are The Signs There Is Mold Inside The Walls And Insulation?
A lot of times, homeowners are not able to detect or identify mold as they have not experienced it before. For them, it might be a temporary odor that will go away on its own. But, if there happens to be a patch on the wall, it means things are turning worse.
The first thing you will notice in case of mold inside the walls is a musty smell. It is not something you can ignore. If you search the house and observe it growing as you come near the source, it means there is surely some mold somewhere.
Furthermore, you should know that mold inside the walls often stays within the walls. But, if it manages to spread to other items like wallpaper, baseboards, and drywall paper, it appears in patchy clusters of small spots. Mold can be gray-brown, white-black, etc.
Another sign of mold inside the walls is dampness. Dampness could also take place due to the use of a shower or cooking. But, that type of dampness should go away after a while. If you observe that the wall is damp the entire day, it means there is most probably mold inside.
Additionally, you will also come across stains that will assure you there is mold. Some people tend to use chemicals to remove the stains and assume the problem is solved. But, if there is mold inside the walls, the stains will show up again. So, the best to counter that is by either consulting an expert or putting an end to it yourself.
How To Check For Mold Inside Your Insulation And Walls?
Before you can remove mold inside the walls, you will have to check and ensure there is mold inside. But before that you should shut off the power to the area from the electric service panel.
Mark the area using a pencil, and make sure to leave enough space to work the drywall jab saw. Use the saw and cut through the drywall according to the markings. Inspect the mold and use a flashlight to see if it has spread to other areas well.
If the mold did not spread, you should be thankful. But if it has spread to other areas, you will need to repeat the process and will have to give quite a bit of time and effort to properly get rid of all the mold.
Moreover, you should also look for mold in other ignored areas as well like the chimney and fireplace and the attic.
How To Remove Mold From The Insulation?
A common question or response from homeowners when it comes to removing mold is the ideal removal time. The fact of the matter is that mold should be removed or stopped in its tracks as soon as it is identified. If you ignore it, it will spread and even cause respiratory issues.
Since mold is airborne, it will be inhaled by your family and could trigger serious health concerns. Plus, mold can easily spread to other areas such as insulation, ceiling, flooring studs, etc.
Before you begin the process of removing mold from inside the walls, you should know it is a four-step process. The first thing you are going to do is remove the drywall or insulation and try to contain the mold. Then, you are going to purchase some chemicals from your local supermarket and follow the instructions mentioned on the back to kill the mold.
Make sure to cordon off the mold so that the chemicals do not affect or spread to other areas. If the mold has spread to the other areas, you will need to use the chemical and scrubbing technique repeatedly.
Allow the chemicals to sit for a while and completely destroy the mold. Finally, use another agent and a brush or a cleaning cloth to remove the remnants. Keep in mind that mold cleaning can be a difficult process so if you want to be done safely and thoroughly, hire mold remediation Bethesda services.
What Are The Health Effects Of Mold Growth?
Now that we have discussed how to remove mold from inside the walls, it is equally important that we discuss the health effects as well.
Mold on insulation can be a troublesome factor for your family members especially if kids or elders are living in the house. As mentioned earlier, mold is a type of fungus that is airborne in nature and if inhaled for too long can irritate.
In some cases, it could also lead to extreme respiratory and breathing issues. In addition to that, mold can significantly damage the property if left ignored as well. This could be a turnoff and a bad impression if you were to sell the property in the future. With mold in the house, the price you will receive will hardly meet your expectations.
How To Prevent Mold In The Future?
The best way to deal with mold is to prevent or avoid it. Perhaps the best way to prevent mold on insulation is by ensuring sufficient ventilation. Good insulation in an insulated area prevents moisture buildup that results in condensation.
Another way to stop mold growth is by sealing leaks in the building. For example, leaking pipes tend to be a major source of mold formation, which is not easy to detect. Such problems usually occur inside the bathrooms and require regular inspections and maintenance.
If you find that the mold has intensified to the point where it will take a lot of effort and time to get rid of it, you should simply remove the area and replace it with new. The reason is that you will most probably be spending a lot more on labor and time to get rid of the mold than to simply remove and replace the small area.
Conclusion
Removing mold from home insulation starts with identifying and detecting the cause of the problem. Although prevention is a lot better than cure, if it is supposed to take place, it will. In that case, you will need to follow the instructions mentioned above and consult a water damage restoration Silver Spring professional if required as well. Mold can spread to other areas of the house within days and that is something you need to prevent at all costs. So, you should try to remove mold as quickly as possible.