What Are the Ways Mold Destroys Your Home?
Since mold is our business, we see firsthand the many ways mold destroys your home. We know the damage that mold can cause, and its effects aren’t always obvious or immediate. Beyond being gross, mold growth in your home can have severe consequences. Licensed professionals have the tools and knowledge to tackle the problem safely and effectively, and you should never try to do it on your own. A mold professional assesses the situation and will inform you of the ways mold destroys your home so you can form a plan and take action.
You might brush mold in your home off as a small but unsightly nuisance or an unnecessary expense. But, in reality, it’s one of the ways mold destroys your home from the inside out. Since we live in a humid environment, there’s no way that mold will simply disappear on its own. Instead, it will grow and spread until it’s a huge and costly problem.
5 Ways Mold Destroys Your Home
Structural Damage
Water damage is bad enough to deal with on its own. You could take all the proper steps to dry out your home. But without the input of a mold expert, you could be missing important signs that the damage is not yet finished. Once mold takes hold, your home’s structure can be severely compromised. Certain types of mold feed on wood, causing dry rot and putting the home’s structural integrity at risk. Wood may seem an obvious place for mold to grow, but it can also reach other areas of the structure. From the foundation to carpets and drywall, mold will find a way to grow. Because it thrives in damp places, mold can take over those hidden areas and eat away, causing your home to crumble and eventually fall apart.
Cosmetic Damage
Mold doesn’t just affect the structure of your home; it can have a negative impact on the appearance, as well. The problem in this cause isn’t structural but cosmetic. Some household molds leave stains behind, even once they’re gone. From fabrics like drapes to stucco siding and roofing, you’ll see the effects of mold in the form of a nasty stain. If you’re preparing your house for the real estate market, you don’t want potential buyers seeing any sign of mold since it’s a red flag to bail. What may appear to be surface mold could actually be signs that mold is still present, even if deep in the layers of the material. Porous materials like concrete and drywall can hold on to mold spores until the right conditions arise, then spread to other areas of your home.
Health Problems
One of the most frightening ways mold destroys your home isn’t actually the home itself. It’s you. We now know that mold in your home causes health problems, especially in those with asthma or a weakened immune system. Everyone’s body reacts differently, but the most common side effects of mold are well-known.
- Sore Throat and Cough
- Itchy, Watery Eyes
- Skin Rash or Irritation
- Headache and Fatigue
Mold can also affect the air quality within your home. It’s classified among cigarette smoke and asbestos as an indoor pollutant, causing the above symptoms as well as more concerning respiratory issues.
Appliance Damage
We use many of our appliances to clean, making them the last place you want to find mold. From ruining your food to making your clothes stink, mold in and on appliances is more than a nuisance. What’s worse is that we regularly open and close those machines, releasing spores each time. Since they’re usually located in a dark, cool area, mold quickly overtakes your appliances and eventually ruins them. Mold can eat away at seals and hoses, which causes leaks and only furthers the mold problem. Before long, you’ll need to repair or replace it to stop the problem. Instead of going without your appliances due to supply chain and cost issues, it’s in your best interest to prolong the life of what you have.
Destroyed Personal Items
For many of us, our belongings reflect who we are and what we love. When mold takes over and destroys those items, it can be beyond devastating. Even synthetic materials aren’t spared; mold attacks it right alongside organic materials. From clothing to books and furniture, food sources for mold are readily available around your home. Since mold spreads through the air and on our clothes, you could end up transporting spores into other areas of your home and eventually the home’s structure itself.
How Professionals Prevent Mold Damage
Do you suspect a mold problem? If you’ve noticed signs of mold growing around your home, you should act quickly to reduce damage. Calling in professional mold experts is the only safe way to tackle mold, and you’ll be glad you did once you see the end results. At iMold, we use top-of-the-line tools and experienced, licensed techs to get to the root of the mold problem. We see the ways mold damages your home every day, so we stay ahead of training in the latest technology in mold detection. Helping our customers be mold-free is our passion, and we have the knowledge to tackle even the toughest mold problems. That’s why we’re available for 24/7 emergencies.
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