Black mold, known scientifically as Stachybotrys chartarum, is perhaps the most notorious kind of mold homeowners have to deal with. When toxic black mold spores get in your lungs, they can cause headaches, nausea, coughing, itchiness, and joint pain. Unfortunately, locating black mold is not always easy. Despite its distinctive appearance, this nasty fungus oftentimes begins to grow within the walls, all while the average homeowner remains unaware of it. Keep reading to learn more about how black mold gets in your walls, and remember, for all your licensed mold remediation needs, you can always count on our experts at FP Property Restoration.
5 Ways You Can End Up with Black Mold in Your Walls
- Water In Your Foundation: When water builds up around the base of your home, it can end up seeping into your house’s foundation, causing all kinds of problems, including black mold. Of course, you may not be able to see your house’s foundation, but if it becomes cracked for any reason over time, it is possible for water to get in. That’s why if you’re building a house, you should always make sure the yard is sloped out from the foundation, so water goes downward. If you have a basement, you should also install a sump pump, to make sure water does not accumulate under your house and eventually make its way into the foundation. Basements already tend to be dank and dark, and more likely to accumulate moisture, so doing everything you can do to minimize mold growth down there is very important. You may want to put a dehumidifier in your basement to reduce the chances of black mold, and if you are worried about your foundation at all, have it inspected by a professional.
- Flooding & Storms: While excess rainwater can cause problems for your foundation, flooding and storms may affect multiple parts of your home. Mold growth only takes 24-hours to appear, which is why if your house has recently been affected by a storm or a flood, it is important to call for water removal and structural drying. Even if black mold does eventually start to grow in your walls because of something like a flooded basement, you can reduce its effects greatly by hiring professionals like our experts at FP for water damage service sooner rather than later.
- Roof Leaks: When cracks appear in your attic, or gutters start to break down, or your roof is damaged following a storm, water may begin to leak into your property. Although the leaking you can see is bad, the leaks you don’t see may be even worse, as these are the ones that occur directly in your walls or ceilings, oftentimes leading to hidden black mold. Make sure to regularly check your attic to see if there are wet spots, and keep an eye out for damp patches on your walls and ceiling. And if you have a roof leak, repair it right away, and consider hiring a professional to check for black mold growth.
- Broken Pipes: Much like roof leaks, the pipe leaks you cannot see are actually more dangerous than the ones that are visible. When pipe leaks occur in your ceilings, walls, or floors, you can end up not only with a ton of structural damage, but also a nasty black mold problem to go along with it. That’s why FP Property Restoration offers cutting-edge leak detection, so you can identify pipe leaks as soon as possible, and call a plumber to fix them.
- High Humidity Levels: Humid temperatures create the ideal condition for mold to grow. This is why people often put dehumidifiers in their basements, and why it is important to minimize excess moisture throughout your household. Of course, in the state of Florida, high humidity levels are often unavoidable. This is why it is even more essential to reduce humidity where you can as a Florida homeowner. Make sure your home is properly ventilated, and check cotton, drywall, and wood for black mold regularly. While it may be hard to escape the humidity in this state, you can at least do everything in your power to ensure it doesn’t affect your household.
Are you dealing with a black mold problem? Call FP Property Restoration right away at (888) 408-2335 to schedule service. You can also fill out our contact form online.