Mold is everywhere, playing its part in nature by helping break down organic materials. However, when mold begins to spread in your home, it‘s important to address it quickly. The EPA warns that molds have the potential to cause health problems because they produce allergens, irritants, and toxic substances that can lead to skin irritation and respiratory issues.
Mold in the home can also damage building materials, potentially causing your drywall, wooden structures, furniture, and insulation to rot or stain. Fabrics, wallpaper, and other organic materials also start to break down over time.
How does mold spread? Learn the warning signs of mold in your home, tips for prevention, and when it’s time to call Restorerz Emergency Services for mold remediation in the LA area.
What Mold Needs To Grow and Spread
Mold doesn’t need much to survive in your home. Mold requires the following factors to grow and spread:
- Moisture: Mold thrives in damp environments.
- An organic food source: Wood, paper, and cloth are all potential food sources for mold.
- Oxygen: Mold needs oxygen to survive and grow.
- A suitable temperature: Los Angeles County’s mild Mediterranean climate is perfect for mold growth, which, depending on the type of mold, usually thrives between 40°F and 100°F.
- Dark spaces: Mold prefers to live in dark spaces and can be destroyed by direct sunlight.
How Mold Spreads Through Your Home
Does mold spread through the air? How does it move around? If you’ve found mold growing on your walls, in your bathroom, or under the carpet, you may be wondering where it came from and how to stop it from spreading further.
Mold is a fungus that releases microscopic reproductive cells, called spores, into the air. These act like “seeds” that germinate once they find a suitable place to take root and grow. If you have mold in your air ducts, spores can blow around your entire home. However, just walking past mold is enough to send spores flying into the air.
Mold spores also attach to anything that brushes against them. They take root in moist areas with a food supply, grow, and then release more spores. Mold can also spread to your furniture and clothes.
Does Mold Spread Quickly?
Mold spreads very quickly, colonizing a new area from a tiny spore within 24 to 48 hours after it finds a water source. After three to seven days, visible mold will appear, along with a musty odor. The higher the humidity and the greater the airflow, the more readily the mold can grow and release spores into the air. This fast timeline means it’s important to act as soon as you notice any signs of mold in your home.
Warning Signs Mold Is Spreading in Your Home
Some common warning signs you may have a mold problem in your home include:
- Musty smell: You can usually smell mold before you can see it. Its musty or stuffy smell is often compared to wet socks or decaying wood.
- Visible mold: There are many forms of mold. Black mold looks like black or dark grey/green patches with a furry, slimy, or powdery texture. You may also see patches of white, green, blue, yellow, or brown growths that can sometimes be mistaken for stains or dust.
- Water damage: Peeling wallpaper, water stains, soft spots, sagging ceilings, or bubbling paint are signs that water has been leaking out of sight for a while, creating an ideal environment for mold growth.
- Health issues: Persistent coughing, respiratory issues, nausea, headaches, dizziness, allergies, or asthma attacks may occur around mold growth.
How To Prevent Mold from Spreading
The best way to prevent mold from spreading is to remove the conditions it needs to survive. This means not allowing moisture to sit for too long, cleaning regularly, installing moisture barriers, and addressing major leaks or flooding with professional remediation.
Some of the most common causes of mold growth indoors include:
- Plumbing leaks or roof leaks
- Improper ventilation of clothes dryers or cooking appliances
- Steam in a kitchen or bathroom
- Damp basements or crawlspaces
- Outdoor drainage issues
How Professional Mold Remediation Stops the Spread
Mold can spread even after being cleaned if the root cause of the mold growth isn’t fully addressed. The best way to ensure the mold won’t grow back again is to contact a restoration company like Restorerz. Our process is as follows:
- Step one: Call us to schedule an appointment, and we’ll be there within 24 hours.
- Step two: We assess the contaminated areas and develop a remediation plan.
- Step three: We contain the mold to prevent cross-contamination as we work.
- Step four: We remove all affected materials, from furniture to drywall, cleaning what we can and disposing of anything that’s unsalvageable.
- Step five: We treat the area, as well as any salvageable building materials and furniture.
- Step six: A mold clearance test that meets the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standards ensures all mold has been removed.
- Step seven: We restore your home to its original state.
Contact Restorerz for Professional Mold Remediation Services in California
Have you noticed the telltale signs of mold growth in your home? Call Restorerz Emergency Services for professional remediation from certified experts. We’ll provide immediate help, not only by cleaning up the mold, but also by addressing the root cause of the mold growth.
We work with all insurance companies and offer the most competitive pricing in Southern California. Our service area spans most of Southern California and parts of Nevada, including Los Angeles, Encino, Glendale, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, and Boulder City. Contact us today to schedule your comprehensive mold inspection.