The signs of spring are early, this year. With temperatures soaring high and breaking February records, flowers and plants of all kinds are blooming. The trees are spreading their spores all over, and it’s a matter of time before the Triangle is covered with a green layer of pollen. Though spring in the Triangle is beautiful, spring also means allergy season is right around the corner. But how can you tell if your allergies are from the outside, or inside of your home?
The symptoms of mold are very similar to allergies. Sneezing, itching, runny nose, and congestion are all symptoms of both allergies and mold. However, with mold symptoms will get worse over time due to exposure.
Find out if you are housing mold in your home.
Where Does Mold Develop?
There are many places in a home mold likes to grow in. Mold likes to live in warm, dark, and damp places like basements, crawl spaces and attics. Places which will accumulate moisture are likely environments where mold will breed, such as bathtubs and plumbing appliances. Here are some other places you can find mold developing in a home:
- Underneath sinks
- Around pipes
- Outside around gutters and rainwater management
- Within walls of bathrooms with poor ventilation
Where Can Mold Hide?
While mold typically develops in areas out of sight in your home, there are other important places to search for mold. Take care to inspect these areas regularly to be sure there’s no mold developing or spreading.
- Kitchen appliances should be inspected because they generate moisture. Make sure to take a look at your dishwasher, refrigerator, and coffeemaker regularly.
- Air conditioners and ducts are prime locations for moisture. Poorly draining air conditioners and humidity can lead to mold within your HVAC unit. Mold can spread very quickly from this if moisture gets in the air ducts of your home.
- Washing machines are another prime source of moisture in your home. The humidity generated by both the washing machine and the dryer can lead to mold lurking nearby. Examine underneath your washing machine for mold, but also check behind the appliance.
I Found Mold, What Next?
If you find mold in your home, there are several ways to handle the pesky spores. It’s very important to tackle the removal of mold because it spreads so easily, so contacting a mold remediation company is a perfect first step. Mold remediation companies prove to especially effective in eliminating mold, but they can also help you identify the source of the mold. This is useful because you’ll be able to prevent the same problem from happening again.
You can also lower your indoor humidity which takes away one of the biggest factors in mold development. Aim to keep your indoor humidity anywhere below 45 percent. Reducing dampness in bathrooms, basements, and laundry areas will help decrease likelihood of mold in your home.
Let Us Help
As real estate professionals, we deal with issues like this every day. We are trained to handle issues like mold and know the top mold and water remediation specialists to work with locally. Don’t hesitate when you are thinking of buying or selling a home this spring and summer to reach out to top realtors to help you through the process.