Common Causes of Mold Growth in the Home

It’s not uncommon for homeowners to deal with mold at least once in their lives. With over 1,000 different species of mold in the US alone, it can be difficult to protect your home from mold spores. However, understanding the cause and conditions for mold growth helps you prevent it from becoming an issue that requires a mold remediation service. Here are some of the common causes of mold growth in the home. 

Moisture

Water is the most essential building block for life. For that reason, anywhere in your home that is consistently damp, even if it’s just a small amount of moisture, can be a breeding ground for mold. In homes, this typically includes areas like the bathroom or kitchen sink, where water often splashes onto the ground or surrounding counters.

To prevent mold, make sure you’re wiping up pools of standing water and that these rooms have sufficient ventilation. Showers, in particular, are often hotbeds for mold to form.

Mold Spores

Mold spores are microscopic to the human eye, so it’s impossible to spot them before they have a chance to get into your home. These spores are prolific throughout the entire world and will most often be brought into your home from the indoors, propagated by air movement.

Because you can’t eliminate the spores, the best thing you can do is keep your home clean and improve the ventilation so the spores don’t have a chance to settle.

Food Waste

The last cause of mold growth in the home is food waste. Mold isn’t a plant as it may seem; it’s a life-form that needs to eat so it can survive and reproduce, though it’s closer to a fungus than an animal. In nature, plants are plentiful, and you can find mold growing just about anywhere.

In your home, however, you may find mold in your trash or refrigerator once food has gone bad. But what does it feed on when it’s in your bathrooms or walls? In this case, the mold feeds off the organic materials within objects like wood or insulation. Keeping this in mind can help you anticipate what spots may be problematic and act early if you spot signs of mold.

Protect Your Home

With mold being so ubiquitous, it’s essential to keep close tabs on the potential problem areas around your home; whether that be the kitchen, the bathroom, or from outside factors. Take the necessary preventive steps and be aware of the signs that there is mold in your home, preparing for both scenarios is critical for homeowners.