Many of us are unknowingly sharing our homes with molds. This is because molds are pretty good at hiding their identities. One such case of mold growth is behind your walls. This very point doesn’t imply that one cannot detect molds in homes. Molds are powerful enough to make you cringe with their presence. When all your problems are mold-centered, the earlier you can get to them, the better it is for you and your belongings.

Having said this, you might be wondering what are the tell-tale signs that make a way for you to get to these molds? How can you find these tiny organisms on your walls? What damage do they cause to the walls, in particular?

We’re here to cast light on your questions. Those of you who are worried about the presence of molds on walls, this article is aimed for you. Don’t you fret! We’re here for you to alleviate your worries and anxieties that are resultant of these molds.

Before getting straight to the detection of molds in and behind walls, it is of paramount importance to know what is promoting them to grow.

Excessive moisture functions to form a ground for these molds to play. One of the best things that give you a good idea to have a mold inspection in your homes is the recurrent water problems such as leaks, floodings, or infiltrations.

 

How to know if there is mold growing inside the walls?

Mind it, if the water damage is serious, within quite a less time, molds will begin to grow after the water has absorbed and reached the drywall. If you have leaks in the pipes, moisture can be easily trapped in the walls which will consequently favor mold growth.

Therefore, water damages largely serve to form moisture platforms for molds to boom.

It is noteworthy that the longer these molds stay in your home undetected, the better chances they will have to over-populate and the harder it will be for you to remove them altogether. That’s why it’s best to get your home inspected for molds at the first sign of their existence. If not, instead of you controlling them they will control you.

Sure Signs Of Molds In Or Behind The Walls

Here’s what to check for when finding molds in or behind the walls.

  1. Water stains and discoloration

It’s likely that the water that has been soaked through leaves its marks on the walls. Water stains potently signal the presence of molds there. If you ever find water stains on your walls, just don’t be oblivious to them. They are the mold indicators which need not be neglected in any way.

These stains mostly appear to be brown or yellow. If you suspect molds in your home, look out for these colors on your walls. Also, if the spots are somewhat damp or wet, they point towards moisture problems.

The discoloration is another sign that gives you the idea of mold growing on the walls. If you’ve newly painted your walls and they begin to lose color, this implies that molds have grown on them in abundance.

The simplest way to check for molds is to observe the color of moldy growths in or behind the walls i.e. brown, green, white, black, or gray.

  1. Surface deterioration

Not only molds result in wall discoloration but also they bring about surface changes. The wallpaper or paint either cracks or flakes off suggesting mold growth behind the walls. Furthermore, you might observe tiny water swelling or bumps on the walls. All these are indicative of molds chomping the wall from the inside.

  1. Musty odors

In case you are unable to see molds with your naked eye, even then you can get straight to them by the distinct musty odor they give off, which is akin to the earthy smell. This odor is equivalent to that found in any damp forest.

How to prevent molds from damaging our walls?

Before anyone attempts to wipe out molds from the walls, it is mandatory to put on personal protective gown and goggles as well as negative air filtration equipment.

Mold growing on unpainted drywall:

Usually, a swab dipped in a diluted bleach solution is used to kill molds populating on different materials. However, always be mindful of the fact that bleach has shown to be effective only in the case of non-porous materials such as tiles, painted walls, bathtubs, etc. It has no penetration power for porous materials such as drywall.

Thus, one can say that bleach is ineffective in killing molds that grow beneath the surface of materials. Using bleach for porous objects will work to override superficial molds but the roots will remain there which will ensure quick return of molds.

So, if molds are feeding on organic cellulose component of drywall, you’ll have to remove the wall altogether.

It’s better to hire a professional to do this job because it’s not as easy to remove molds growing on walls as it seems.

Mold growing behind walls:

Molds are well known for growing out of our sight. They inhabit the wall cavities which contain small pockets of moist air. To get rid of these molds, it’s advisable to reach out to a professional remediation team for help.

Conclusion:

Molds are present almost everywhere. But you can protect your homes and buildings from mold attacks if you attend to them at your earliest. To detect molds, look for the aforementioned sure signs we’ve shared with you. Don’t be ignorant of these molds, otherwise, they will spread in every direction and they will turn your life into a hassle.

Do not waste your life to these molds. Just gain control over them and make your life easy. Contact Dry Effect for your remediation needs.

About Lisa McIntyre

Lisa McIntyre has always resided in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She graduated from University of Cincinnati with a degree in Applied Science. Ultimately, her passion for science and teaching came to fruition after her husband requested her assistance in developing Dry Effect Restoration Services. She was able to develop her knowledge, degrees and certifications further in many indoor air quality associations and organizations. Thus allowing her to educate Realtors and Insurance Agents on the damages that many common indoor air quality irritants and water bacterial growths can lead to in ones home or business. Over 10 years later she’s glad to have taken the leap of faith to assist her husband what seemed to be a fun project into a lifetime achievement and to see the individuals she teaches prosper from their newly found knowledge.

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