What Causes Mold To Grow In My Home?

Mold is no stranger to anyone. It is that one thing that nobody really likes, but always manages to show up everywhere. It is in homes, schools, offices, playgrounds, nowhere is safe from mold. This is due to it’s ability to grow anywhere at all, and on any surface, just as long as the conditions are right for it, and quite frankly, mold is not picky at all.

Causes of Mold in the Home

Mold can affect different parts of your home with it’s growth. The following are the causes of mold in the most likely places mold will grow:

1. Mold on the Walls: Walls are a major target for mold, especially if they are drywall. Mold can grown on the wall, within the wall, and behind the wall. All are equally problematic. The major reason why mold grows very quickly on walls is because they are rich in cellulose and they are quite exposed. Humidity in a room settles on the walls before getting anywhere else. This is all mold needs to settle and form a colony. Another thing that could cause mold in your walls is a burst or leaking pipe. It is not unusual for pipes to be run behind walls in buildings, and so a burst or leaky pipe will lead to water spilling on the wall. The wetness, joined with the high cellulose content in the wall, would have mold growing with super speed.
2. Mold on the Ceiling: Very similarly to walls, ceilings collect a lot of condensation in humid areas. This contributes to mold growth. Ceilings can also develop mold due to leaks. A leaky ceiling is very problematic as not only does the leak affect the ceiling, it can affect the walls, and then surfaces in the house where the water drips. These cause mold.
3. Mold on the Windows: Windows are very exposed to the possibility of mold growth. While sun shines in through windows, and air also passes through windows frequently, windows are also exposed to rain and snow falling around and on them. Condensation also settles on the inside of windows often due to the cold air on the outside of the window. Wetness runs down the glass and unto the frame where it soaks through and welcomes mold growth. The mold can even begin growing in the seal where the window frame meets the wall.
4. Mold on the Floor: Your floors are not safe from mold either, just like mold grows on the ceilings it can grow in your floors. Water spilling on your floor, either from a ceiling leak or anything else, along with trapped dirt and dust makes the perfect condition for mold to grow, and mold never misses an opportunity to grow, so you can be sure you will find mold soon. It becomes much worse if you’ve got carpets as carpets are very slow to dry and contain a lot of cellulose. The mold will grow at a very accelerated rate.
5. Mold on Furniture: Furniture is another major target for mold. It is mostly made up of organic material, like wood and cotton for instance. It is very easy for mold to grow on it once there is even the slightest presence of moisture. In furniture kept close to the wall, condensation is much more likely. Mold can grow behind, beneath, or inside of furniture.
6. Mold in Insulation: Insulation in your home could be packed with mold without your knowledge. All exposed insulation in your home is at risk of mold infestation, especially if there is a history of mold in the room before. Even if the insulation appears clean, make sure to do a thorough check. Steady wetness is always a mold trigger so your insulation is not safe.
7. Mold on Clothes: Your clothes are not safe from mold either. Fabric is generally very high in cellulose so your clothes are not safe. If you leave your clothes damp, then mold will waste no time whatsoever setting in on your clothes.
8. Mold in the Basement: The basement is one of the easiest places in your home for mold to grow. In fact, it is like a mold heaven. Most basements have stale air, and are piled with old clothes, old furniture and so much other junk. Basements could also have unchecked leaks, since no one really checks it much. These leaks can wet all the forgotten things in the basement and begin to breed mold. In a basement there could be over 5 places you would find mold.

The Takeaway

The most common cause of mold in the household is wetness, as seen above, so it is important to avoid wetness and water spills in the home if you want to escape mold. Dry Effect can help you make sure you dodge mold, and they can help you determine the cause of your mold if you are unsure.