Breathe Easy, What You Need to Know About Mold.

Recently, I had a friend tell me that he had found a house he and his wife loved, but there was excessive mold present. He asked if they should just walk away, and keep looking elsewhere.

My answer was, “Not necessarily”. I told him that the mold is the result of a problem, but not the root problem itself, and until they discovered the cause of the mold, they wouldn’t know if the house is worth it or not. Mold is a big concern for many home buyers and owners alike, and rightfully so, as the presence of mold can be very hazardous. Mold is naturally occurring and breaks down organic matter, and returns it to the soil. However the presence of mold in a home can pose significant health threats, ranging from minor irritations to serious infections, and in some cases, certain types of cancer. When mold is found, remediation should be performed immediately. More importantly, however, is the need to determine the cause of the mold and fix the problem to prevent the mold from returning.  Finding the cause of the mold may require a professional, but there is a great deal that can be done by a homeowner to locate and even prevent issues.

The first thing to know is that a house needs to “breathe”. A well-designed house is one that has ventilation that promotes good air flow throughout the home. It is not that you want a home to be drafty, but there should be a fair amount of air turned over in a given day. Mold can develop anywhere in a house, but a basement or an attic without proper ventilation, will have a tendency to hold moisture and develop mold. These two areas of the home are the most common places mold is found, and usually a dank or musty odor is a good indication that mold is present.

In a basement, a dehumidifier can effectively remove the normally-occurring moisture from the air, and significantly reduce the chance of mold growth. Also, proper air circulation can help to prevent moisture buildup. This is why when planning to finish or remodel a basement, it is important that much thought be put into planning the HVAC system, including quantity and placement of heat registers, and cold air returns. Consulting an HVAC professional for plan review would be a wise investment.  

In the attic space, it is all about movement of air. Your attic temperature should be almost the same as the outside air temperature at all times. This is usually accomplished with vents at the soffits and at the roof peaks. These vents allow the hot air to escape at the ridge of the roof, and draw cooler air into the lower parts of the roof from the soffit vents. If this is inadequate, then another option is to install solar-powered or AC-powered vents that will force air movement through the attic.

This is just the beginning but understanding the causes of mold growth and measures that can be taken to prevent it, can save you a lot of money, hassle, and even illness. For more information about mold, including identifying mold, more causes and a more in-depth discussion about prevention, go to Inspectordaggett.com