Common signs of mold in a home
The following signs can indicate that mold is growing in your home.:
1. Allergic symptoms
If you’re dealing with allergies then you may have mold growing someplace inside your house. Allergic reactions can include:
- ⬥ Sneezing
- ⬥ Sore eyes
- ⬥ Nasal congestion
- ⬥ Runny nose
Are your allergic reactions better when you’re somewhere else (e.g. at work), but worse at home? If this is the case, then your home could be harboring mold that you’re not seeing.
2. Moldy, musty smell
Don’t ignore this sign…a moldy smell could be the only clue that mold is growing unchecked in your home.
If you’re smelling mold but don’t see it growing in plain sight then you’ll need to check hidden places for it. For example under the sink or behind the bathtub access panel.
3. Visible mold
Perhaps you’ve not noticed small bits of mold in the corners and crevices of your bathroom tile. Or maybe you think you’re just seeing dirt or soot at the bottom of a wall or door.
It’s very important to remove mold, even if it’s only a small amount. These small patches indicate the conditions are right in your home for mold to grow.
Which means there could be mold you don’t see.
In some cases, mold could be taken for something else. Black is the color most people think of when they think about mold but it can look differently.
Some can be white and thread-like. Some can look gray-brown, gray-green, black or even purple, pink or orange.
4. Water problems
If you have had water problems for a while you can be confident that you could have mold.
Look for signs such as water stains or discoloration of the ceiling, floors or walls of your home. If you were to tear out the discolored area you may discover mold is growing there.
Wallpaper that is bulging, warped, cracking or peeling means that moisture has seeped underneath the surface. Walls feel damp? You’ll probably find mold growing somewhere behind them.
Common sources of hidden mold include:
- ⬥ Ceilings
- ⬥ Windows
- ⬥ Floors
- ⬥ Walls
- ⬥ Furniture
- ⬥ Insulation
- ⬥ Basement
- ⬥ Clothing
- ⬥ Air ducts
5. Condensation
A lot of condensation in your home means that you’ve got a lot of humidity.
Look for condensation on windows or metal pipes. Rusty indoor pipes are also indicators that your home is holding a lot of moisture. Which of course leads to the perfect conditions for mold to take hold.
6. Poor ventilation
Ventilation allows fresh, outside air to flow through your home, preventing the growth of allergens and viruses from taking hold.
Signs of poor ventilation include:
- ⬥ Shower doors and glass windows that gather condensation
- ⬥ Discolored grout in floors and walls
- ⬥ Rust on metal pipes
- ⬥ Strong odors that linger
As you can see, condensation and ventilation are closely linked; when a home is well ventilated it prevents excess moisture from building up.
7. Toxic symptoms caused by mold
Neurological problems can indicate mold issues.
Issues such as “brain fog”, headaches, memory loss, dizziness or shortened attention span need to be looked at more closely.
If you or someone in your home is experiencing these issues, it’s important to rule out the possibility that mold is behind these problems.
