What to Do About a Mold Situation

Mold grows in damp, humid spaces and can even grow in any area of a building after

water damage. United Water Restoration Group knows that handling a mold situation

can be challenging, so we’re here to discuss everything you need to know about

having a mold situation in your home or commercial space.

We would like to provide 5 signs of a mold situation in your home or business that

may warrant professional remediation.

Mold Remediation Services

1. Frequent Allergy Symptoms

Cold-like symptoms, including nasal congestion, sore throat, coughing, headaches,

and fatigue can all be signs that mold is growing nearby. These and other symptoms

are caused by the dangerous byproduct of mold, called mycotoxins.

Since dust, pollen, pet dander, and other irritants can cause these symptoms, it’s

important to check your HVAC system’s filters, inspect your space for other signs of

mold growth, or call a mold remediation professional to look for you.

2. Serious Respiratory Illness

Mold growth can lead to more serious health concerns, too, like severe flu

symptoms, a weakened immune system for those who are immunocompromised,

and worsened asthma for those who already have it. If you suspect your home or

commercial space to have mold growth, be sure to let the remediation professional

know of any recent health issues to help them better determine the type and severity

of mold.

3. Musty Smell

Mold can result in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) being in space’s air and

causing a musty or mildewy smell. VOCs typically can be found in areas where

organic materials like drywall or wood are being digested by mold growth. In

addition, mold spores populating the air or mold growing in an HVAC system can

also cause a musty smell.

A mold remediation professional can come to inspect your space and determine if

mold growth is the cause of the smell, including in your HVAC system.

4. Excess Moisture

Since mold grows in wet areas, any spaces with excess moisture or that are poorly

ventilated can be breeding grounds for mold. If you notice unusual amounts of water

collection in spaces like bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchen areas, or basements,

look for other signs of mold growth, both those you can and cannot see.

5. Patches of Mold Inside

Mold can grow in a number of colors, and new colorful spots around your home

could be unwanted growth. Regularly check naturally humid places in your home,

like a bathroom or laundry room, and on window sills. If you’ve recently had water

damage, be sure to inspect the walls and floors where the water was. Patches near

the ceiling or on baseboards may be particularly concerning as this may mean mold

growth and trapped moisture.

Some things you can do to address your mold situation include:

• Use a DIY bleach test to see if it really is mold or just dirt staining an area.

• Clean the area yourself, including removing the contaminated materials, using

a mold removal spray, and scrubbing.

• Call in the mold removal and remediation experts since it’s not recommended

to treat a mold situation on your own.