How Do Mold Spores Spread Across A House?

4/21/2022 (Permalink)

Mold is a type of fungi that grows from microscopic spores that can be found anywhere in our surroundings. These mold spores are inactive but they will spread once the humidity levels go beyond 70 percent. Temperature that exceeds 65 degrees increases the risks of mold thriving in the environment. Once the mold cluster starts thriving on surfaces, they spread and reproduce to eventually become noticeable to the naked eye. Let us explore other conditions that support the growth of mold.

Key Ingredients That Support Mold Growth

There are various key ingredients that support the growth of mold and they include factors such as the presence of mold spores, oxygen, a surface for the mold to grow, warmth, and darkness. Water can be present on any surface through stagnant water, a water leak, or high humidity levels that can kickstart the mold problems. The mold spores that are smaller may look like dirt or soot which is often the reason why people ignore them. If you do spot any mold spores regardless of the size, it is best to seek mold remediation services before they increase in size and spread.

How Do Mold Spores Spread Across Your House?

If there is a presence of mold in a crawl space or basement of your house, its spores can spread across the house. This process is known as “stack effect” whereby warm air rises and escapes through the higher floors of the house. When this happens, a vacuum is created on the lower floor which then draws air upwards onto the crawl space and basement. Dust mites, odors, and mold spores will be drawn into the main section of your house which are inhaled by the people inside.

What to Do Upon the Discovery of Mold?

Upon discovering mold in your house, there are three major steps that you need to take. Firstly, identify the source of moisture that is letting mold to thrive. After determining the water source, try to stop it or seek professional water damage repair specialists for assistance. After the water source has been stopped, you can make use of dehumidifiers and fans to keep the area dry. However, you should never use fans if the mold spores are clearly visible as they may be blown across the house and spread. Remember to always put on protective gear when dealing with mold and get rid of it upon completion.

Truth Behind House Mold

Organic materials like fabric, wood, dust, paint, and wallpaper are more than enough for mold to thrive. They act like nourishment to mold which allows it to grow and spread actively. Mold does grow year-round in any home, even the cleanest ones and a typical mold spore can be about 0.0002 inches in size which makes it almost invisible to the human eye. The best environment for mold to grow and spread is one that has adequate nourishment, humidity, and warmth in the air.

Mold infestation can have detrimental effects onto your health and in the long run, it may also cause severe damage to your property. Work with SERVPRO of Hoboken / Union City for any mold remediation services.