Does Water Damage Always Result in Mold?

Water damage and mold have a very strong connection. Any kind of small leak can lead to mold, not just serious water damage such as flooding. A leak that goes unfixed, no matter how small, can cause mold growth. Mold can grow quickly within 24 to 48 hours after water infiltration under the right conditions.

How Does Mold Grow?

Mold grows by spreading its fungus spores in reproduction as it digests organic matter. When mold is found in the wild, it helps to break down leaves, wood and other debris. Due to this fact, damage to wooden portions of your building are likely to occur while the mold tries to digest wood, but it can grow on any kind of material. You will be likely to see mold on ceilings, insulation, wallpaper and more. If there are humid conditions, mold will be very happy. Water leaks are a source of a happy mold habitat. A leaking water pipeline can spread mold because the spores will attach themselves to pets, clothing, people and more.

The Dangers of Mold

Mold will damage your building structure quite easily, but the biggest portion of danger from mold is the hazard to human health.  Many people will not be severely affected by mold or have damaged health. The people that will be affected by mold are the ones that have pre-existing respiratory issues like asthma and also individuals with allergies. Symptoms of mold presence in a human can be difficulty breathing, nasal congestion, rashes and eye irritation. It is also possible to be exposed to mycotoxins from certain kinds of mold. High levels of exposure can cause nausea, fatigue, lung irritation, headaches and eye irritation.

Identifying Mold

One of the best ways to determine if you have mold in your home is if it is visible. Visible mold can be a sign of a much bigger problem lying beneath the surface. Here are some other signs that mold may be present:

1. A nasty smell coming from your air conditioner or heater
2. Musty odors
3. Worsening asthma without reason
4. A lingering cold that won’t go away
5. Walls with dark spots or coloring
6. Dark grout around your bathtub or shower
7. Peeling wallpaper
8. A lingering cold that won’t go away
9. Itchy from your clothing
10. Use of a humidifier
11. Allergies that won’t go away
12. New homes tend to grow mold
13. Chronic tiredness
14. You’ve had a flood

Preventing Mold from Growing

It is in your best interest to take as many precautions as possible to prevent mold from growing as it can be very costly and hazardous.  Here are a few precautions you can take:

1. Clean up liquid condensation or spills right away
2. Regularly vacuum to remove mold spores
3. Ensure bathrooms, kitchen and laundry have exhaust fans
4. Keep furniture away from the walls just a bit
5. Watch for leaks throughout the property
6. Increase airflow throughout the building by using fans and opening windows or doors
7. Make sure attics and crawlspaces have vents and insulation
8. Hire a professional company to clean up your water damage

If you are in Las Vegas or surrounding areas and need water damage restoration or mold remediation, please contact the experts at RSI Companies.