One of the most common problems encountered by homeowners is mold infestation. Mold can grow anywhere in your home, but majorly in moist areas, including on and around air conditioning units, between kitchen tiles, on the shower curtain, and the refrigerator door's seal. If left to aggravate, mold populations can damage your house by causing caving in of floorboards and ceiling collapse. Plus, it leads to several health issues, including allergy flare-ups and infections like aspergillosis.  You can prevent all these and more mold-related problems through timely mold detection and removal. Some of the signs of mold infestation are discussed in detail below. If you spot any, hire mold removal experts as soon as possible.

1.       Musty smell

Have you noticed a strong and unpleasant, musty smell in your home? If you have, it's likely a result of extensive mold growth. That is because mold and mildew produce microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) as they grow and spread. These gases are responsible for a musty or moldy smell. And, since MVOCs have a low odor threshold, the smell gets stronger as infestation worsens. Therefore, if you detect a musty smell in your house, call in mold specialists for inspections and removal.

2.       Water leaks or flooding problems

Mold grows and thrives in areas with high humidity. And very few places can have humid conditions that supersede those in a house plagued by flooding and water leaks. That is why seeking help from a mold removal company is advisable once you notice any signs of water damage on your property, as it provides a conducive environment for molds to thrive and spread. Note that mold colonies can form and grow within 24-48 hours. Therefore, seeking professional help is essential even if you are dealing with a one-time leak. And the situation becomes more critical when the water damage in context is from recent flooding.

3.       Persistent health problems

People that are allergic to mold have immune systems that consider certain spores as allergens. That means when they inhale mold spores, they experience symptoms like watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and itchy lips, mouth, and eyes. Moreover, mold causes infections like aspergillosis, whose symptoms include chest pain, coughing, wheezing, fever, and difficulty breathing. Suppose members of your household recently started suffering from frequent allergy flare-ups or any of the symptoms of mold-related health issues. In that case, it's high time you find a skilled and experienced mold removal service provider.

4.       Visible mold colonies

Although mold spores are everywhere, they remain invisible to the naked eye. However, mold colonies are often visible. The color of mold varies depending on humidity levels, food source, and sometimes light. But in most cases, this type of fungus is either purple, greenish, grey, black, brown, or yellow. If prominent and discernible mold colonies are growing on any surface in your home, the problem is significant enough to warrant immediate professional mold removal.

For more information on when to contact a mold removal service, contact a professional near you.