You’ve noticed that “musty” smell, and you are wondering – Is there mould in my home? And what has caused it?

Mould is a visual sign of excess moisture in your home and it grows due to various reasons. The most common cause of mould growth in your home is due to excess condensation, and many people do not realise just how much condensation can be created by normal everyday life in the home. Condensation is quite ok in your average house, but it should dry up fairly quickly or if it continues to lay stagnant mould could start to grow.

Mould is naturally part of our environment. Outdoors it breaks down dead organic matter such as leaves and dead trees. While outdoors mould can be a good thing, indoors it can cause havoc and should be avoided, not only does and it smell and look awful, it can cause nasty effects on our health. The way mould reproduces in your home is through the multiplication of tiny spores. The spores are so tiny that you are very unlikely to see them as they float through the air. Mould can begin growing in your home once these tiny spores land on moist surfaces. All mould need moisture to grow, therefore identifying any sources of condensation and abolishing them as quickly as possible should be a priority.

Building materials are great homes for mould growth. Excess moisture can be caused by incomplete drying of flooring materials, such as concrete, floor boards, carpet and so on. Flooding, whether it be by rising waters, flash flooding or any inside water accidents caused by faulty indoor plumbing can create a marvellous breeding ground for mould growth. Leaking roofs can also be a major contributor to mould. Moisture vapour passes through walls and ceilings and typically condenses over the cooler months with a longer heating season. As long as a surface is porous and moist, mould growth has the opportunity to occur. With the right conditions mold growth begins from 24 hours to 10 days.

Large mould growths require not only moisture but food sources – such as dust and cellulose. Housing materials such as plywood, drywall, carpet and underlay provide the perfect outlet for mould spores to source their nutrition. If a building experiences water damage mould is likely to grow within walls and lay dormant until humidity rises. If there is inadequate airflow with the building this is when the problem can really take hold. Nasty Mycotoxin levels are much higher in buildings that have had water damage, such as flooding or plumbing incidents. Even after the building has completely dried out, mould can still be an issue.

Mould can sometimes be hidden!

You can usually detect mould in your home by it’s smell and signs of water damage on walls or ceiling. But it can grow in places that you can’t generally see. It can be found behind wallpaper or wall paneling, on the inside of ceiling tiles, the back of drywall, or the underside of carpets or underlay. Plumbing pipes within walls may also be a source of mold, since they can sometimes leak causing moisture and condensation.
If you have found that your mould problems only occur during certain times of the year, your house is possibly lacking in airflow and ventilation. Mould problems occur in airtight homes more frequently in the hotter months when humidity is high inside the house, and moisture is trapped and unable to dry out. It can also occur in drafty buildings more frequently in the colder months when the warm air escapes from the living area and causes condensation.

What to do if you suspect a mould problem?

Get in an expert. You need to get the mould assessed to see what type it is and the best way to treat it before it spreads further and puts your family’s health at risk. Sometimes if the mould is hidden, like in the roof cavity on within walls you will have no idea where exactly to locate the main source or how to treat it correctly without further damaging areas of your home. Intrusive observation is sometimes needed to assess the mould level. This can include moving furniture, lifting or even removing carpets, checking behind wallpaper or paneling, checking ventilation ductwork and exposing wall cavities. Heavy mould growth will require professional mould remediation to remove and replace the affected building materials and eliminate the source of excess moisture. The aims of professional remediation are to treat or worst case remove contaminated materials and preventing further spores from entering a non-contaminated area. At Mould Pro we are experts in mould testing, assessment, treatment and removal. We can guide you through what you need to know to work through the process. Give us a call and one of our experienced team will be happy to assist you today.