Once a home develops mold and mildew, they can be ongoing problems that are nearly impossible to get rid of without the help of a mold removal company in St Louis, like PMSTL.
Not only do they put off an unpleasant odor, but mold and mildew also cause structural damage and diminish the appearance of your home.
Fortunately, the prevention of mold and mildew is much simpler and easier. The main contributing factor for mold and mildew is moisture. Control the moisture content in your home, and you are well on your way to preventing issues caused by mold and mildew.
Sometimes the excess moisture in our homes comes from accidents like spills or pets. But the majority of water problems come from your home’s plumbing system.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common plumbing problems in homes so you can be on the lookout for these issues.
Plumbing Problems That Lead to Mold
Water attracts mold that’s in the air, giving it one of the main things a colony needs to thrive (along with oxygen and food — both of which are also readily available in our homes).
We’ve listed the plumbing issues that almost always lead to household mold below. It’s easy to keep a check on these areas, whether you do it yourself or hire a plumber to help.
Dripping sinks
A slow drip can waste thousands of gallons of water per year, elevating not only your utility bill, but also your risk of mold.
Mold is attracted to high humidity areas, and with a dripping faucet, that’s readily available. It makes sense that the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room are common places to find mold.
Puddles in the Bathroom
Bath mats have several important functions. Of course, they keep us from slipping and falling on slick bathroom tile, but they also absorb moisture so it doesn’t sit around for too long, giving mold prime real estate in your home. Make sure you’re using bath mats to prevent mold and washing them often to keep mold, mildew and their odors at bay.
If there is standing water in your bathroom even when the tub or shower hasn’t been used, you may have a hidden leak.
Clogged Drains in a Home
What does a clogged drain have to do with mold? Surprisingly, A LOT.
As we said above, mold needs moisture, oxygen and food for growth. A clogged drain is packed with organic materials that we would find disgusting, but mold loves.
Also, when a drain is clogged, it elevates the humidity in the room by more than you’d think. This means mold could grow anywhere in the room…not just the drain.
High Humidity in Basement
Basements are notoriously humid and prone to mold. Poor ventilation and frequent leaks are just a couple of reasons this is true.
A plumber or qualified contractor can help you troubleshoot your basement for potential plumbing issues that could lead to flooding, mold, and expensive damages.
If you suspect a moisture problem in the basement, don’t hesitate to investigate. Every day counts when it comes to water damages, especially when some (or all) of the exterior walls are hidden underground.
Flooding
Flooding can occur in any area of your home. And it doesn’t have to be a busted pipe. Roof leaks, overflowing bathtubs and broken appliances can all cause home flooding.
If the flooding occurs on an upper level of your home, it can affect every floor. Basement flooding is “relatively” inexpensive and simple to handle in comparison, but still a huge headache.
Flooding almost always leads to mold because of the contaminants that the water washes up and the high humidity it creates throughout your home. After flooding, you may have to replace furniture, carpet and other porous items to avoid mold altogether.
(Hidden) Leaks
Hidden leaks are terribly damaging because the first sign of them is often the damage they’ve already caused — or a mold colony that appears seemingly out of nowhere.
Keep an eye on your water bill to see if there are drastic changes over time. This is often the only way a homeowner knows that there’s a leak somewhere in their home.
If you suspect a leak, the most effective way to deal with it is to hire a plumber who can detect leaks with specialized equipment like ground microphones and listening discs. With these tools, they can find leaks underground, underneath concrete or stone, and within your walls before a hidden leak causes thousands of dollars’ worth of damage.
Why Should You Be Proactive About Plumbing Issues?
Mold is already in your home in trace amounts. You may see a little in the fridge or in the drain from time to time, and it’s always present in the air, despite the use of air filters and keeping the doors and windows closed as much as possible.
Regular cleaning and spot treatment of mold in hotspot areas is generally enough to prevent it from spreading. However, once major mold growth occurs, it can easily spread to other areas of your home and be nearly impossible to remove.
Besides the health risks associated with indoor mold — and there are many — you also have to consider the monetary value of preventing problems rather than repairing them.
Water leaks almost always cause home damages. These damages are costly and complex to repair. And where there is water, there is almost always mold growth. Severe mold growth needs to be treated by a licensed mold removal team, which will take even more from your household budget.
Do yourself a favor by observing the tips above in order to prevent pluming issues before they cause mold, mildew and damages.
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