Southern Florida is a very humid and sometimes rainy location.  Hurricanes, frequent storms & wind all contribute to an environment in which mold in South Florida homes can become an issue.

In this article we will discuss different factors that can cause mold to grow, how to spot mold and what a homeowner should do when they find mold inside and around their home.

No one likes to think about mold. But as a property owner, keeping mold away from your home is important for the health of yourself and your tenants.  In addition, mold is a living organism that will eat the structure of your home.  Left to grow, mold will eat away at the wood and building materials in you home, what is left after mold has eaten it’s way through your homes structure is brittle, flaky residue.  In addition, to eating away at your homes structure, mold is often toxic.  There are many health concerns that are associated with homeowners breathing in mold spores.  Residents who inhale mold spores, report, sinus and breathing problems, headaches, watery eyes, and a huge amount of other health related issues.

Mold can come in many shapes, sizes, and types.  To learn about the different types of mold that may grow in your South Florida home check out this article.  About mold in South Florida Some mold can be toxic and extremely harmful while others are milder. No matter which type you have, it’s important to eliminate it.

Mold removal requires the services of a professional mold remediation company such as Get Dry Inc.  As specialists in the removal of moisture and mold damage, one call to us at (561) 777-2618 will put you in touch with a mold removal expert.  We are based in Boynton Beach, Florida and cover the entire Palm Beach, Broward and Martin county areas.  There is no charge for us to visit your home and determine the best course of action.

Are you looking to find out what some signs of mold are? Here are 7 ways to tell that the fungus is living in your building.

1. Water Damage

One of the biggest causes of mold in South Florida homes results from water damage.  Water damage could result from a damaged roof, a broken plumbing pipe, broken appliance that leaks.  Often water damage is hidden under appliances, inside walls, or under floors.  As a South Florida mold removal company, we have responded to may homes in which the water damage was not found until mold has started growing.

When your home or building experiences mold growth after a flood or leak. Immediate action is required. Once water pools or moistens an area inside your walls, attic, or any other moist location, mold will start to grow.  It only takes 24 to 48 hours for mold to start to grow.  The best way to prevent mold from growing here after a leak or flood is to take action right away. This can include cleaning and drying the area, or better, contacting a professional mold remediator.

2. Look for water spots on your walls

Mold can grow in many places, but your walls are a great indicator of whether your building has water damage.  After a storm or hurricane it’s a good idea to check the ceiling and walls looking for mold in South Florida homes.  Imagine this scenario taking place in your home.  South Florida experiences a large storm or hurricane.  During the storm a roof tile breaks.  Roof tiles can break as a result of wind blowing a piece of debris, which hits a roof creating a crack.  Since the crack is located on a part of the roof no one notices the broken tile, over the next few months water leaks through the crack, and into your homes attic.  By the time the homeowner realizes there is a problem mold has had plenty of time to grow.  This troubling situation could be avoided by simply check your homes walls and ceilings.

It’s true that walls can get dirty, but there’s a good way to tell if you’re dealing with dirt or mold. By purchasing a mold test kit a homeowner can be sure if their South Florida has mold, or if it’s just dirt.  You can check out some mold test kits here: Mold test kits.

So, what does mold look like? It can often take on many different looks, but most commonly it’s fuzzy or textured.

Wallpaper is another great indicator of mold. Have you noticed peeling wallpaper in a certain area of your home? If you have, you should get it tested to be sure.

3. Humidity

South Florida is a very humid place, Keeping your home as dry as possible is a very good way to avoid having mold growth.  One of the best ways to keep your home free of humidity is through you home air conditioner.  When your home air conditioner is running, the system pulls warmer, more humid air into the systems evaporator.  The evaporator separates the moisture from the air and releases the water through a drainpipe. Check out this video of water being released through a home air conditioner.

 

Moisture in the air allows mold to grow more easily. During a hurricane, when the power goes out, it’s very important for a South Florida homeowner to try and keep their homes a dry as possible.

Heat-producing appliances like your dryer can add to the humidity in your home. A great way to prevent this is by lowering the humidity and monitoring it.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends that your humidity levels should be between 30 and 50 percent.

4. The Smell of Must

When you walk into your building, what do you smell? If you say must, then it’s very likely a mold issue could start brewing.  If your home smells from must, it’s time to check for the source.  Look for any water leaks around the plumbing, roof and walls.  Check your freezer and refrigerator, if the door to a freezer is left ajar they frozen items will become watery and mold growth could start.  In addition, food left in a non-working freezer will start to spoil very quickly.  Often, if the smell is strong it means that there’s more mold. If it’s a more subtle smell, you could be dealing with mildew.  If you can’t find the source of the musty smell call for help.  Our phone number is (561) 777-2618. As a professional mold restoration company, we have specialized equipment that can locate the source of the must and mold.  Having your homes air tested is the best way to check for mold.  With a test, there is no guesswork a test will determine if there is mold or not. I once worked for a testing company that stated the following; one test is much better than 1000 expert opinions.   Mildew can turn into mold if it’s not taken care of. Once mold spores have mixed with the air inside your home, occupants may start to feel the effect of the mold.  People subject to the toxins from mold will develop a number of symptoms.  These symptoms include, watery eyes, breathing problems, headaches, and cold like symptoms.

5. Mold in Grout

Yes, mold could grow in your shower and bathroom. Mold growing in your bathroom shower isn’t just ugly it could also become dangerous. The first step to remove mold in the grout of you shower is to determine the type of mold growing. A professional mold removal company can determine what type of mold is growing.  Usually bathrooms that are cleaned regularly don’t have any water damage or leaks of some sort don’t have mold issues.  Often black mold found growing in a bathroom or shower is found after the room has been left unchecked for a while.  A new homeowner enters a home, or a landlord checks a home, condo or rental apartment, which has been vacant for a while and find mold growing.  Pay close attention to the grout. Does it look clean or show off its true color? Or does it appear to be dirty or dark in color? If it’s the latter, it’s probably mold. Showers create moisture and humidity—two things that mold loves to grow on. Starting off as mildew, it will eventually turn into mold if it’s not cleaned or removed. The best way to prevent mold from forming in the shower is to improve air circulation in your bathroom. You can also use a squeegee after showering.

6. Soft Spots in Your Floors

You know that mold can grow on your walls, but did you know that your flooring is also at risk?  When walking throughout your home, pay close attention to what you feel. If your feet sink in certain areas, this can be caused by mold.  Most often, this will happen with hardwood floors. This is because they are biodegradable and prone to rotting.  Mold is a living organism that loves to eat.  Wood is molds favorite cuisine.  When the mold damage is hidden under carpet your foot will sink into the floor.  To find out if your floors have been exposed to moisture and mold, you can tear up the floor. Or, if you have access underneath the flooring, you can check there for damage.  If you find mold or rotting boards, it’s best to have them removed.

7. Health Problems

Mold doesn’t just damage your homes walls and floors.   Mold can also create lasting damage to your health.  The problem with mold health issues, stems from the fact that many people don’t realize that it’s mold that is making them feel bad.  People are unknowingly exposed to mold, may complain of sinus problems, breathing problems, skin rashes, watery eyes and more.  If you’ve been experiencing unexplained cases of nasal congestion or coughing, mold could be the culprit.  The reason that this happens is that mold spores travel through the air.  In reaction, your body protects itself by creating more mucus to stop the spores from entering your system. Because of the humid environment mold grows easily in South Florida homes.  If you suspect that your home may have a mold problem, or if your home has water damage from a roof leak, broken plumbing pipe or from a leaking washing machine or dishwasher, call us at (561) 777-2618.   We serve all of Palm Beach, Broward and Martin County.  In you live in West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Wellington, Fort Lauderdale, Deerfield Beach, Port St. Lucie, or Stuart.  If you’re a building owner, you might hear tenants complaining of these symptoms. It could be a good idea to have the building tested for mold in this case.

How Do You Prevent Mold?

If you believe you have mold in your home, it’s important to call us for a mold test.  This way, you can eliminate it and make sure that your home is mold-free.   If there’s a small patch of mold that hasn’t spread much, it can be easily removed. If there’s a bigger patch or toxic type of mold, it should be professionally removed from your home.   At Get Dry Inc. we are experts at finding and removing mold.  To prevent mold from forming in the future, there are a few things you can do. Try to decrease the humidity in your home. It can be especially troublesome in humid areas like the bathroom. Make sure that all areas of your home are well ventilated. It will improve your air quality and keep moisture out. Most importantly, keep your home dry. Mold loves to grow where there’s water or condensation. By drying up these areas, you can prevent mold from forming.

Keep an Eye Out for Signs of Mold

Mold can present itself in many ways, but for the health and safety of tenants, it should be dealt with right away. Mold is more harmful than most people think, especially if it is the toxic kind. Have you had recent water damage or noticed these signs of mold in your building in South Florida? If you have, then it’s time to “get dry.”