The Connection Between Undetected Water Leaks and Mold
Plumbing leaks can be bad news for your home and your health. Undetected water leaks create the conditions for mold to grow. In fact, mold growth begins within 24 to 48 hours of reaching moisture.
It’s good to be aware of the signs that mold is already growing in your home. The presence of mold often means there’s an undetected leak. Cleaning the mold alone won’t solve the problem. The leak has to be found and repaired to eliminate your mold problem.
Signs of Mold Growth in Your Home
If you can see mold, your mold problem is usually extensive. Often, there’s much more mold in areas you can’t see. Generally, most of the mold is going to be close to the moisture source, which is the water leak you can’t see either.
Mold doesn’t have to be visible to be present. The clues mold is growing in your home include:
- You smell a musty odor.
- You or someone in your home have red eyes, itchy skin, wheezing, or cold-like symptoms that go away when you leave home for an extended period. But the symptoms return when you get home.
- There’s evidence of moisture on the ceiling or a wall. Copper-colored stains, bubbling paint, or peeling wallpaper are signs of moisture.
Preventing Mold Growth at Home
Since the relationship between mold and moisture has been explained, you probably realize controlling moisture is the key to preventing mold growth. Here are practical tips for moisture control at home.
- Always have water leaks fixed as quickly as possible.
- A toilet that rocks usually is leaking under the floor.
- Keep your home’s humidity level between 30 and 50 percent. (You can measure humidity with a hygrometer. )
- Your bathroom exhaust fan should vent outdoors.
If you suspect you have an undetected water leak that’s causing a mold problem, contact us to find and fix the water leak.