6 Signs You Have Mold Hiding in Your Home

mold hiding

Do you have mold hiding in your home? Have you noticed new or worsening respiratory symptoms? Does your home smell musty and damp?

In Florida, mold is common. While about 70% of homes in the US have mold, it’s especially prevalent in the Sunshine State. That’s because Florida’s hot, humid atmosphere creates the perfect environment for mold to grow. 

Once mold does begin to form, it can create a variety of health concerns for anyone living in the home. It can also lead to unsightly spots, stains, or growth patterns throughout your home, ultimately destroying building materials and putting the integrity of your home at risk.

Fortunately, there are ways to find out if (and where) mold is hiding in your home and get rid of it once you do.

Let’s dive in. 

What is Mold?

Mold is a naturally-occurring fungus that exists all around us – indoors and outdoors – at all times. In the natural world, mold breaks down organic matter and promotes the reabsorption of nutrients into the soil. 

Mold exists in all climates during all seasons of the year. When mold growth occurs indoors, it’s usually the result of excess moisture exposure. As mold reproduces, it releases tiny spores that float along through the air until they find ideal host surfaces to land on. 

Certain molds are highly toxigenic, meaning they produce mycotoxins that can cause health problems for people who come into contact with them. These molds can grow indoors and cause respiratory problems, asthma, and other symptoms. 

6 Signs You’ve Got Mold Hiding in Your Home

Whether you live in an older home or new construction, here are six sure-fire signs that you have mold hiding in your home:

1. Your home smells musty

A stale, musty odor is a telltale sign of mold. The scent arises as the mold starts to grow. What you’re smelling is actually moisture and decaying organic matter. If you’ve noticed this smell, try to follow it to its source. Chances are good that you’ll find mold growth where the smell originates. 

2. Your home has high moisture levels

Mold exists all around us in our daily life. It only becomes a problem, however, when it encounters excess moisture in an indoor environment and begins to grow. 

If your home has high indoor humidity levels, it’s a prime spot for mold growth. What are high indoor humidity levels? 

As a general rule, homes should be between 30-50% indoor humidity. Humidity levels above this create an ideal environment for mold to grow and can cause the proliferation of mold spores already lingering in your home. 

While homes in Florida may be humid naturally, issues like water damage and flooding can also cause high indoor moisture levels. 

3. Water stains

Water stains are indicative of recent or historical water damage or flooding

If your home has experienced water damage in the past, lingering stains indicate that the moisture wasn’t removed entirely and that the damage wasn’t properly remediated. 

Mold is highly likely in these areas and will likely require help from a restoration company to remove. 

4. Visible mold growth

Sometimes, you can have mold hiding in plain sight. While mold often grows in the dark, hidden areas, it can also grow in full view on walls or ceilings. 

When it does, it may look like an orange, green, black, white, or brown series of specks or spots of furriness on your walls or floors. Any of those signs mean that you need to call a remediation company right away. 

5. New or worsening respiratory issues

If you or someone in your home has begun to experience respiratory issues or existing respiratory problems have worsened, it could be a sign that you have mold hiding in your house. 

Mold exposure can cause respiratory symptoms, including stuffy noses, wheezing, red or itchy eyes, and skin irritation. People with asthma may also notice worsening symptoms in areas with high mold levels. 

6. Warped, peeling, or blistering walls

Sometimes, the evidence of water damage can be challenging to spot. Even if stains aren’t visible, warped, peeling, or blistering drywall or wall treatments can be. If these signs are evident throughout your home, it could be a sign that mold is hiding inside the walls or ceilings. 

What to do if you Have Mold in Your Home

Think you have mold hiding in your home? The next step is to figure out what to do about it. While it’s possible to clean up mold spots on your own (on your tile grout, for example), larger mold infestations require the help of a professional restoration team.

Because mold exposure can be toxic, attempting to clean it up on your own can be dangerous. Failure to wear protective equipment or use the proper cleaning materials is risky for you and may result in lingering mold spores. 

Instead, you’ve got to hire a restoration company to help. Here at Remediation 911, our team has the equipment, tools, and expertise needed to clean up mold thoroughly and remove all traces of your infestation. This results in a clean, healthy home you can live comfortably in once more. 

Remediation 911: Your Source for Mold Restoration in Florida

If you have mold hiding in your home, you’re probably wondering what to do. Don’t worry; we’re here to tell you that you don’t need to live with it forever. 

You do, however, need the help of a professional restoration company to restore your space. 

Here at Remediation 911, our team specializes in removing mold and helping people reclaim their space and avoid the health concerns associated with mold exposure.

Whether your home has experienced flooding, water damage, or high indoor humidity, our team will provide comprehensive restoration for you. We handle large jobs and small mold infestations and will work with you to remove all traces of mold. 
Ready to learn more about our restoration services or how we can help you get rid of mold for good? Contact us today!

Remediation911 Team