How to Detect Mold in Walls
Thinking about the possibility of mold behind the walls or mold inside the walls makes the skin crawl for many Americans. Who wants to live in a house where mold resides within the house walls? As well as contributing to a musty smell, mold looks unpleasant and can trigger allergic reactions for those who suffer from them. Learn how to detect mold in walls.
How to Detect Mold in Walls
- Odors
Firstly, have you noticed a musty smell around the property that you can’t attribute to anything else? At first, you think that you need to clean your old, damp boots. Then, you clean your boots, and the smell lingers – this could be a sign of mold.
If possible, find an electrical outlet on the wall and see if you can pick up any scents. Often, this is where homeowners recognize a problem.
- Stains and Discoloration
Secondly, do you notice strange stains or discoloration on your walls? Normally, mold starts with moisture. Sometimes, this is caused by the humidity of the property. Other times, a leak causes moisture and this leads to mold when untreated. With this in mind, you might notice brown or yellow water stains that indicate a deeper problem underneath.
- Sudden Surface Changes
Next, some homeowners notice that the appearance of a wall changes suddenly. We’ve seen stains and discoloration, but the health of the wall can also deteriorate. With mold behind the walls, this can soon cause wallpaper to peel, crack, or bubble. The bigger the water issues, the more likely you are to notice bulges, bowing, and warping in the walls. Over time, mold and water combine to effectively destroy house walls.
- Changes in Health
Often, people think that mold is only an aesthetic issue. As we’ve seen, it affects the health of the property as well as the health of all those inside. Even if the mold isn’t toxic, it can cause issues for those with allergies. Consequently, we recommend paying attention to new bouts of skin rashes, runny noses, coughs, sneezing, and itchy/uncomfortable eyes.
Dealing with Mold Inside the Walls
When some people identify mold, the first thing they want to do is a test. Yet, this is unnecessary because nobody needs to know the type of mold. Regardless of its type, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting rid of the substance as soon as possible.
Rather than testing, the best solution is to contact First Call Response for assistance. Our mold remediation services go above and beyond to help you, your loved ones, and your property. Our team will ensure that the mold is removed from your property not just now but for the future too.
The secret with mold is to remove the source and ensure that it cannot survive and spread. Considering you have mold behind the walls, you need an expert service to deal with the issue carefully and responsibly. Rather than just spraying some mold remover in the corner of the bathroom, this will require strategic planning and careful execution to ensure that the problem doesn’t come back any time soon.
Depending on the problem, we could find mold behind paneling, wallpaper, ceiling, tiles, under carpets, in furniture, and more. The most common causes of mold are backed-up drains, leaky pipes, wet clothes, poor airflow, and heavy rain. Contact First Call Response to move towards a solution today.
With this, you know how to detect mold in walls and, more importantly, what to do if you suspect a problem!