Seeing mold in your crawl space or home can be an unsettling feeling. Mold is an indication you have a moisture problem. Growth of this mold is likely to worsen if the crawl space is not sealed or encapsulated. Mold typically enters a home through open doorways, windows or your HVAC systems. Crawl space mold tends to go unnoticed and therefore, untreated. For most it seems less of a concern than visible problems like water damage or insects.
However, mold infestation can be a serious problem that can potentially affect the quality of your life in many ways. When’s the last time you checked your crawl space? If you happen to notice mold growth, it's important you act to remedy the source and contributing factors. Aside from causing health issues, mold can cause serious structural damage, which could lead to your home becoming inhabitable or lowering your property value.
Homeowners rarely think about what is happening in their crawl space or unfinished basements. These two areas of the home are the most common places for mold to grow. This means mold problems in these areas are often not discovered until the problem has already grown to a significant size.
Unventilated spaces like the basement and crawl space are most likely to attract three types of mold, each of which comes with their own degree of risk. Black mold is the deadliest and most common. It appears fuzzy or powdery with a greenish or dark gray color at times. Two strains exist, both of which can cause serious allergic reactions.
Another type that can grow in the crawl space is white mold.
It appears fuzzy and grows on exposed soil and wooden joists. Not as dangerous as black mold, white mold still releases toxins that can cause health problems, such as respiratory and neurological issues.
A third type is yellow mold and can threaten the structural integrity of your home. Yellow mold typically appears flat and feeds on wooden structures and organic materials causing them to decay and deteriorate.
Whichever type of mold you are dealing with, it is a good idea to find the source of how the mold is getting into your home and what effects it has on your health so you can take appropriate measures to protect yourself.
Do you suspect mold has taken over the crawl space? Unsure of what steps to take next? Let the experts do the work. Contact The Crawlspace Ace to schedule a free inspection of your crawl space and discover what type of mold is present and how best to eliminate it.
