Identifying Mold Presence In Your New Home – Meridian Idaho
Housing in the Treasure Valley has been booming for several years now throughout Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle and Star. With so many new houses, it is important to know that even though the house may be new, problems like mold infestations are not. Mold can appear in any home whether it was built last month or many years prior.
Although molds are widely present in the outdoor and indoor environment, they must not take space inside our homes. Not only will they cause damages to the property, but they can also compromise the health of the whole household. Unfortunately, they are common in many Treasure Valley houses, where they stay hidden in leaking roofs, crawling spaces, and behind improperly installed showers. In fact, statistics show that more than 50 percent of US houses have mold issues, and a whopping 28 percent of the population is putting their health at risk.
While some property owners aren’t even taking measures to eliminate them, a few others aren’t realize they already have a mold infestation in their homes. As a responsible homeowner in Meridian, you should be aware of the signs of mold in your home, especially if you recently purchased it.
In this article, we will share our guide to identifying molds at home:
1. Be on the lookout for a musty odor
Molds typically grow and thrive in a moist, dark, and concealed environment, where they typically lurk in crawl spaces, kitchen, bathroom, as well as plumbing and HVAC systems. When they are present, you’ll easily and quickly notice a foul smell emanating from the affected area. For this reason, as soon as you notice musty odors, check for visible signs of mold and have the affected areas inspected promptly. Keep in mind that hidden moisture can remain behind walls and under flooring, allowing mold to continue growing even after surfaces appear dry.
2. Broken HVAC system
It’s common for a commercial building to have Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems installed on its property. While the AC unit cools the space and keeps the occupants comfortable during summer, the boiler serves to warm the area during winter instead. However, the problem starts when one heating component of the HVAC system gets broken and starts to leak water. If your unit isn’t regularly maintained and repaired, keep in mind that it can lead to significant water damages.
3. Damaged plumbing system
Apart from the HVAC system, your commercial property’s plumbing system can also have some minor or major issues. As you may be aware, this complex system consists of pipes, valves, fixtures, and fittings, and provides water supply to the entire building. Similarly, this system properly disposes of wastewater used by the occupants. Over the years of usage, it’s inevitable for some parts or components to get damaged. If left unattended for long periods, they can easily escalate into water damage that requires costly repairs and creates favorable conditions for mold growth. Knowing what to do before water damage cleanup begins can also help minimize additional damage.
4. Natural calamity
One of the biggest culprits of commercial water damage is a natural calamity. Expect to have some major damages in your business establishment soon after a hurricane, thunderstorm, and heavy rain. Not only do they cause rainwater leaks from the roof and gutter, but they can also lead to floodwater in the basement, crawl spaces, and other parts of the building. This is why preparing for any natural disaster is a must to protect your commercial property!
Conclusion
At this point, we’ve covered the top four common causes of commercial water damage—roof leaks, broken HVAC system, damaged plumbing system, and natural calamity.
Similarly, knowing the root causes of water damage can help you take precautionary measures before problems become more severe. Understanding the difference between water mitigation and water damage restoration can also help homeowners respond more effectively after a leak or flood. But if water damage occurs in your establishment, be sure to let the damage restoration professionals take care of the water removal, cleanup, and property restoration to help your business get back on track in no time!
We provide professional mold damage restoration services for residential and commercial properties throughout Meridian and the Treasure Valley. If you notice musty odors, visible mold, or signs of ongoing moisture in your new home, contact our Boise restoration team to schedule an evaluation.