Almost all homeowners have heard horror stories of homes that looked perfectly fine from the outside but were infested with toxic black mold behind the walls. While mold remediation services that understand the dangers of mold can help, you need to be able to spot the signs of mold on your own.

Keep reading to learn the top 10 signs of mold that you simply can’t afford to ignore in your home. If you have any of them, contacting a qualified mold removal and mold remediation specialist, like EHS Restoration, is essential to get your home healthy again.

If you ignore mold for too long, you could be putting your health and the health of your family at risk.

1. Leaks

Leaks that you can see with your naked eye are a major indicator of mold. If these leaks are in your walls or around fixtures like toilets and sinks, there’s a good chance that they could create mold if left unrepaired for a long period of time.

2. Visible Water Damage

Visible water damage on walls, especially when located away from faucets, showers, and toilet fixtures, is a pretty serious sign of mold. Usually, by the time you see this water damage, a fair amount of mold has already grown.
Get help for visible water damage on walls ASAP to avoid costly repairs.

3. Indoor Condensation

Condensation that gathers on windows and in your home may be a sign that the moisture balance is incorrect in your house. This moisture imbalance can extend to areas behind walls that you can’t see.

Too much condensation in and around your home can lead to minor mold issues but left unchecked, can turn into problematic black mold over time.

4. Musty Smell

A musty or foul smell in your home should be obvious to you, but for many people, the smell becomes commonplace. Visitors may point out a moist or musty smell from time to time.

If you notice this smell yourself, or others are reporting it to you, make sure you get a mold check quickly. You may be able to catch any mold growth before it becomes a real health hazard and an expensive remediation project.

5. Paint Discoloration

Paint discoloration near the top of the ceiling or in areas where water is present is an obvious sign of water damage. This water damage can support mold growth that you can’t see behind the walls.

6. Peeling Wallpaper

Moisture and wallpaper don’t mix. While older wallpaper will peel naturally in places like your bathroom, new paper that’s crumbling or peeling is a sign of a moisture-related issue within the walls.

7. Cracked Molding

Cracked moldings can indicate water damage in your walls, especially related to your roof and any leaks found in the area. If you have cracked moldings, it could mean that a lot of water and moisture has already penetrated your walls. Inspect all moldings around your home and, if you spot damaged areas, have them inspected immediately.

8. Allergies

Many people are allergic to mold, so if you find yourself suddenly sneezing, coughing or simply feeling congested, this could be related to excessive moisture or mold within your walls. If you’ve had leaks, peeling paint or any other warning signs along with an increase in allergy-related symptoms, getting a home mold inspection is a wise move.

9. Outdoor Standing Water

Standing water around your home could indicate problems within your home as well, especially if the standing water is near your walls or related to your pipes or air conditioning unit. Outdoor standing water doesn’t always mean mold in your home, but if it is a regular occurrence, getting a mold check is a smart thing to do.

10. Past Flooring

Flooding in the area where you have just purchased a new home, or a flood in your neighborhood, can lead to mold. Even if you don’t notice any signs of water damage or the initial stages of mold growth, getting your home checked early can save you money and a lot of headaches down the road.

EHS Restoration

If you suspect your home may be harboring mold, contact the experts at EHS Restoration. We can inspect your home and offer remediation services, if they are needed. The sooner you act, the sooner you can ensure that you and your family are not exposed to hazardous mold in your home.