Mold in a crawl space

If your home has a crawl space, then there is a chance that it might have mold. This is because moisture tends to accumulate in crawl spaces and excess moisture fuels mold growth. It is a problem, because if you don't make sure it is handled adequately with a professional mold remediation process, you are asking for trouble. Constant mold exposure has been known to cause illness or allergic symptoms, and that's bad enough without thinking about the damage to your home!

What causes mold in crawl spaces

Even though home builders do their best to design buildings so that mold doesn't occur, mold still frequently occurs in crawl spaces. There are several things that can cause mold to appear in a crawl space. Here is a quick list of some of the main causes:

Foundation Cracks

When a foundation crack occurs, it can result in moisture entering the crawl space that otherwise would be kept out. Mold thrives in wet, dark environments, so if there is enough moisture coming into your crawl space, you can expect to see mold.

Humidity and Condensation

If the relative humidity in your crawl space goes above 70%, then mold has enough moisture to grow. Moisture can enter the crawl space through water underground evaporating and getting trapped. Also, warm air can hold a greater amount of humidity, so if this air cools on entering the crawl space, the humidity can condense and stay put. Every degree that the air cools, the relative humidity goes up 2.2%.

Flood or Other Water Damage

If your crawl space got excess water in it due to a flood or another issue such as a broken pipe, then this too can cold mold to develop. The more water that went into the crawl space, the more likely it is that mold occurred. If your home experienced water damage, then it could be time for crawl space mold removal.

How dangerous can mold in a crawl space be?

Mold in your crawl space can potentially be extremely hazardous for both your health and for the structure of your property.

Health effects

You may have heard of "toxic mold." Though all mold exposure can affect people with mold allergies or asthmatics, some types of mold produce mycotoxins, a type of toxin that can harm human health directly if inhaled.

All of the following health issues have been associated with mycotoxin exposure:

• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Skin Rash
• Nausea
• Flu-Like Symptoms
• Lung Inflammation
• Eye Irritation
• Respiratory Irritation

According to the CDC, "People who have asthma or who are allergic to mold might have severe reactions (to mold)."

Structural damage

Because mold feeds on and breaks down organic matter such as wood, it has the ability to cause serious structural damage to your home within a matter of months or years. If this problem is not addressed through mold removal, it can compromise important certain structural elements of your home. In addition to causing wood beams to rot, mold can also infest insulation, walls, carpeting, and paper backing. So, not only can mold damage the actual structure of your house, but it can damage the other elements too.

How to prevent mold in your crawl space?

Here are some tips to prevent mold in your crawl space from our mold removal specialists:

• Proper insulation. Properly insulating a crawl space means fixing groundwater leaks and seepage, sealing vents and outside air leaks, and installing a high-quality water-resistant insulation material on the walls, and covering the dirt floor with a vapor barrier.
• A sump pump system. A sump pump is a very handy device that can be installed in your crawl space. Sump-pumps collect and then pump out moisture from your crawl space and deposit it outside your home.
• Ventilation. You can improve the ventilation in your crawl space by using an exhaust fan to push air from the crawl space to the outside. You can also install an air intake or dehumidifier system.
• Regular Inspections. Mold problems in crawl spaces often get worse because the homeowner simply does not know that they are there and thus does not contact a mold removal company. You should regularly get your home inspected to make sure that this is not happening to you.

Who can help with mold remediation?

Here at Mold Act, we are ready to help you with your crawl space mold problem at any time. We will get rid of your mold issue with our comprehensive mold remediation service which includes cleaning and sanitizing your crawl space and taking the necessary steps to prevent future outbreaks.

Contact our local team today to learn more about crawl space mold removal by calling 877-660-0430. You can also fill out this contact form to get in touch with Mold Act.