What causes mold to grow inside homes?What causes mold to grow inside homes?

Molds make tiny spores to reproduce,just as some plants produce seeds. Indoors,these mold spores move through the air and settle on surfaces. When mold spores land on a damp spot,they may begin to grow and multiply.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Molds need moisture and a food source. Good food sources for molds are cloth,wood,wallboard and insulation,but molds can grow on almost anything. Water or moisture is the factor that limits mold growth. When there is a wet surface or material that is not dried or discarded promptly (for example,water discharged from a burst pipe),molds can grow within 24 to 48 hours in the area.

Frequent Causes of Mold Growth

◘ Basement flooding and
water intrusion
◘ Closeness to lake,river,or ocean
◘ Clothes dryer exhausting into
walls or attic
◘ Construction defects and
poor workmanship
◘ Crawl space
◘ Dryer venting into walls or attic
◘ Exhaust fans venting into
walls or attic
◘ Firewood indoors
◘ Flooding
◘ Lot grading downward to home
◘ High indoor humidity [60%+]
◘ Humidifiers &vaporizers
◘ Inadequate ventilation
◘ Indoor plants
◘ Overflow from tubs,showers,
sinks,&toilets
◘ Landscaping mistakes like
mulch &plant glut
◘ Leaky roof
◘ Venting inadequacies in
kitchen &bathrooms
◘ Sewage pipe leaks
◘ Siding water leaks
◘ Water supply pipe leaks
◘ Wood ed setting keeps out sun
◘ Wet clothes

 

Where Mold
Grows Best

◘ Attics with roof leaks or
inadequate ventilation
◘ Basements with dirt floors or water problems
◘ Behind and under showers,
tubs,toilets,and bathroom walls
◘ Books,magazines,newspapers
◘ Carpeting and padding
◘ Ceilings [from roof leaks]
◘ Ceiling tiles
◘ Clothing
◘ Crawl spaces
◘ Drapes
◘ Drywall in ceilings and walls
◘ Garbage disposal
◘ Heating &cooling equipment &ducts
◘ Humidifiers &vaporizers [inside]
◘ Leather items
◘ Paint
◘ Paper,cardboard &other paper products
◘ Plants [house plants]
◘ Rags
◘ Upholstered furniture
◘ Walls [from siding,roof,&
plumbing leaks]
◘ Wallpaper &behind wallpaper
◘ Wood products