Does Water Damage Cause Mold?

Mold can grow in your home when humid conditions are present and when floors, walls, carpet, furniture, and other matter become saturated with water. If you don’t take care of leaks, you’ll create an environment where mold thrives, reproduces, and causes problems.

If you’ve wondered, “Does water damage cause mold?”, the experts at Blue Hippo Restoration are sorry to say that the answer is yes. Water damage is harmful because it causes mold to multiply rapidly.

Regardless of the season, mold quickly reproduces in any environment with moisture, oxygen, and starch or sugar. Soon a colony can take over areas of your home that were once fungus-free and make you very sick.

What Is Mold?

Mold is a fungus that grows by consuming organic matter and reproduces by releasing spores. When found in nature, mold helps with the decomposition of plant debris and leaves.

However, it is problematic due to its rapid growth and ability to thrive in warm and moist conditions, a situation found in many homes. It will break down whatever it grows on, like your floors and ceilings. Water leaks are often the start of mold growing in the home, creating the perfect setting it needs.

Mold can be monitored and sometimes prevented, but the spores can enter your home in so many ways. They can attach to pets, furniture, clothing, shoes, and more without you knowing.

How to Spot Mold in Your Home

Mold is unlikely to be found in a clean and dry area. Instead, affected areas are usually humid and involve frequent water use, such as the bathroom, laundry room, or basement.

Mold can be black, white, brown, pink, orange, or green clusters that start small and spread into larger clumps on ceilings or walls. It can be hidden in areas like behind walls or within dark corners. Even if you can’t see it, a musty or damp smell indicates that mold has taken up residence in your home.

To prevent mold, look out for sounds of moving water like dripping or trickling. Be sure to take care of any unfamiliar stains on walls and ceilings so mold doesn’t spread. If you experience a leak in your home, you can try to dry the affected areas with towels, but this usually isn’t enough to take care of the mold.

How to Prevent Mold in Your Home

Beyond wondering, “Does water damage cause mold?”, you might want to know how to prevent it. Inspecting your home for water leaks and responding to them quickly are the best ways to prevent mold.

Areas with poor air circulation that aren’t cleaned often create a perfect environment for mold. Be sure to clean water spills right away to prevent mold from growing.

Keep doors and windows open and use exhaust fans for circulation. Fans are crucial in the bathroom, laundry room, and kitchen, where water can sit idle or leak. Don’t neglect attic and crawl spaces, and make sure they are ventilated with good airflow.

Is Mold Dangerous?

Not only can mold damage your home, but it can also make you ill. Mold can exacerbate asthma and other respiratory problems. It also irritates the eyes and skin and makes it harder to breathe. For those with allergies, mold can cause rashes, trouble breathing, vomiting, and more.

Furthermore, some molds produce mycotoxins, which cause symptoms like fatigue and nausea. Most people will not experience severe health issues because of mold, but it still harms enough that it is dangerous. Black mold is especially hazardous.

Mold can also take down the structure of your home by eating away at the organic matter. This is why it is essential to treat mold as soon as possible. Mold spreads extremely fast because the spores can travel through cracks, holes, or HVAC systems.

Get Help with Water Damage Restoration Services from Blue Hippo Restoration

Does water damage cause mold? Yes! If you’re dealing with water damage and need help mitigating the damage before it is too late, we can help. The first step in the process is to remove any mold-infested materials in your home and to circulate clean air with open windows. Next, you’ll need the help of a water damage repair professional.

Blue Hippo Restoration specializes in water damage restoration and knows how to tackle mold growth safely and thoroughly. We can help restore your home to a safe and clean condition after water damage.

Don’t wait until it’s too late! Contact Blue Hippo Restoration at (832) 497-4497 today to speak with one of our specialists!