Mold in Basements: Mold Symptoms

Mold in the basement can be a major problem and can seriously worry you. Mold can easily grow in the basement of your house or apartment building, especially in old buildings. This can create a very unhealthy living environment. How can you recognize the existence of basement mold?

Depending on the type of soil under your building, mold can easily emerge from a moist soil. If your city or town is built on a former swamp or wetland or is located under sea level, your house or building might be built on moist soil.

Mold can occur and grow in the basement of your home without anyone noticing it, especially if the basement is not inspected regularly by a person or resident. However, there are symptoms that could indicate the possible occurrence and/or growth of mold in the basement of your home. Also, there are a couple of actions that could prevent mold from growing and affecting the (wooden) construction of your house or building.

Mold Symptoms

When you suspect mold growing in your house or building, contact a professional mold remediation company to inspect the infected areas. Follow their advices or, if necessary, ask another mold remediation company for a second opinion. Mold can affect the construction of the building, the floor and the staircase, putting you, your family and neighbors in serious danger.

But how to suspect mold in your home? A couple of symptoms can easily be perceived. If you had leaking water pipes in the near or far past, chances are that this has caused a damp atmosphere in the basement. When the basement is not ventilated properly, mold can occur in this damp atmosphere.  This is also discussed in another blog on ‘Basement mold growth’. It could take months or years before the resulting mold can be perceived. The mold, subsequently, can affect the wooden parts of your home or building. For example, the wooden construction poles that supports your house or the wooden floor. This can result in a sudden cracking sound when walking over the floor.

A damp atmosphere in the basement can also cause a damp wooden floor and staircase, making the wooden floor and wooden staircase weaker. This also results in cracking sounds and flexible wooden boards.

Construction waste can be left in a basement of especially a building with multiple apartment units. The waste could be left after renovation work or after other construction work in and around the building. Waste in any form is a perfect habitat for rats, mice and other pests. These, subsequently, contribute to an environment where mold can occur easily. Try to keep the basements clean and tidy and don’t leave any waste or garbage.

When a basement is not ventilated properly, a moist environment caused by a moist soil and other symptoms can develop. This results in the perfect conditions for the growth of mold in the basements. Ventilations holes can be blocked intentionally or unintentionally. Unintentional blocking might be done by construction work in which a ventilation hole is removed, plants growing at the outside of a ventilation point or not regular cleaning and checking of the ventilation holes. Keep in mind that good ventilation is essential in efforts to prevent mold.

Do you recognize any of these symptoms in your own home or apartment building? Turn to a professional mold remediation company and ask for an inspection and advice.

from Mold Blogger http://moldblogger.com/mold-in-basements-mold-symptoms/
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