The crawl space in your home has the potential for many unwanted issues, as this often unseen area can be a breeding ground for mold. The crawl spaces in many homes tend to have higher humidity levels then both the outside air and the air in the rest of your home, making them an excellent place for mold growth – mold that can be hazardous to your health and your home.
For mold to grow, it needs four things – spores, appropriate temperatures, food and moisture. The only one of those that is easy for people to control in their crawl space is the moisture, but even that comes from everywhere.
Excess water can add extra humidity, and can come from a variety of sources. You could have a drainage problem from a plumbing leak, or it may simply be moisture evaporating from the ground following a particularly wet season or following the springtime melt. Air from outside the home can also add moisture. When colder outside air reaches its saturation point, it can cause air inside to condense, further adding to the relative humidity. This moisture accumulates in the crawl space area, getting trapped in the confined space. Worse, with the lack of air movement, the moisture has nowhere to go, creating a perfect breeding ground for mold.
To help keep your crawl space safe from mold, the best place to start is with a quality home inspection. Crawl spaces are usually hard to get in and get around if you are not accustomed to them. A professional inspector knows what to look for and can provide an assessment of your situation and offer recommended actions you can take or types of professionals to contact for more information on remediation.
Not every crawl space grows mold, but it’s better to get that area inspected to make sure it’s safe instead of assuming otherwise. You don’t want to wait until mold is already in full bloom and causing you major problems before you decide to fix it. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and with a proper inspection from Pristine Inspections & Testing, you can identify any problems before they start. To learn more or to schedule your inspection appointment, call us today at 217-352-3743.