Why it may be hard to find Mold in Milton, MA

5/20/2019 (Permalink)

You may not spend much time in these rooms of your home. Not only does this mean you’re less likely to notice mold, it also means that mold is more likely to grow due to poor ventilation. This, combined with the dark, cold nature of attics, basements, and garages, makes mold highly probable.

In the attic

Mold in the attic is a huge problem — they can contain a lot of your ventilation systems and, if left unchecked, can spread mold throughout the rest of your home. In your attic, check for mold:

• On the roof, near any possible leaks
• In your insulation
• Near any vents from the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room/dryer
• Near your water heater or furnace
• Around your soffit vents (these are the vents near the bottom of the roof that provide ventilation to the attic)

To prevent mold from growing (and spreading) in your attic, you can:

• Repair any roof leaks as soon as possible
• Use the proper type of insulation
• Properly vent items outside, instead of into your attic
• Keep soffit vents clear to allow air flow
• Keeping your gutter cleaned and in good repair, especially in rainy months

In the basement

Everyone knows that musty basement smell, but your basement doesn’t have to fall victim to that odor if you keep the mold out. There are a lot of areas that are prone to mold growth here, as this tends to be a moist area of the house, so here are a few reminders on where to look:

• Around pipes and ducting ( look for leaks, excess moisture, and condensation)
• Near areas where the foundation may be leaking
• Near a sump pump
• Windows or vents where condensation might gather

Some tips for preventing mold growth in the basement:

• Use a dehumidifier to keep your moisture levels low
• Paint with waterproof or mold resistant paint
• Check and repair any leaky pipes or foundation leaks
• Make sure there is adequate ventilation
• Waterproof the exterior of your basement and fix drainage issues

In the garage

Rain from your car and water leaks from the roof are two of the main ways mold gets invited into your garage. If you use your garage for storage of old items or cleaning supplies, you may find mold growing in places you wouldn’t expect. Be sure to check for mold:

• Behind or under any storage areas that don’t get moved around very often
• Around the garage doors and windows
• In areas where water may be standing for long periods of time

Keep mold at bay in your garage by:

• Using a dehumidifier to keep moisture levels low, especially during wet months
• Use a waterproof or mold and mildew resistant paint for the walls and concrete in your garage
• Use a squeegee to remove standing water from the floor
• Try to introduce sunlight and ventilation, when possible

If you believe you have mold in any of these location reach out to SERVPRO of Milton/Braintree.