Mold In Your Phoenix Basement

Mold loves to grow in the basement! Why? Because there are multiple sources of moisture found in the basement.  Basements get little to no sunlight and very little ventilation.  Any water issues that occur usually take a long time to dry out. To make matters worse, once mold has begun to grow in the basement it’s likely to go unnoticed for a long time since people don’t spend much time in their basements. Some of mold’s favorite basement materials are drywall, wood and insulation. The dust and dirt often found in the basement helps mold to grow as well.

You’ll know it when you smell it. Mold has that damp, musty smell that reminds you of a dungeon, and an earthy scent much like the dirt hidden underneath a layer of rotting leaves.

You’ll probably recognize it. Colonies of assaulting fungi, growing in ever-spreading clusters of white, black, brown, or even gray, yellow or green.

When mold rears its unpleasant head in your Phoenix basement, it’s only a matter of time before it spreads and claims the rest of your home for its own. TAKE CHARGE AND DON’T ALLOW IT! Get rid of mold quickly and take the necessary steps to prevent it from coming back.

A typical mold will be about 10 microns (0.0002 inches) in size, and can grow anywhere where there is sufficient heat, food, and humidity. Organic materials such as dust, fabric, wallpaper, wood, and paint all provide more than enough nourishment to keep mold healthy and growing. There are more than 1.5 million species in existence, although some molds only grow indoors. Mold grows year round in any home, no matter how clean.

Mold reproduces as it matures, sending seed-like spores out into the air. In temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, mold spores can land, grow, and spread. Time magazine reports that there can be hundreds of thousands of mold spores in a single cubic meter of air indoors, and a single person inhales 10 or 12 cubic meters each day.

Minimize moisture to prevent basement mold.

·      Inspect your basement regularly and quickly fix any water problems such as leaking pipes, condensation or a leaking ceiling.

·      If there’s water seeping in through the walls, have your basement professionally waterproofed to fix it.

·      Keeping the humidity in the basement below 55% will ensure that humidity isn’t a cause of new mold growth. Circulating the air in the basement also helps as will the use of a dehumidifier.

·      Don’t forget to keep up on your basement cleaning. Vacuuming the basement with a HEPA vacuum and cleaning it once a week will help to prevent basement mold.

If you are suffering from a mold infestation and need some help let Overson Restoration’s team of professionals help you conquer your mold issues.