There are few sights in the home as dreaded as the tell-tale signs of mold and damp. Not only are they unpleasant, they can do serious damage to the home over time. There are also the real health risks of issues like respiratory diseases to consider. If you’ve spotted those tell-tale signs or you’re just worried about the rain getting in, you need to check some of the most common culprits.
Protect your home
The home is supposed to be the barrier between you and the elements. So, you have to ensure that it’s really keeping the outdoors to the outdoors. If you’ve spotted signs of damp growing in seemingly random places, it may be caused by an air leak allowing the moisture from the outside to come in You need to look for air leaks and seal them, which can usually be achieved with some caulking. It may also be caused by faulty ventilation in the home, so check that out, too.
Go leak hunting
If the damp or mold is primarily clustered near your plumbing or heating, then that’s a very good indication you have a leak that you should act on immediately with the help of teams like All State Services. You might be able to fix some leaks yourself but don’t waste any time learning how to become a plumber while the leak is ongoing. Shut off your water supply and get professionals in there if you don’t immediately know what to do yourself. Otherwise, you could be looking at serious water damage to the home, not just damp and mold.
Keep your chin up
When looking for air leaks in the home, make sure you consider what’s happening overhead, as well. If you spot damp or mold spreading across the ceiling, the roof might be the primary culprit. Cracked tiles, missing tiles, and aging roofs can give the rain and wind to freely get in. Not only will this mean damp and mold, it will also mean your energy bills shoot through the roof quite literally. Heat rises, and if it’s allowed to escape, your heating system will work harder and burn more fuel keeping the home at the temperature you want.
Get gutter-minded
The roof isn’t the only way that water can infiltrate the home from above, however. Especially after fall and winter, there’s a real risk that debris such as leaves, twigs, and dirt have gathered in your gutter and blocked it. It’s an easy issue to miss, but what it means is that water starts building up instead of draining properly. This water then looks for the pass of least resistance and that can often mean seeping into the home. Clean your gutters thoroughly as shown by Houselogic at least once a year.
The important thing about damp and mold is that you act on them as soon as you catch any sign of them. If they have the chance to spread, they can do significant damage to your walls, to your foundations, and to the health of your family.
