As you probably already know, mold can grow almost anywhere in or outside your home with the right conditions, especially after any flood damage. San Diego has great weather for not only the beach, but also for harboring mold growth. The best stimulant for mold growth is moisture and heat; let anything wet sit for more than 24 hours and you’re bound to have a mold problem brewing. In fact, mold spores can lay dormant for many months or even years until the right temperature, moisture, and nutrients present themselves. Yikes!

At Certified Restoration, we tend to focus on mold restoration in San Diego structures with flood damage, but everyone should constantly be monitoring their home for mold growth. Even in the dry weather of San Diego, it is impossible to completely stop mold spores from entering your home, what’s important is to know how to control it. Here are 7 places that may need mold restoration in everyone’s home.

#1 Bathroom Mold

This is one of the most common places in the home that needs mold restoration specifically because there are always large amounts of moisture produced in this area. Mold can grow almost anywhere in bathroom – under the sink, on or around the toilet, on wet towels or shower curtains, and of course, on the ceilings and walls.

The most dangerous and costly mold damage in every bathroom can come from the shower from none other than neglect. When there are cracks between ceramic tiles, moisture can trickle behind the walls resulting in mold growth. Unfortunately, most people do not even realize this problem until they start getting sick, smell, or discover it from a home inspection. It is extremely important to pay attention to the conditions of your shower and bathroom all together, so the price of mold restoration do not become costly.

 

#2 Kitchen Mold

This is also another common place for mold growth in the home. Small leaks under the sink, near the dishwasher, or behind the fridge are hard to notice until you smell the musty odor of mold. We recommend checking each of these places once a month to control any mold growth and catch any leaks before they cause and a real problem and require serious mold restoration.

 

#3 Basement Mold

This is more common in homes that are older, but it can also present itself in any home that is poorly sloped, has foundation cracks, missing waterproof membranes, or has had flood damage. San Diego homes do not commonly have large basements that people store things in like other parts of the country, but it is still important to inspect them from time to time. People tend to unsafely store things in cardboard boxes for years on end in their basement. Moisture inevitably develops, causing not only mold to grow but also is ruining keepsakes if proper mold restoration is not conducted in a timely manner.

 

#4 Window Mold

This is normally found around the edges or metal-framed or wood windows. Condensation tends to accumulate (mostly during winter months) on sills and frames of windows, and grows mold when left unchecked.

 

#5 Attic Mold

Mold can grow in attics that have drain tile issues, are not properly ventilated, or have any roof leaks. Warm air also rises to the highest point of the house (the attic), providing mold with the perfect growing temperature. During the wet months of the year, condensation develops in the attic, leading to growth if not noticed. Most people do not enter their attic very often, which can result in significant mold restoration projects if not caught early.

 

#6 Carpet Mold

We deal with carpet mold restoration at Certified Restoration very frequently – especially after flood damage. San Diego’s warm weather creates the perfect environment for mold growth. This mold can be found on the underside of carpet after any sort of moisture exposure like floods, leaks in exterior walls or doors, or even from over watering plants. Mold can also be generated in the areas of a home that are on a low point of the property and in water damaged hardwood floors.

 

#7 Laundry Room Mold

The laundry room is considered to be a “wet area” of a house because there is water continuously present, much like a bathroom or kitchen. It should always be carefully watched. Check behind and under the washing machine for slow, otherwise unnoticeable leaks. Always look at the floors and floorboard for water stains or old moisture damage.

In every home, keep an eye on paper, cardboard, wood, carpets, leather, and even old food in the fridge. They are all breeding grounds for mold. Mold can grow on anything organic where nutrients are present, so it is important to always be on the lookout. If you discover mold anywhere in your home, make sure to properly clean it as soon as possible.

Because of potential health concerns while dealing with mold, we highly recommend calling a mold remediation expert (like us!). But if you do decide to tackle a problem yourself, download the EPA Guide to Mold and Moisture.

At Certified Restoration, we deal with flood damage and mold restoration in San Diego every day. If you have any questions or need help taking care of mold remediation, give us a call at (619) 234-2500. We’re here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.