Hidden Mold

Mold is often a problem that is easily identified and easily erased. Scrub the tub or empty and wash the refrigerator and the problem will go away. The smell will vanish, and the unsightly black, green, or white specks and spot will stop appearing. Sometimes though, surface cleaning can be a quick fix and, in a few days, the smell will return. Unfortunately, the smell only returns if you are lucky, and sometimes the mold can safely and secretly live on undetected. This can cause untold health issues for humans, animals, and even the buildings that we inhabit. This hidden mold can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. The faster the infestation is noticed and diagnosed the better because recovery can be a long and difficult process.

Hidden mold is extremely tricky. Obviously, it will not present visually as mold, and could be a remnant of a long forgotten problem. If residents complain of health issues or water damage goes undisturbed and hidden away, mold could be a possible explanation. Water could seep into any layer of the “skin” of a building and mold attaches to this water and grows unchecked. On the back of wallpapers, inside drywall and framing, regardless of the size of the separation water, and mold with it, can seep in and create a hidden disturbance. People don’t often think of water as a problem. It is a building block of life, and we all need it to continue living. Excess moisture in a home is rarely a good sign, and can build up in many unexpected places. Aside from the already mentioned hiding places, water can build up behind furniture, inside many appliances, around heating and cooling systems inside and outside of the structure of a building, under carpeting and floor padding, and under or within roof structures. Mold loves to use these hidden, undisturbed areas to feed and multiply, causing untold damage to structures.

Uncovering these hidden mold deposits can be difficult, invasive, and potentially dangerous. Disturbed mold can release a great number of spores, which can cause sickness in people and animals. It can also involve removal of wallpapers, carpets or even sections of wall. It is extremely important to be safe when dealing with large amounts of mold growth, and it is recommended to call in a professional to determine what steps or precautions to take with mold growth in your residence or business. Remediation is not always the answer, and any trained person can help determine how to best take care of the particular kind of mold issue that is plaguing any building.