Testing for mold usually happens in the spring or summer, since that tends to be when homes are more at risk of flooding and taking on an excessive amount of humidity. Testing for mold in the winter seems unnecessary. However, the wintertime can sometimes bring with it the risk of mold growth- only, it can go completely unnoticed until the spring or summer rolls around and people start to think about testing for mold again.
By that time, it might already be a big problem and require much more work than it would have if you had caught it months earlier. There are lots of reasons to test your home for mold in the winter, and Environmental Inspections Group is here to help you get the help you need.
Prevent Mold Growth Before It Gets Worse
If the mold tests you have done in the wintertime turn up with a positive diagnosis, you have the chance to eradicate the mold before it becomes an issue. Better yet, testing for mold in the winter might also catch possible mold outbreaks before they even happen: there might be an area of your home that is at risk for developing mold that you aren’t even aware of!
Heaters Foster Secret Mold Growth
Increased usage of the heating systems in your home can create small pockets of humidity and heat that are perfect for growing mold. This can happen in areas that you might not be used to checking for mold growth, such as behind heating systems and other machines that might generate heat in a small area with low amounts of foot traffic. Testing for mold in the winter will keep those secret places in check before they become a problem.
Mold Can Grow In Strange Areas In The Winter
The wintertime can sometimes create mold growth in places that you wouldn’t normally check, such as windows or glass doors. This is because the winter usually sees the creation of condensation on those surfaces as they separate the cold outdoor temperature from the nice and cozy interior of your home. That condensation and mixture of temperatures is the perfect recipe for mold, but homeowners don’t tend to think about keeping that moisture off of the windows, instead letting it sit on the glass until it “evaporates.” The problem with this, unfortunately, is that the moisture doesn’t always evaporate completely, leaving the possibility of mold growth behind.
Mold Does Not Die In The Winter
Contrary to the preferable belief that mold dies off in the wintertime, mold can actually thrive in the winter if given the right conditions. Unfortunately, mold simply lies dormant during those cold months, waiting for the perfect conditions to start growing. Because of this, lowering the temperature by itself won’t get rid of your mold issues. Controlling humidity and avoiding moisture buildup are essential to getting rid of mold in your house and preventing it from returning. Most people assume that mold dies when it gets cold, which leads them to be less careful about good practices concerning mold prevention.
Call Environmental Inspections Group
Don’t let mold surprise you over the winter! Call Environmental Inspections Group for expert help preventing the growth of harmful substances in your home. Contact us today to learn more about testing for mold this winter.