8 Things to Do When Identifying Condensation or Mold in Your Home

Have you noticed a musty smell in your home? Or maybe it feels more humid inside than outside?

These are just a few of the symptoms of mold and condensation in a home. If this goes unchecked, it will continue to grow and spread becoming a serious problem for your home and potentially your health.

Working in the foam insulation business for more than a decade, we have helped homeowners identify the cause of condensation in the home and helped with their insulation needs after the mold has been cleaned up. 

With our experience as an insulation contractor that has worked with thousands of homeowners, we can help you identify the mold and condensation, as well as recommendations to get rid of it.

How to Identify Black Mold and Condensation in a Home

Identifying condensation and mold in your home is key to having a happy and healthy home.

Let’s take a look at how you can identify both and how to fix these issues.

Identifying Black Mold in a Home

Identifying mold in your house can be done through a few different avenues.

• Smelling a musty odor. Have you noticed a weird musty smell in your home? That smell is coming from mold that is hidden away somewhere in your home. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. If you are noticing the musty smell, you should inspect your home to find the source.
  
  
• Allergic reactions. If your allergies are kicking up at unusual times, there is the possibility that mold is growing in your home. Common reactions to mold are sneezing, sore eyes, and nasal issues, according to Moldpedia.
  
  
• Actually seeing the mold. The easiest way to identify mold is when you can actually see it. The problem is, some homeowners first think the dark spots they see on their walls or in their bathroom is dirt. These marks can grow and become more serious if they go unchecked.
  
  
• Illness due to black toxic mold. Not all black mold is toxic, but the Stachybotrys chartarum is and can be detrimental to your health, according to Mold Solutions. Some of the symptoms brought on by toxic black mold are headaches, trouble concentrating, shortened attention span, memory loss, and dizziness. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Identifying Condensation in a Home

Identifying condensation in your home can be easy if it is somewhere you can actually see it, but if it’s not you’ll have to do some investigating.

• Rusting indoor pipes. If you’re noticing your pipes are rusting, that means they are coming in contact with moisture – likely condensation. This is especially true in spaces like the basement and crawl space.
  
  
• Condensation on windows. Your windows are another spot you will see condensation and while you might not think much about it, this is a signifier of a problem. While you see the condensation on your actual window, it’s likely also in the cavity around the window, which can lead to the growth of mold.
  
  
• Walls with condensation on them. Just like your windows, but much more severe is when you find condensation on your interior walls. You might think it is only on the surface, but in actuality, it is inside your wall assembly, including your insulation. If you have fiberglass or cellulose in your walls, it’s retaining that moisture creating a haven for mold to grow and thrive.
  
  
• High humidity levels in your home. Does your home feel more like a sauna than it should? That humidity is also a sign of condensation and moisture lurking in your home. Reducing the humidity levels in your home can be as easy as installing a dehumidifier. 

Getting Rid of Condensation and Black Mold in Home

The key to solving your mold problem is to first control your condensation issues.

If the mold is growing in your home, you should definitely clean it up, but you have to also fix the condensation problem immediately. It’s impossible to get all of the mold spores out of your home as some spores can be found floating through the air and in the dust. Mold growth can be prevented by controlling the moisture in your home.

When there is a large temperature difference from the outside of your home to the inside of your home, condensation forms. It can form on the walls, your windows, doors, and pipes, as well as the walls of your basement. 

The condensation is more noticeable in the winter months because the cold outside air is working its way through your siding or foundation, traditional insulation, and drywall. Upgrading the insulation throughout your home with a material that creates an air seal, like foam, will help stop the outside air from getting in.

Once the condensation issue is handled, the mold problem it caused can be prevented.

If the mold in the home is caused by a more serious leak, then that leak will need to be repaired so the clean up can begin. 

If the mold in your home is in a small area, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends scrubbing the mold off of hard surfaces with detergent and water and making sure it is completely dry. It’s important to wear a respirator, gloves, and goggles.

For larger mold areas, you may want to hire a contractor that specializes in mold clean up.

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