Mold is not uncommon in homes. However, it is always a risk to your health. For that reason, it is important to take every step possible to minimize the mold growth present. In some cases, it can become severe. When this happens, it can create a dangerous situation within your home. Most often, home insurance does not cover mold damage. What should you do?

Understand What Causes Mold

To minimize and prevent mold growth in the home, you first must understand what helps it grow. Where there is moisture and air, there can be mold.

Many tiny spores make up the black and brown debris you see on surfaces. Those spores travel very easily with just a slight amount of air movement. When they do, they can travel throughout the home through the heating and cooling system. That allows mold to spread quickly.

Mold thrives in wet conditions. Even a small amount of moisture in the home can create the ideal conditions. It also does well in dark areas. This is why it can hide under your carpeting or behind the drywall. This makes it hard for you to spot it, too. That is all it takes for mold to grow. If you have areas of your home with moisture, it is important to get rid of them.

How to Prevent Mold

Preventing mold may require the use of a professional. If it is already present in the home, this becomes very important. Even after a professional removes mold, though, you still need to take steps to minimize its presence. To do that, consider the following:

• When humidity is high in the home, be sure your air conditioner is running. This will extract most of the moisture from the home.
• Fix leaks right away. This is very important in basements and cabinets. If there is a small amount of moisture building up, this can encourage mold growth to occur.
• If you have a moist basement or a basement that has a musky smell, chances are good you need waterproofing. This can help to minimize mold growth by drying out the space.

It is essential to have a professional remove mold from your home. However, being proactive and keeping surfaces clean and sanitary can help. If you have any type of water breaks or flooding, be sure to have the home treated for mold. Sometimes, your home insurance policy covers this.

Protecting your family and home from mold can be a challenge. Yet, many effective tools are available to make your home safer for everyone living within it.