Park Forest Homeowners Listen as SERVPRO Talks About Mold Growth Conducive Conditions

2/19/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Says a Leaky Window Frame Can Cause Mold Problems for Park Forest Property Owners

Some Causes of Winter Mold Damage in Park Forest

Cold, ice, and snow storms contribute in different ways in making your Park Forest home more susceptible to mold growth. A grasp of the ways mold gains a hold even in the dry cold of winter helps explain why you notice a musty, unpleasant scent or the staining and feathery or leathery-looking evidence of mold colonies.  Let us help you with a winter mold infestation.

Mold damage in Park Forest during any season is frustrating and often hard to manage without professional assistance. We train our crews to evaluate a mold scenario from the source of moisture to effective means of remediation with an open and curious mindset.

Winter mold breakouts can prove perplexing as the interior of our homes dry out while we use central heating, usually a deterrent to microbial growth. SERVPRO technicians look for sources of moisture the homeowner might overlook.

Common ways excessive moisture makes its way inside our homes include humidifiers and vaporizers intended to condition dry winter air. Mold spores are opportunistic and absorb any water, including water vapor emitting from one of these appliances. SERVPRO notes the humidity levels in the rooms affected by mold damage. If it edges past 60 percent, ambient humidity can fuel mold growth. Recommended levels are 30 to 50 percent humidity indoors to inhibit mold damage.

Ice and snow buildup on a roof also can lead to a perfect environment for mold growth. SERVPRO service calls for mold issues in the upper stories of a home during the winter always result in an inspection of outdoor gutters and downspouts and interior insulation and weather sealing. An ice dam, signaled by icicles, builds up when gutters clog with debris and its growth accelerates when the melt and freeze cycle continues because of inadequate insulation and heat leaks. If warm air leaks out the joints between the attic ceiling edges and the eaves and roofline any snow and ice in gutters melt and can invade into a home.

Molds can grow given moisture even if temperatures are low. SERVPRO often finds mold colonies moving from an attic down into living areas. Foundations with ice or snowpack can also admit moisture through cracks, encouraging mold growth in basements, walkouts, and other lower levels.

SERVPRO of Chicago Heights / Crete / Beecher is ready to remediate winter mold issues relating to any causation. Give us a call at (708) 672-0077 to inspect and craft a mold abatement plan for your home.

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