Causes of Frequent Mold Growth in Toronto Homes
Posted in Mold, on April 01, 2022
Mold is caused by many different issues like leaks, humidity, plumbing problems, or poor ventilation. SafeAir’s air quality testing services are the easiest and most reliable way to test for mold growth in your home. While mold spores are everywhere, the indoor environment concentrates and amplifies their effects, making mold especially hazardous to our health. Mold inspection in Toronto is the best way to test for mold indoors because it can find hidden mold infestations and identify the causes of future infestations.
At SafeAir, we’ve been helping families eliminate household mold growth in Toronto for over a decade. Here are some of the most common causes of mold growth in GTA area homes.
Bad Ventilation
Mold growth is always related to too much moisture indoors. One of the most common ways that moisture gets stuck in our homes is poor ventilation. Airflow helps dry up and eliminate moisture — just think of how welcome a breeze is on a humid July day!
While a breezy house isn’t what we want either, air movement helps refresh our environment, improve air quality, and eliminate the risk of mold. Some of the tricks SafeAir recommends to get air moving through your home are easy:
- Open the windows.
- Run your furnace fan to keep air circulating.
- Install exhaust fans in areas like the bathroom or kitchen to remove steam.
Air Conditioner and Furnace Problems
Mold spreads by creating spores. These spores float in the air and are the primary way we detect infestations during mold inspection in Toronto. Spores are so tiny that they are easily recycled and sucked up into your HVAC system, spreading them to every room in your home.
Additionally, malfunctioning air conditioners may inadvertently create moisture in your home by leaking. Mold may also grow inside your HVAC equipment, but regular maintenance and inspection can prevent these types of mold problems.
Water Leaks
There are pipes and drains are all around your home, leading to and from sinks, bathtubs, showers, and appliances. Any of these sites can spring a leak or be the cause of an unexpected flood. A small sustained drip is often all it takes to trigger a mold infestation in Toronto when the conditions are right, making early detection and repair crucial for preventing mold growth.
Humid Basements
Many homes in Toronto have basements that struggle with humidity issues — after all, basements tend to have poor ventilation and suffer from floods or water leaks! In addition, many homeowners find it challenging to tell inflorescence (caused by minerals in groundwater) apart from mold growth, leading to unnecessary panic and worry. SafeAir can help you inspect for basement mold and offer valuable tips for prevention.
Roof Leaks
The attic is one of the most common places for mold growth across the GTA. Most homeowners tend to visit the attic once a year — if ever. The infrequency of our visits to the attic means that mold can easily and quickly grow out of control, leading to insulation damage, energy loss, and structural damage, not to mention poor indoor air quality.
To keep your attic healthy and mold-free, having it assessed for mold growth and getting a licensed insulation specialist to take a look can help. Improvements to ventilation, air sealing, and regular exterior inspection (especially after a storm!) can help you spot areas where leaks or problems may form.
Mold is No Problem for Us!
SafeAir’s thorough mold inspection and testing services in Toronto can help you discover areas in your home that need extra support or are harbouring dangerous mold infestations. Early detection is key to protecting your family and home from the negative health effects and damage that mold infestations can cause. Indoor air quality testing reveals more than just mold, it can also detect common indoor air quality pollutants, asbestos, radon gas, and more.
Let us help you make your home healthier and safer. Contact the SafeAir team to get answers for your questions about air quality testing, mold growth, or ventilation issues.