Mold growth anywhere in your home is a cause for concern, and the crawl space is no exception. The mold growing there will release its spores into your home, affecting your indoor air quality and possibly making residents sick. If your home has a crawl space foundation, you should know the signs of a problem, how to handle the mold remediation, and how you can prevent future growth in this area.

A Guide to Crawl Space Mold Remediation

1. Signs of Mold

Because you don’t really spend time in your crawl space, mold can grow undetected unless you pay close attention. Getting down there once a year with a flashlight allows you to look for visible signs of growth. You should also pay attention to whether your home has a musty smell to it, which is a common side effect of mold. You may also see condensation around your windows and pipes, indicating there’s enough moisture for mold to grow below.

2. What to Do

Call a professional. Larger infestations in the crawl space should always be dealt with by a professional. Depending on the extent of the problem, you may need to evacuate the home (or at least clear certain areas) while the work is done. Most work can be done without evacuation if it is in the crawl space. 

3. How to Prevent Crawl Space Mold

The key to preventing black mold in your crawl space is keeping the area dry, as mold needs moisture to grow. Install vents on either side of your crawl space along with insulation under the floors of the home. Certain occurrences can allow moisture to get into your crawl space, so have an inspection done if you’re concerned. These may include when your plumbing or air conditioner is leaking, there’s a major storm, or if you’ve recently had a pest infestation in which damage to the crawl space barrier might have resulted.  

If you suspect mold in your home, don’t try to clean it up yourself. Disturbing the growth will release the harmful spores into the air where they can be inhaled. Piedmont Home Contractors Inc offers thorough mold remediation services in which they keep the area contained while removing all the offending material. Their experienced team has been providing high-quality mold and water damage restoration services throughout Guilford County, NC, for more than 20 years. They can also perform any construction necessary to improve your crawl space’s safe use, and with a five-year warranty, you can trust that you’ll get results. Contact them online or at (336) 545-8812 to schedule an indoor allergy test to determine whether the mold levels in your home are harmful.