Question: I recently moved into a new home and I am getting mold on my bathroom walls and ceiling. It appears that the last tenants have just painted over the mold, so it keeps coming back. Is there anything I can do to correct this?
Answer: Mold grows in buildings due to excessive moisture. You have to determine the source or cause of this excessive moisture and correct the problem. Some of the ways to reduce humidity inside the house include:
- Venting showers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside.
- Controlling humidity levels and dampness by using air conditioners and de-humidifiers.
- Providing adequate ventilation to maintain indoor humidity levels between 30-60%.
Sources of mold indoors
Mold is found naturally in the environment. It’s found in soil and on dead and decaying matter. Outdoors, mold plays a key role in the breakdown of leaves, wood and other plant debris and hence helps in the recycling of nutrients. Airborne spores found indoors either originate from outdoors or could be from mold growing indoors on organic building materials.
How to recognize mold
Mold come in a variety of colors, including green, black, white, brown and orange. It can appear fuzzy or in slimy streaks. There is often a musty or earthy odour in buildings with severe mold growth.
What causes mold to grow inside homes?
Mold produces tiny spores just as some plants produce seeds for reproduction. Indoors, these spores move through the air and settle on surfaces. When mold spores land on damp surfaces, they may begin to grow and multiply.