Instead of basements, crawl spaces are often found in some houses. Crawl spaces are cheaper and highly recommended if you are living in a mostly dry area. However, these are prone to mold and moisture, unless the place has adequate ventilation and proper insulation.
Is mold in a crawl space dangerous? Whether it is white, yellow, or black, mold in a crawl space can be quite dangerous. These can result in significant property damages, leading to its deterioration and reducing the overall value of your home.
Mold in the crawl space below the house is not only a serious eyesore as it is also a very bad sign that can indicate a bigger and more serious concern upstairs.
Is it common to have mold in the crawl space? Well, it is quite common to have mold in a crawl space but it is not something you should just take for granted. Good thing that mold in a crawl space is completely preventable.
Signs of Mold in a Crawl Space
Detecting the presence of mold in a crawl space early on is important to put off an outbreak. You have to remember that mold tends to spread rather quickly so taking some essential steps right away during the initial signs of mold infestation could go a very long way to avert major damages to you and your family’s health and your property.
But, before anything, what does this mold in your crawl space look like? What should you watch out for? Most of the time, you will know right away when there is a problem if there is a musty smell in your home or there is a sort of damp smell coming from it.
There are times when even if you don’t actually see the mold with your airs, you can till right away that they are there if your nose is always running or stuffy, if you have itchy eyes, or if you suffer from mold allergy attacks.
If you are experiencing these symptoms of mold in your crawl space or if you can see those visible signs of mold infestation and water damage, you need to address the problem immediately before it gets worse.
What is the Acceptable Amount of Mold in a Crawl Space?
As far as mold in a crawl space is concerned, even the smallest amount can be too much. This means that all types and amounts of mold are never acceptable in crawl spaces. The last thing you want is to be on a friendly term with mold as it can instantly and quickly spread to other parts of your home. When left untreated, mold can also lead to health damages.
How to Identify Mold in a Crawl Space
The most telltale sign of the start of a mold infestation in the crawl space is a musty smell. If you will check your crawl space, there is a high chance that you will find clusters or patches of what seems like powder or dirt on the posts, girders, area corners, and floor joists.
Yellow mold in a crawl space
Sometimes referred to as house-eating mold, yellow mold in a crawl space usually eats wooden structures that can lead to their deterioration and decay in time. This should be removed right away before yellow mold eats up your whole house.
Black mold in a crawl space
It doesn’t matter if it is Stachybotrys chartarum or Stachybotrys atra type, black mold can produce mycotoxins. This can trigger allergic reactions and could possibly be hazardous.
Known as the most toxic out of all varieties of mold, black mold actually has a dark gray or somewhat greenish color. They often appear as flat instead of powdery, fuzzy, bumpy, or fluffy.
White mold in a crawl space
White mold in a crawl space is commonly found on the exposed floor joists and floor. This is not common during colder weather, it is a type of mold that you should pay special attention to just like black mold because, in spite of the color, white fuzzy mold is still mold.
It means that this can also produce toxins, causing lots of damages.
How to Remove Mold in a Crawl Space
There are DIY tricks that can temporarily solve minor concerns with mold infestation. However, if you want to get rid of them for good, it is sometimes best to enlist the services of a professional mold removal team.
Since mold growth is often invisible to untrained eyes, it is a wiser decision to get the assistance of professionals who can eliminate mold effectively.
Since mold growth can happen any time at any place, knowing the right away to remove mold in a crawl space should be the top priority of all homeowners. It is indeed wise to contact a mold remediation team but you can also start dealing with mold in a crawl space yourself.
For instance, you can use sodium bicarbonate, vinegar, bleach, tea tree oil, or other household items that are effective killers of mold in a crawl space.
You can also try to use a dehumidifier for your crawl space. Since mold thrives in damp areas, a dehumidifier can keep your crawl space free from moisture that is often the main thing that attracts mold to an area.
Even though you might not be a handyman yourself, it shouldn’t stop you from trying to remove mold yourself. You might be surprised how you can do it with ease.
There are several effective ways to remove mold but the most recommended one is through the use of soda blasting method. This essentially uses baking soda or sodium bicarbonate that can kill off the spores through the use of the blasting device.
Despite being aggressive, sodium bicarbonate is safe, highly effective, and non-toxic, making it a good choice for mold removal.
Prevent Mold in a Crawl Space to Stay Safe
The best way to prevent mold growth in a crawl space is to seal it.
Make sure the whole area is encapsulated to ensure that no moisture will be able to enter it. It will also help you can dehumidify the area to control moisture in the air and keep it dry.
