Discovering Holiday Storage Mold
All the bright lights and cheerful carols can only mean one thing, it is holiday season. Between decorating and gift wrapping, we are finally breaking into the archives for our holiday supplies. Weather your holiday supplies are stored in your attic, basement, crawl space or elsewhere, chances are that you have not seen or touched that stuff since last year. If you have not been in your attic, basement, or crawl space since the last holiday season, your holiday supplies may not be alone. Neglected attics, basements, and crawl spaces can lead to holiday storage mold growth.
For a lot of New Jersey homeowners, attics, basements, and crawl spaces only serve as storage space. Items get packed away and ignored until it’s needed again. However, it is important to regularly check these spaces, not just when you need something out of storage. Without regular and proper maintenance, attics, basements, and crawl spaces can be very vulnerable to moisture problems that will promote holiday storage mold. If you think you have discovered potential signs holiday storage mold in these areas, you should consider calling a certified mold professional to complete a mold inspection in New Jersey.
Attic Mold in South Jersey
New Jersey attic mold can be the result of a combination heat, condensation, humidity, poor ventilation and improper insulation. If not properly ventilated, moist air gets trapped and infuses itself into the attic sheathing and rafters. This moist air can also increase airborne mold spore levels which can settle into insulation and on belongings stored in your attic. It is important to hire a certified mold professional to complete a proper mold remediation. Professional attic mold removal professionals in NJ will have the equipment and training to properly address any mold development in your attic storage space and prevent its regrowth. Attic mold needs to be handled by trained technicians to avoid cross-contamination to clean, unaffected areas and ensure the cleanup is properly executed.
Basement Mold in South Jersey
Mold does not need an abundance of water to thrive. Aside from the obvious moisture sources, such as flooding or major leaking, humidity, condensation and poor air circulation can prove to be adequate water sources to cause and sustain mold growth. Since most of your basement foundation walls are underground, they tend to seep or leak moisture through tiny pores and cracks. Most New Jersey basements are constructed of cinder block, poured concrete or rubble walls. This leaves your walls vulnerable to leakage and seepage.
The first sign of water intrusion is usually water staining or efflorescence. Efflorescence is the white, powdery substance that develops on the foundation wall surface. It is the result of water or vapor seepage which forces soluble salts and minerals to the surface. Efflorescence often gets mistaken for mold, but it is not mold. However, it is a sign of water or moisture seepage which can stimulate mold growth. If you suspect mold or have damp conditions and a musty odor in your basement, call reputable New Jersey basement mold remediation professional.
Crawl Space Mold in South Jersey
Most South Jersey crawl spaces contain perfect conditions to support and sustain mold growth. Porous building materials and poor building envelope design play a huge role in most New Jersey cases of crawl space mold. Many crawl spaces are poorly vented with undersized wall vents, which heightens the risk of moisture concerns and mold contamination. In spring and summer, crawl space vents introduce warm air into cool crawl spaces causing condensation on wood and masonry building materials. The same effect happens during cold seasons – only in the opposite order.
It is important for South Jersey homeowners to assess the crawl space at least twice a year to complete any needed maintenance. If you discover mold growth in your NJ crawl space storage space, you may need to consult a South Jersey crawl space mold removal professional. Neglected crawl space mold will worsen with time and potentially develop into a widespread problem. NJ homeowner should act fast.
If you detect signs of a potential holiday storage mold in your attic, basement, or crawl space, do not let it ruin your holiday season. Call a certified mold professional in your South Jersey area who will be equipped with the appropriate knowledge, training, and tools to safely and effectively handle your mold situation so you can return to the holiday festivities.
Even if it does not turn out to be mold, a trained and certified mold inspector will be able to identify any potential areas vulnerable to moisture problems and provide recommendations for mold prevention. Often times, mold prevention tactics are simple repairs or equipment installation. These preventive measures can go a long way in helping you avoid a costly mold remediation or water damage restoration in New Jersey.
If you store your holiday supplies in your attic, basement, crawl space or elsewhere, try to avoid over cluttering the space. Over packed storage spaces tend to suffer from insufficient ventilation and restricted air circulation, which can encourage moisture buildup over time. It is important to make it a habit to conduct routine maintenance checks of your attic, basement, crawl space and other storage areas. This will afford you the opportunity to detect and address signs of water concerns or mold problems sooner. Attic mold prevention, basement mold prevention and crawl space mold prevention can be simple and affordable. It just requires some time.
