The Ways Mold Can Harm Your Property

Mold growth is one of the most difficult issues that you may need to address as a property owner. Mold can be bad for the health of the occupants. So, if you don’t address mold immediately, it can pose a serious health risk and breach housing codes.

Aside from the fact that mold growth is unsightly and can cause an unpleasant odor, it can also cause serious damage to your rental property. That’s why it’s important to hire a professional to handle any mold growth in your property.

As licensed professionals, Markham Services has the right tools to get rid of household mold, so you can be assured that the problem is handled safely and effectively. So, you understand the problems mold cause, here are a few ways mold can damage your property:

Causes Serious Structural Damage

When moisture or water is trapped in any area of your property, it can cause water damage, or worse, mold growth. While you could try to dry out your property, it may still be difficult for you to notice important signs of damage beyond what you can see.

When water or moisture builds up, it’s important to hire a mold expert to assess your property. As mold can severely damage the structure of your rental property, it’s crucial to get rid of it as soon as possible.

home-with-front-yard

Some mold feeds on wood, this can cause dry rot that may put the structural integrity of your property at risk. It’s important to note that molds do not only grow in woods. They can also eat away other materials, like carpets, drywall, wallpaper, floorboards, ceiling tiles, and more.

Results in Health Issues

Mold growth is not only dangerous for your property, but it can also be a danger to your occupants. Molds can cause many different health problems, especially for people who have asthma or a weakened immune system.

In addition, molds can contaminate the air. It’s classified as an indoor air pollutant, like cigarette smoke and asbestos, and it can cause major respiratory issues or breathing problems.

Here are the most common side effects of molds:

Sore throat
Cough
Difficulty breathing
Itchy or watery eyes
Headache
Fatigue
Skin rash or irritation

Damages Your HVAC System

Mold growths are also common in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (or HVAC) systems. When molds affects your HVAC system, they can cause severe damage to your home. This is because molds are difficult to remove from inside the ductwork of the HVAC system.

Also, when molds thrive inside your property’s air ducts, you can expect them to spread quickly to other areas of the rental unit. Moldy ducts can easily disperse mold throughout your rental home through air blowing.

hvac-system-outside-property

This is why it’s best not to turn on the HVAC system if you suspect mold growth until the issue is addressed by a professional.

Hurts the Look of Your Home

Molds do not only pose serious risks to the structural integrity of your rental property—but they can also harm the appearance of your home. They can be a major eyesore as they leave stains behind, even after they have been cleaned.

This is the reason why it’s important to address mold issues as soon as you notice them. It’s also best to perform routine maintenance to prevent mold growth altogether. When mold has stayed on a surface for a while, it could leave unsightly stains that are difficult to remove.

Also, these stains could be a sign that mold is still present deep in the layers of the affected areas. So be wary of porous materials in your house, such as concrete and drywall. These materials can hold on to mold spores until they spread to other structures of your rental property.

Damages Your Property

When mold thrives in a rental home, it can spread to other areas where you keep your valuable appliances and other belongings. Mold can eat away and destroy these items, and it can cause major trouble with your tenants. Remember that molds can affect both organic and synthetic materials—including clothes, books, and furniture.

person-cleaning-mold-buildup

Molds are usually found in dark, damp, and cool spaces, which is why your household appliances are also at risk. When molds are spread to your appliances, they can eat away at seals and hoses, and eventually ruin them. They can also cause leaks, which allow the molds to spread to other areas of the rental unit.

Hire a Professional to Prevent Mold Damage

Mold issues are something that you don’t want to experience as a property owner. Aside from getting into trouble with your tenants, they can also be very costly to handle. In some cases, the damage that molds have cause becomes so severe that you may need to make major repairs.

If this is something that you don’t want to encounter, it’s best to perform preventive maintenance. Also, you should act immediately if you suspect any mold problem in your property to help minimize the damage. Hiring a professional mold expert is the safest way to handle mold problems because they have the necessary tools to get rid of mold effectively.