Where is mould growth commonly found

A little condensation, in a bathroom or around a window sill, for example, can be enough. Common sites for indoor mold growth include:. Besides moisture, mold needs nutrients, or food, to grow. Mold can grow on virtually any organic substance. Most buildings are full of organic materials that mold can use as food, including:. In most cases, temperature is not an issue; some molds grow in warm areas, while others prefer cool locations such as bread stored in a refrigerator.

Often, more than one type of mold can be found growing in the same area, although conditions such as moisture, light and temperature may favor one species of mold over another. Buildings that have been heavily damaged by flood waters should be assessed for structural integrity and remediated by experienced professionals.

Please note that the guidelines covered in this course were developed for damage caused by clean water not flood water, sewage, or other contaminated water. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Mold does not have to be alive to cause an allergic reaction. Dead or alive, mold can cause allergic reactions in some people. Allergic reactions to mold are common and can be immediate or delayed.

Repeated or single exposure to mold, mold spores, or mold fragments may cause non-sensitive individuals to become sensitive to mold, and repeated exposure has the potential to increase sensitivity. Allergic responses include hay fever-like symptoms such as:. Molds can cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold.

In addition, whether or not individuals are allergic to mold, molds can irritate:. Breathing in mold may also cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an uncommon disease that resembles bacterial pneumonia.

In addition, mold exposure may result in opportunistic infections in persons whose immune systems are weakened or suppressed. Water Damage: Water damage from flooding or other major water intrusion in homes should be dried within 24 hours if at all possible.

For severe flooding and severe water damage for more than 48 hours, a trained restoration professional should be consulted regarding cleanup procedures. Readers are also encouraged to consult the American Red Cross website at the bottom of this page for further information.

Moisture Condensation: Single-pane, metal windows, which are common in Florida, generally condense water on the inside in winter. It is good practice to remove this condensation before it can run off and be absorbed by porous materials like wood casing or gypsum wallboard.

Condensation can also occur on other surfaces in homes. If condensation is noticed on interior surfaces in summer, it may indicate a number of problems, including inability to control indoor humidity; air conditioner supply registers aimed directly at interior surfaces; duct leakage problems and pressure imbalances; or all of the above. If you notice indoor surface condensation during summer, you should contact a professional to help diagnose the cause. However, during early spring when the ground is still cool, it is quite possible to experience some condensation on tile floors on slab-on-grade homes that are open to the outdoors.

This should not be a regular occurrence, but only something that occurs rarely. Exhaust Fans: Make sure the clothes dryer vent goes all the way to the outside of the home, not to the crawlspace or to the inside of the attic or the house. The same goes for bathroom vent fans. It is also important for the kitchen range hood to vent to the exterior as well. Recirculating stove and kitchen vents provide no removal of stovetop moisture and inferior control of cooking related pollutants compared with venting completely to the outdoors.

A major deterrent to the use of kitchen range hoods is noise. Choose an ultra-quiet, inline ventilation fan for your range hood. Kitchen and bath exhaust fans should only be used while cooking or using the bathroom to remove excess moisture generated by these activities.

It is best practice to either have bathroom vent fans interlocked with the light switch so they do not get left on or have them switched by a manual timer that will shut them off after a period of time, or control them by humidistat. Closets: Fungi like the dark and closets are rarely supplied with conditioned air as a standard part of air conditioning systems.

As a result it is not all that uncommon to have mold or mildew occur in closets, especially on leather. Leaving the closet doors open to provide more conditioned air circulation or leaving the closet lights on with the door closed so as to raise the temperature which lowers the RH can reduce these problems. House Plants: Minimize live house plants, especially if you have any trouble controlling the relative humidity in your home.

Often it is best to drain the condensate from the dehumidifier to a sink. Leave the AC system set off with this strategy, although ceiling fans on low speed might be set to circulate the air in rooms. Doors to rooms should be left open. This operates the cooling system constantly during the early morning hours when indoor coil temperatures will be achieved resulting in good moisture removal. Set up the thermostat to 85 F during the rest of the day.

This appears to work well in a majority of homes and under a wide range of weather conditions, although any significant duct leakage must be repaired.

What does mould look like Mould is not always easy to recognise. How does mould affect health Mould associated with damp buildings can trigger nasal congestion, sneezing, cough, wheeze, respiratory infections and worsen asthma and allergic conditions.

People who are more susceptible to these symptoms and other serious health effects include those with: weakened immune systems allergies severe asthma chronic, obstructive, or allergic lung diseases.

You should seek medical advice if you are concerned about the effects of mould. What causes mould to grow indoors Mould only grows when there is sufficient moisture on a surface or humidity in the air. Common causes include: leaky roofs and walls including and blocked gutters and downpipes leaky plumbing condensation from cooking, showering, clothes drying and from breathing inareas with poor air circulation eg cupboards and corners and furniture against uninsulated outside walls.

Avoid conditions encouraging mould growth, by using heat, insulation and ventilation. The cheapest and easiest way of reducing moisture and humidity levels is by ventilating a room by opening a door or window.

Use exhaust fans where available. Actions you can take to reduce mould The most important actions you can take to prevent mould in your home are those that minimise moisture. Use reverse cycle air conditioning and or mechanical dehumidification if available Ensure sufficient exhaust openings to the outside of the building if using evaporative cooling. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA high efficiency particulate air filter. Avoid placing mattresses on the floor or surfaces without adequate ventilation.

Vacuum, and or turn mattresses if it can be done safely. Increase air circulation around furniture by moving the furniture away from the walls. Rental properties with mould issues When a rental property has mould, the owner should fix any mould caused by faults in gutters or other fixtures, but the tenant should ensure that extractor fans are used when available and the home is aired regularly where possible.

Testing for mould in your home Where mould is visible, it is generally not considered necessary to test for it in the home. Where to get help If you or anyone in your family feels unwell, seek medical advice from your local doctor or call NURSE-ON-CALL 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 60 60 24 for health information and advice and in an emergency, always call triple zero Environmental health section of your local council Your insurance company Consumer Affairs Victoria 55 81 81 or for National translation service, Call this number ask to be put through to Consumer Affairs Victoria.

From top to bottom, mold growth is likely in a bathroom. In addition to the places mentioned above, pay attention to any water leaks coming from the walls or floors — these leaks can cause mold to grow quickly. Bathroom rugs are also known to harbor mold, and are usually not washed as often as they should be.

From long-forgotten leftovers in the back of your fridge to the not so easily forgotten dishes that pile up in the sink, there are ample surfaces for mold to take up residence in your kitchen. The added levels of humidity from using the stove and running hot water from the sink can cause kitchen mold to grow quickly. Some of the most common places to check for mold in the kitchen include:.

A lot happens in your kitchen sink. Dirty dishes pile up it happens! All of these things contribute to the potential for mold growth, so check in these areas often if you want to prevent mold. Your fridge and pantry should remain free of old food, and the surfaces should be wiped down regularly. In addition to those evident places, fridge drip trays and water dispensers collect water and are, therefore, the ideal place for mold to grow.

These food-centric places of your kitchen see a lot of food spillage and grease splatters — two things mold loves to call home. Wooden cutting boards, trash cans, behind the stove where food crumbs fall and windows and window sills in the kitchen are like heaven for mold spores.

They feed off of these places, so keeping them clean and dry is critical for keeping mold at bay. Generally speaking, your bedroom may not seem like a breeding ground for mold and, with properly controlled humidity, it may not be. All it really takes to create mold is excess moisture and something for the mold to grow on. Finding mold on your mattress is a frightening thought. If you can, invest in a mold-resistant mattress.

Otherwise, make sure your household humidity stays low and your mattress including the underside — opt for a slatted bed frame stays cool and dry. As mentioned above, windows that collect condensation due to humidity can be especially problematic in preventing mold growth.

That is, unless you dry if off regularly. The living room is no exception.