Mold is a colored fungus that smells musty and thrives in wet environments. It is most commonly caused by a lack of maintenance and repairs or a humid climate. Mold is also common following water damage, especially in the case of standing water.
Property owners should take precautionary steps to control moisture and prevent mold growth. Once you identify mold in your commercial building, it’s important to begin prompt remediation. In this article, we’ll discuss the signs of mold, its consequences, and, most importantly, how to prevent it.
How to Spot Mold
Mold is a fungus that can grow anywhere in the right conditions. With over 100,000 mold species in existence, it’s not always easy to identify them. However, there are some signs of the presence of mold, including the following:
- Warped walls or floorboards
- Musty smells
- Sudden onset of allergy symptoms
- Stained walls or ceilings
- Damp spots on furniture or floors
Mold growth most commonly occurs on surfaces following water damage or in environments with a lot of moisture. Indoor mold growth may occur on most building materials, including walls, drywall, wood, and insulation. You may even notice a mold infestation on furniture or wallpaper.
Also, it’s important to note mold growth can occur behind walls or underneath floorboards, making it even more difficult to identify. Any time a commercial building has leaky plumbing, high humidity, or previous or existing water damage, a mold problem is possible.
Why You Should Prevent Mold Growth
Preventing mold growth should be a priority to protect your tenant’s health and the structural integrity of your building. Mold is dangerous and can potentially lead to both health and structural risks.
Mold Health Hazards
Mold in a commercial building can be extremely dangerous. Mold exposure can reduce your business’s indoor air quality, leading to a series of health issues, including allergic reactions, asthma symptoms, headaches, or breathing difficulties. Physically touching mold without proper protection can lead to skin irritation.
Left untreated, mold can even damage your building’s structural integrity. For example, it can cause structural damage, such as decayed wood. Some mold types are even more dangerous and toxic, especially black mold. Toxic mold can lead to intensified respiratory symptoms, dangerous infections, and even permanent damage.
How to Prevent Mold Growth in Commercial Buildings
It’s much easier to prevent mold growth than it is to remove mold. Preventing mold growth includes monitoring humidity levels, completing regular building inspections, regular maintenance, and if you suspect mold, working with certified professionals.
Monitor Indoor Humidity
Mold thrives in wet, humid conditions, so the best way to prevent mold is to avoid a moist environment. High humidity leads to damp environments due to condensation, and any time moisture accumulates on building materials, there’s a risk of mold growth. Most commonly, though, mold is present in areas warmer than 70° Fahrenheit.
It’s a good idea to regularly monitor your levels and use a device to maintain low indoor humidity. You can do this using a hygrometer — a special tool that measures the air’s humidity level or moisture content. Ideally, your building’s indoor humidity should be between 40% and 60%.
Also, you can remedy uncontrolled humidity by increasing the surface temperature in your commercial building, and the best way to do this is to increase air circulation. Ensure good ventilation or use a dehumidifier if the outdoor air is too warm. To decrease high moisture buildup, you can also use air conditioners, insulation, or storm windows. However, it’s also important to ensure any devices you use aren’t adding to the moisture problem. Finally, make sure to vent moisture-generating appliances.
Perform Regular Inspections
Regular inspections can help you prevent mold or identify mold growth before it worsens. It’s important to inspect the areas of the property most prone to water damage. High moisture can come from leaky pipes, roof leaks, landscaping issues, improper installation of building unvented combustion appliances, or poorly placed gutter lines redirecting water below the commercial building.
Keeping up with regular inspections of your indoor environment gives you the opportunity to solve moisture problems before they become dangerous or expensive.
Buildings built before the 1990s may require more repairs and inspections to prevent moisture buildup. This is because construction practices between the 1970s and 1990s didn’t prioritize air quality as much as they do today. If your commercial property was built during these times, it’s possible that it may lack adequate ventilation or have pipes that are not currently flowing properly. The good news is that modern buildings and today’s building practices have improved.
Make Repairs
Mold problems most commonly occur from leaking roofs, cracked foundations, unsealed windows and door frames, poor property maintenance, or following water damage, such as flooding. Recent renovations or repairs that don’t account for good ventilation can also lead to humidity problems. Without proper moisture control, you can expect mold growth.
Prompt building repairs are essential to preventing mold. Repair leaks as quickly as possible and always promote good air circulation. Don’t let foundations stay wet, and ensure they have proper flow exits away from your building. In addition to making necessary repairs, responding to flooding or water damage as quickly as possible is crucial to avoiding a mold problem.
Moreover, ongoing maintenance is just as important as fast repairs when it comes to mold control. Insufficient maintenance can eventually cause the foundation to crack, the plumbing lines to leak, or the roof to take on too much water.
Prevent Mold Spores From Spreading
Mold spores are tiny cells invisible to the human eye that travel through the air. They’re found in outdoor and indoor air and quickly spread from one area to another.
One of the fastest ways mold spores move is through your commercial building’s air conditioning. Make sure you keep up with regular HVAC system inspections and cleanings. This will improve indoor air quality and help prevent excess moisture. You can also change out the system’s air filters regularly and keep drip pans clean.
Finally, if mold does get into your HVAC system or air ducts, immediately turn it off and contact a professional remediation company. Thorough cleaning of all HVAC ducts is a must to avoid the further spread of these dangerous pollutants. However, mold removal always requires professional services, as without proper remediation, mold spores are likely to return.
Use Mold Resistant Materials and Paint
Some commercial buildings are naturally prone to moisture problems, making mold prevention strategies even more important. For example, mold-resistant paint can help with preventing mold growth, as it contains antimicrobial properties that don’t allow mold spores to grow.
Some materials are also more resistant to mold, including special drywall. Building materials treated with EPA-registered fungicides help control moisture and mold growth. However, it’s important to note that mold-resistant materials should never be used to cover up existing mold. Mold spores will spread once they’re present, and they can quickly contaminate the entire HVAC system.
Hire a Professional Mold Remediation Company
Timely mold prevention is the best way to avoid expensive, dangerous pollutants from taking over your building. Calling in a professional mold remediation company as quickly as possible following flooding or other water damage is the best way to prevent moisture and mold in commercial buildings.
If you have already noticed mold in your commercial building, the next best thing you can do is take action now. You need professional mold remediation to limit financial and health risks. Call PacWest Restoration today at 503-746-6546 or contact us online to protect your business from dangerous mold.
