Does the Presence of Mold Always Indicate Hidden Water Damage?
Posted in Mold Removal, on February 21, 2025
The mere thought of water damage can send shivers down many homeowner’s spines. Not only can water damage in Ottawa be costly to repair, but it can also lead to mold growth. In fact, the most common cause of mold is water damage. However, finding mold doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll find any visible water damage.
For expert mold removal in Ottawa, contact the professionals at Canada's Restoration Services. We can help you effectively remove all traces of mold and accurately assess the cause to help guide you through the prevention of future mold growth.
How Water Damage Contributes to Mold Growth
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The tricky thing about mold is that it can occur just about anywhere. All it really needs to grow is moisture and a food source, which can be any organic matter like wood, fabric, soil or plants. In most homes, mold tends to grow in the basements, bathrooms and attics. As you can imagine, your bathroom tends to create a fairly humid climate as it is a closed-off space that consistently has water running. Basements and attics tend to grow mold because they are more exposed to external elements. Rain, snow and fog can all lead to a build-up of moisture in these spaces, even without any visible water damage.
How Water Damage Contributes to Mold Growth
As you can imagine, water damage brings with it plenty of moisture. Leaks and plumbing issues can cause plenty of water pooling without being visible. Similarly, any improperly sealed windows or doors can let in water without you noticing.
Once a mold spore finds itself in a wet environment, it does not take long for mold growth to occur. Long-term water exposure can lead to almost undetectable mold growth in your home. That’s why it’s so important to consistently check your pipes, sealing the foundation to make sure there is no unchecked water getting in or slipping out.
Other Causes of Mold That Aren’t Water Damage
As previously mentioned, all mold needs to grow is moisture and a food source. This is why any space in your home that experiences high humidity, like your bathroom, can lead to mold growth. Similarly, if your home has poor ventilation, it can make it difficult for moisture particles to disperse, feeding into mold growth in your home. If your appliances have experienced a leak that has left a puddle of water standing, that can encourage mold growth long before it turns into water damage. Homeowners can often find signs of mold growth, even without water damage in humid kitchens or laundry rooms. These spaces tend to see a lot of water flow, but since the appliances and faucets that pull the water are less accessible or moveable, any leaks or spills can go unnoticed for some time.
Steps to Take If You Find Mold
If you find or suspect mold in your home, it’s important to get a professional involved as soon as possible. Since mold can often grow for some time without being noticed, it can be difficult to assess how large the issue is just by seeing it. Mold is also tenacious, and the longer you go without proper mold removal in Ottawa, the bigger the risk of it continuing to grow. Keep in mind, that breathing in mold poses mild to severe health risks, including skin irritations, allergies and respiratory issues. After calling in professionals, be sure to reduce the humidity in your home as much as possible and open up as many windows as you can to promote proper ventilation in your home. This will help air out any moisture and make it easier for you to avoid breathing air that is potentially contaminated with mold.
To avoid disrupting the spores and unleashing them into the air, it’s essential that you use professional-grade equipment during your mold remediation.
Expert Mold Remediation & Prevention Services in Ottawa
Here at Canada's Restoration Services, we can help you efficiently and effectively remove all traces of mold to keep your home safe. We can help you assess the extent of the damage and guide you thorugh preventative measures to avoid this issue again in the future.
When you find mold or water damage in Ottawa, it’s crucial that you don’t wait. Contact the professionals at Canada's Restoration Services today for remediation.
