You may not think about your crawl space much but you should. If you have a crawl space in your home you need to know that it one of those places mold likes to grow. Crawl spaces tend to be dark, moist and stagnant, the perfect environment for mold.
To avoid extensive crawl space mold remediation you must be diligent and look out for the signs of mold. The sooner you find the mold the smaller the infestation will be. For best early detection you should inspect your homes crawl space at least once a year. The best prevention for crawl space mold may not be increasing the ventilation. Instead some homeowners are electing to seal the area off, airtight.
Your annual visual mold inspection of your crawl space should include inspecting all surfaces and framing including the ceiling. If there is insulation in the crawl space use proper handling precautions and pull some insulation out just enough to see underneath it. Look for molds and any dampness.
If you suspect mold you can have it tested yourself or call in a mold remediation specialist. If you test for mold your self you can buy the test kit at the home improvement store or order it online. In the box there will be directions and some type of swab. Follow the directions. Swab the area you believe is mold and send in the swab for analysis.
The type of mold needs to be identified in order to create the correct mold remediation protocol. Once the type of mold is determined your crawl space mold remediation can begin. Figure out why the area has a problem with humidity. When the mold remediation process is complete you must take measures to keep the space from becoming moldy again.
You may need to improve the areas ventilation or improve drainage to prevent the mold from coming back. There is very little mold growth when the ambient humidity is less than 70%. The floor of your crawl space may need to be re-graded or installing a dehumidifier may solve the problem. Another option is encapsulation. This process seals off the area so no moisture can get in.
To avoid extensive crawl space mold remediation you must be diligent and look out for the signs of mold. The sooner you find the mold the smaller the infestation will be. For best early detection you should inspect your homes crawl space at least once a year. The best prevention for crawl space mold may not be increasing the ventilation. Instead some homeowners are electing to seal the area off, airtight.
Your annual visual mold inspection of your crawl space should include inspecting all surfaces and framing including the ceiling. If there is insulation in the crawl space use proper handling precautions and pull some insulation out just enough to see underneath it. Look for molds and any dampness.
If you suspect mold you can have it tested yourself or call in a mold remediation specialist. If you test for mold your self you can buy the test kit at the home improvement store or order it online. In the box there will be directions and some type of swab. Follow the directions. Swab the area you believe is mold and send in the swab for analysis.
The type of mold needs to be identified in order to create the correct mold remediation protocol. Once the type of mold is determined your crawl space mold remediation can begin. Figure out why the area has a problem with humidity. When the mold remediation process is complete you must take measures to keep the space from becoming moldy again.
You may need to improve the areas ventilation or improve drainage to prevent the mold from coming back. There is very little mold growth when the ambient humidity is less than 70%. The floor of your crawl space may need to be re-graded or installing a dehumidifier may solve the problem. Another option is encapsulation. This process seals off the area so no moisture can get in.
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