Most people work hard to keep their home free from pests of all sorts, especially mold. But, we have bad news. Mold is the fungus among us, and you might be wondering “does my home have mold?” Yes, it probably does. In fact, a 2003 University of Arizona study found that 100 percent of homes have mold (just not the dangerous kinds). Take a deep breath, don’t panic, just because your home has a little mold somewhere doesn’t mean you need to call in the experts. However, you need to know when to act on the moldy incursion.

Recognize the symptoms

There are countless types of molds, some bad, and others not so much. Each one will react differently in your home and will affect you differently. Knowing the signs and symptoms is an excellent way to know if bad mold is actively attacking your house.

Symptom 1: Coughing and Sneezing

If it’s allergy season, then don’t fret if you’re sneezing. The problem should only raise concerns if it’s not allergies or if your symptoms always get better when you leave the house. While these signs don’t directly point to a mold invasion, it may be worthwhile to take a second look at your home.

Symptom 2: Suspicious Smells

Does your home have a lingering smell? It’s a musky, damp odor that seems to permeate everything. It’s time to investigate. Start looking in common places mold likes to hide like in traditionally damp rooms (i.e., bathroom, washroom, and kitchen).

Symptom 3: Visible Mold

The most obvious symptom is seeing mold on your walls, under a rug or on the floor. Look for signs of discoloration in the wood around your home. If you had water damage at any point, look for places where wood and paint have warped or bubbled up. If you can see it, you may just be seeing the tip of the iceberg as there may be much more that you can’t see. This is the symptom that should prompt calling the experts.

Don’t Panic

If you have mold, then it’s time to act. Ignoring it won’t make the problem go away. So it’s time to call in the experts to assess the situation. Most importantly make fixing the issue a priority. The longer you wait, the worse the problem will get.

Call a tester

A mold tester might check the air, the surface or both. The most common method to test the air is using a "spore trap,” which work by having a known volume of air impact a sticky surface to trap and test the spores. Samples of a surface might include physically removing the sampled area and sending it for testing, swabbing the surface or using tape to pull spores from the surface.

Call your insurance

You’ll need to report a suspected mold infestation quickly to your insurance company to start a claim. Record all the conversations and take notes. Also take photos, videos and spend some time reviewing your insurance policy. You also need to provide your insurance company with detailed information as to damages, what happened, and what prevention and clean-up you've done.

Call mold removal

Here’s where we come into the picture. Sooner Cleaning + Restoration is trained and ready to find the source of the water feeding the mold and remediate the mold in your home or business.

Future Proof Your Home From Mold

Here are some steps you can take in the future to prevent any moldy outbreaks.

Clean any moldy surfaces as soon as you spot them.
Make sure your carpets are clean.
Have your heating/cooling systems professionally cleaned regularly.
Use a dehumidifier or Air Conditioner.
Make sure bathroom fans and dryers are properly vented to the outside.
Try to avoid carpeting bathroom and basement areas.
Regularly clean moist areas.
Remove any moist spots.

Keep Our Number Nearby

We do more than just mold removal. We offer several services to keep your home or office clean and safe like water restoration, dryer vent cleaning, air duct cleaning, chimney cleaning and carpet and rug cleaning. Are you worried about mold in your home? Give us a call at 405-329-8999, so we can put your mind at ease with a plan to tackle the problem.