How many times have you opened the pantry and discovered moldy bread or rotting fruit? Now, imagine that same problem occurring right beneath your feet. That’s exactly what happens in many homes with a crawl space foundation, and it can significantly affect both the structure of your home and the health of those living in it. But how can you tell if mold is growing below your home?
This page answers this question and provides expert tips to help you make an informed decision for your home.
Learn more about how to find and remove toxic mold from your home and keep you and your family safe.
Mold is a living organism that requires certain conditions to grow and reproduce. These conditions are abundant in most crawl spaces and are listed here:
As you can see, your crawl space provides all of these conditions, and in places like Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, or other areas in the Tidewater Region like Maryland, humidity and warm temperatures are present nearly all year.
That’s why mold becomes a huge issue for homeowners all over Virginia and Maryland.
Perhaps the sign most associated with mold growth is musty odors.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, certain compounds called microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) are released by mold.
These compounds have strong and unpleasant smells that quickly travel up into your home. If you notice any new, musty, unpleasant smells in your home, it’s likely because mold is in your crawl space.
Do certain sections of your floor seem to bend under your feet or dip unusually low?
Well, that has to do with an accumulation of moisture below your home. Water causes wooden structures in your crawl space to become spongy and perfect for mold to feed on.
See how the floor joists are bent. Cracked, and warped in these images?
Over time, mold and moisture will break down the wooden beams and floor joists that are responsible for supporting your floor. As a result, floors around your home begin to sag; if you notice this issue, it’s probably mold.
When inhaled by people with allergies, mold has been known to cause certain symptoms similar to asthma. According to the CDC, these symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, or coughing.
Even if you don’t have allergies, mold can still cause irritation, and, in some cases, it could lead to lung inflammation, burning eyes, or a skin rash.
If you or anyone in your home seems to be experiencing these issues, mold is most likely the culprit.
Thousands of mold species exist in the world, so it isn’t realistic to go through each one here. However, mold can be categorized based on the color of its spores.
We’ll outline those differences here.
Yellow molds often arise in the dampest areas of a building. For that reason, this is the type of mold most common in crawl spaces.
Sometimes, yellow mold is called “house eating” mold because it literally feeds on wooden structures. That’s why yellow mold is the main cause of sagging floors and wood rot in many crawl spaces.
Molds that fall under this category release green colored spores. Green mold is often associated with spoiled food. However, green mold can also grow on household surfaces – specifically, the mold species known as Cladosporium.
Like all other mold types, dark and damp environments are desirable to green mold, and your crawl space is the perfect match, especially in the Tidewater Region where rain and humidity are high.
White mold often appears fuzzy and blueish white in color. Some homeowners may confuse efflorescence for white mold, but they are not the same.
Efflorescence is a powdery salt deposit that appears on stone walls – mold will spread to organic materials like wood or carpet instead.
Penicillium is a well-known type of white mold that often grows in crawl spaces in North Carolina. Like all other types of molds, white mold damages structures and may cause health problems.
Black mold has a reputation for causing serious health problems. Even though all mold types put your health at risk, black mold can be especially toxic.
Thankfully, black mold is very unlikely to grow in your crawl space unless your home experiences a huge flood or plumbing leak. However, due to the Tidewater Region’s proximity to the coast, it’s worth having your home inspected for black mold.
So, now you understand why mold grows in your crawl space, the different ways to spot it, and the various types of molds you could be dealing with.
Due to its icky nature, tackling mold in your crawl space is beneficial for a few reasons, namely:
Protecting your crawl space from mold and experiencing these benefits is possible with help from professionals.
If you work with JES, you receive full crawl space encapsulation which includes crawl space cleaning and an industry-leading air system. Your crawl space will transform just like this one.
But ultimately, for whoever you choose to do the work, make sure they are well-rated and trustworthy. Keep the information from this article in mind the next time you look around your home!
Since 1993, it has been our goal to provide homeowners with quality service, knowledge, and customer care. When you work with JES, we’ll provide you with a free estimate and crawl space inspection.
If you think mold is in your crawl space, and you’re looking for a professional team to check for you, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We’ll make sure your home stays safe, healthy, and well protected from mold for years.
JES serves homeowners across the Tidewater Region and the surrounding areas including:
Don’t see your service area? Check here.
While crawl space mold doesn’t need to cause panic, it’s still a good idea to address the issue quickly.
There is no “acceptable” level of mold in a crawl space and ignoring it could lead to structural issues or health problems – both of which are cause for worry.
While we can’t know the exact number, the humid environment native to the Tidewater Region makes mold a common occurrence in crawl spaces throughout the area.
Mold doesn’t necessarily cause sickness, but it can cause other health problems like wheezing, coughing, or allergies. In rare cases, mold could cause lung inflammation in some individuals.
