Which Months Are the Worst for Mold and Mildew?

Mold is a fungus that flourishes in moisture and warmth. It is a naturally occurring substance, but certain types of conditions encourage its growth and spread. It isn’t generally a major problem in the natural world, but when it gets into homes and buildings—and this is fairly common during mold season in Portland, OR—it can cause substantial damage to walls, floors, ceilings and other structural elements.

Not only can mold weaken the structural integrity of a building, but it can also pose a health risk to its inhabitants. At the very least, it could cause allergy-like symptoms even in people who do not suffer from allergies. For people who already have various respiratory conditions, mold can worsen those symptoms, and it can be particularly problematic for people with compromised immune systems, seniors and young children and infants.

For these reasons, it’s important for all homeowners to know how to deal with mold should it begin to grow and spread in their homes. Part of understanding mold remediation is knowing the conditions in which it’s most likely to grow and the times of year at which it’s most likely to become an issue.

Here’s a quick overview of what you should know about the worst times of year for mold.

When is mold “in season”?

Mold generally is most common during the time of year running from early spring to the middle of fall, when the air temperature is warmer. You’ll notice particular problems with mold during the rainy season in spring, right after snow and ice thaw from the winter, and in the most humid parts of the summer.

Spring is likely to be the worst mold season for parts of the country that have higher water tables or experience heavy rains. You can almost time it with the reappearance of plants after their dormant season. Spring showers, combined with the returning warm weather, make for an ideal environment for mold to appear and spread. At this time of year, you should check your basement, crawl spaces and any unused windows or doors for possible signs of water. If your attic or basement is finished, look for signs of mold in the drywall, like sagging, cracking or unusual smells.
In other parts of the country, such as the Midwest and Southeast, summer is the worst time of year for mold growth. You’ll find it’s an especially common problem in kitchens and bathrooms, because they’re already likely to have high humidity. This is why it’s so important to have good ventilation in these spaces.

Air conditioning can help you reduce the humidity in your home, but if the drain is poorly maintained or the air conditioning unit is older, you might deal with some leaking that could result in mold forming anyway, even after the air is conditioned.

Be sure to maintain weather sealing around doors and windows, and regularly check your AC drain to make sure it’s working properly.

For more information about “mold season” and the steps you can take for <a href=”/” title=”mold removal”>mold removal</a> in Portland, OR, contact the team at Active Mold Control LLC today.

Categorised in: Mold Remediation

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