There are lots of benefits to having carpeted floors in your home: energy-saving warmth, decor aesthetics, low maintenance, reduction of falls, and overall comfort. Carpet can also be help to trap dust and allergens until vacuumed, which can be easier on your respiratory system versus kicking up contaminants from wood and laminate floors into the air you and your family breathe.
Yet, for all of carpet’s advantages, it does come with one big negative–mold.
How Does Carpeting Grow Mold?
Mold spores are all around you, even if they’re so small they’re invisible to the naked eye. When these mold spores land on a damp surface, they only need oxygen and an organic food source to turn in a moldy mess. When carpet gets wet–due to a spill, an open window during a storm, a ceiling leak, or a flood–it can become a breeding ground for mold and mildew thanks to all that trapped dust, pet dander, and other contaminants acting as its organic food source. If the carpet remains damp for a period of time, the mold will keep on multiplying.
Moldy Carpet Signs
If your carpet has gotten wet and was not completely dry within 48 hours, you may have a carpet mold situation on your hands. Look for signs of discoloration or visible mold growth (which can be spotty or fuzzy in appearance).
However, if you can’t see any mold, that doesn’t mean it’s not there. It may be difficult to spot mold on your carpet the way you can when it appears on bathroom walls or in a container of forgotten food in the fridge. The color and texture of the carpet may camouflage any evidence of carpet mold. Additionally, the carpet itself may be fine but the padding beneath may have gotten wet and was unable to dry completely due to lack of airflow. Before you know it, mold is growing from the bottom up.
If you can’t see it, rely on your nose to the lead the way. Musty odors can be a good indicator of carpet mold.
Preventing and Removing Carpet Mold
Carpet mold prevention is as simple as keeping your carpeted floors dry. That may mean not carpeting areas of your home that are more humid, such as in basements, bathrooms, or laundry rooms. If these areas are carpeted, consider running a dehumidifier to reduce the amount of moisture in the air.
If water seeps into your carpeting because of a water leak or flooding, water will first need to be extracted by a professional water damage restoration company, such as Lamunyon Dry Out & Foundation Repair and then dried. Air movers and dehumidifiers are set up to completely dry the area and water damage technicians will monitor the area until moisture levels meet or beat the industry standards. Keep in mind that some carpet and padding may not be salvageable and will need to be replaced. If water isn’t fully removed and the area properly dried, mold will grow.
If the mold is not remedied or if it covers an extensive area of your carpet or carpet padding, consider hiring a mold remediation professional, such as Lamunyon Dry Out & Foundation Repair, to avoid negative health risks to you and your family. A professional cleaning may clear up the problem, or you may need to replace the flooring to create a safe environment free of mold.
Mold Services by Lamunyon
If you have been the victim of any sort of water damage problem, there is always the risk of mold growth during the time between when the damage was caused, when it was located, and when the restoration service was performed. While the mold may not be apparent immediately, over time it is known to cause medical problems as well as odors in the location. Whether the water damage occurred in a residential setting or at a commercial location, it is important that experts be bough in to provide comprehensive mold testing and inspection services. If your location is determined to have mold present, mold remediation services must be performed to remove the mold and prevent more growth in the future.
There are many places where mold can grow in a building. Lamunyon Cleaning and Restoration Services has a team that specializes in the testing, inspection, and ultimate remediation of mold in locations that it is commonly found after a water disaster. We proudly provide mold services in Manhattan, Clay Center, Salina, Junction City, McPherson, Great Bend, and Topeka Kansas.
