Removing Mold Behind The Walls From Your House

Mold is a common problem in homes, particularly in areas with high humidity or that have experienced water damage. It can grow on a variety of surfaces, including walls, ceilings, and flooring, and if left unchecked, it can cause significant damage to your home and even pose health risks to you and your family. One area that can be particularly challenging to address is mold growing behind the walls of your house. In this article, we’ll discuss how to identify and safely remove mold behind the walls of your home. Whether you’re dealing with a small patch of mold or a larger infestation, following these steps can help you effectively address the problem and prevent it from returning in the future.

Removing Mold – What Causes Mold?

As with many other organisms, mold requires food, water, oxygen, and ideal temperatures to grow and survive. Once one, tiny mold spore finds these ultimate growing conditions, mold will begin to develop and spread rapidly within 24-48 hours. Mold can actively attach to, and grow, on any organic material, including small pieces of dust. When it comes to mold in the home, however, it is mostly found in areas of stagnant water or areas that have excess moisture. 

 5 common causes of mold in the home:

Excess and Continual Humidity 

Ensure your humidity levels don’t exceed 50% and your house is properly ventilated to reduce a build-up of moisture and humidity.

Leaking Pipes or Roof 

One of the most common causes of mold behind walls in the home is a leaking pipe or roof. Slow leaks, especially, can go unnoticed and cause a buildup of moisture and mold behind your walls and ceilings.

Damp Clothing or Towels 

As mentioned above, it only takes 24-48 hours for mold to begin to develop in your home – so when you leave your damp towel on the floor after a shower and forget about it until the next day – there’s a good chance the process of mold growth has already begun!

Home Flooding 

If your home has recently had any type of flooding and it wasn’t dealt with by a professional, there’s good chance water is lurking in unseen areas, behind walls or ceilings, and mold is likely developing right under your nose.

Foundation Dampness 

If you’ve noticed water that isn’t being properly drained around the exterior of your home, eventually, this water will begin to seep into your foundation, creating damp pockets behind your walls and, in turn, causing mold to unknowingly develop.

Mold Removal: A Look Behind The Walls Just because you can’t see mold doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Most sources of mold in the home are hidden behind walls, floors, or ceilings. Fortunately, though, even if mold is hidden, you’ll likely start seeing some signs that it’s there.

Here are 3 signs that there may be mold lurking behind your walls: 

1. Water stains, dark rings, or discoloration of drywall likely means there is stagnant water lying behind your walls, which will quickly turn into mold.
2. Mold can be black, brown, white, grey, or green, so if you start to see these weird colors pop up inside crevices or baseboards, probably the mold starts to creep out.
3. A musty smell in your home is usually a sure sign of mold lurking behind your walls or ceilings.

Here are some steps you can follow to remove mold from your house walls:

1. Identify the source of the moisture that is causing the mold to grow. This could be a leaky roof, plumbing issue, or high humidity in the room. Fixing the source of the moisture is crucial in preventing the mold from returning.
2. Protect yourself by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), including goggles, gloves, and a mask. Mold can be harmful to inhale, so it’s important to take precautions.
3. Contain the area by closing off any doorways or vents leading to the moldy room, and cover any furniture or items in the room with plastic to prevent the spread of spores.
4. Remove the moldy material. Depending on the extent of the damage, this may involve removing drywall, plaster, or other building materials. Be sure to dispose of the moldy materials safely, as they can continue to release spores if not properly handled.
5. Clean and disinfect the affected area. Use a mixture of water and a mold-killing solution to scrub the surface, and then allow it to dry completely.
6. Repair any damage caused by the mold. This may involve replacing drywall, repainting, or replacing damaged materials.
7. Monitor the area for any new signs of mold growth. Regularly check for leaks and address any moisture issues promptly to prevent future mold outbreaks.

It’s important to note that if the mold infestation is large or if you are not comfortable handling the removal process yourself, it may be best to hire a professional mold remediation company. They have the experience and equipment necessary to safely and effectively remove the mold and prevent it from returning.