Your home is your biggest investment and probably your most prized possession. This is where you spend most of your time and your home should be your sanctuary. If there is one place in the world that you should feel confident and relaxed it should be in your own home.
However, this is going to be hard to do if your home is lingering with horrendous odors. Air quality is not only important for your peace of mind but it also important for the overall health of you and your family. It is possible that some of the musty smells that you are smelling are coming from mold or other harmful toxins. Of course, getting rid of these musty smells is going to be much harder than one might imagine and might even require the assistance of a professional.
Why Does The Home Smell Musty?
If your home of clothing is being plagued by a musty smell there is a good chance that you are dealing with mold or mildew somewhere. It is true that the lack of ventilation or high levels of humidity is oftentimes the number one cause of mold or mildew, but it is not the only cause.
When most people hear the term musty they often think about an old library or an old that has been evacuated for years. Well, you need to know that mold and mildew can literally grow anywhere. It is even commonly found in modern homes. All that mold needs to grow and this is mold spores, a surface to grow on, warmth, darkness, oxygen, and moisture.
Moisture is the most important ingredient of all. When you combine all the other environmental elements with condensations, moisture, or leaking water the outcome will be mold. When mold forms it will release gasses that are known a microbial volatile organic compound (MVOCs). It is these gasses that are giving off that musty smell in the home. Mildew works in a similar manner and releases similar gasses. That is why mildew can also produce that musty smell in the home.
What Is Mildew?
Both mold and mildew are going to produce chemicals that give off a musty smell, but neither of them is going to be good for your health. Breathing these chemicals for long periods of time can produce adverse health effects. That being said, you still need to be aware of the fact that mold and mildew are two different beasts.
If it is put in simple terms mildew is basically just a term that is used to describe a type of mold or fungus. It usually is a type of mold or fungus that grows flat and remains on a material’s surface. Mildew will oftentimes thrive in areas where moisture levels are at their highest like on shower walls and windowsills. Luckily, mildew can easily be tackled and doesn’t require a professional for removal. Just make sure that you are wearing a face mask and keeping the area well ventilated when you are cleaning.
What Is Mold?
If you are an avid news enthusiast there is a good chance that you have heard some kind of raving about the dangers of mold exposure. And, these are true, but what you really need to know is that there are a variety of different types of mold.
Mold is a type of fungi just like mildew, but it usually presents itself with a raised texture that expands outward. Fungi is something that is widely found throughout the world. It can be found in some of the food that you eat like mushrooms. It is found in the yeast that makes bread rise. Some types of mold are even used to make medicine. In fact, penicillin is a life-saving antibiotic and it contains mold. However, mold can also be harmful.
Mold is not unlike mildew in the fact that it thrives in damp, dimly-lit areas. Indoors it is oftentimes found in attics, basements, crawlspaces, and bathrooms. It will also be present in any place that is exposed to continuous leaking water.
How That Musty Smell Affects Your Home And Health
Most people probably already know from the ubiquitous news reports that mold can be hazardous to their health, but they don’t know that it can also be harmful to their homes. That’s right when left untreated for long periods of time mold and mildew can cause structural damage to the home and the content in it.
However, one unique thing that the CDC recently reported was that mold environments do not always cause health symptoms. However, there are times when exposure to moldy environments could cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, or eye and skin irritations.
There are some people that have mold sensitivities and when they are exposed to mold they will be greatly affected. Even people with asthma could have asthma attacks when exposed to the stuff.
How To Start Getting Rid Of That Musty Odor
You learned earlier that the most common reason for that musty smell in the home is because there is a presence of mold or mildew. However, it should also be known that these microbial volatile organic compounds emitted from mold and mildew have a low odor threshold.
This means that just because you are smelling that musty smell it doesn’t mean that there is a lot of mold or mildew present. In fact, just a small patch could give off an extremely strong scent. That being said if you want to get rid of that odor once and for all, you are going to have to find the source.
In the bathroom, you will want to check the most obvious places like the shower tiles, under the sink, and around the toilet. There are a lot of places in the kitchen where mold can hide and you will want to make sure that you are checking them all. Check under the cabinets, under the sink, under the refrigerator, inside the microwave, and even in the stove. In the living room, you will want to check the windows, furniture, and the fireplace if you have one.
Getting Professional Remediation Companies To Check The Basement And Garage
Checking the basement, crawlspace, and garage areas are going to be much more difficult than checking around the inside of the home and this will probably require the assistance of a mold remediation company. The company will have to check in the insulation, around the water heater and furnace, around the vents near the laundry room, kitchen, and bathroom.
They will also have to check in areas where condensation is present. And, they will have to check in any other damp areas. Gaining access to these places might not be as easy as one might think this is why hiring a professional crew that is used to maneuvering around in these areas are your best option.
Understanding Mold Remediation
Even if you are able to locate the mold on your own it will take a professional to remove it. And, that is because when the mold is disturbed it will release even more harmful spores. Mold is actually safer sitting in place than it is in motion.
Mold remediation is the process of removing mold and repairing mold-related damage in your home. This whole process is complex and must be done extremely carefully on other to prevent further exposure. Mold might be able to be removed safely from material like bathtubs and tiles as long as the surfaces as disinfected. However, when it comes materials like wood, drywall, or carpet this will take the assistance of a trained professional.
Mold In The Air Conditioner And Ductwork
You air conditioning unit and ductwork are a breeding ground for mold. Due to the fact that both are exposed to humidity and moisture, they are often times the number one cause of musty smells in the home. Once again, confirming this and removing the mold from these areas will require the assistance of a duct cleaning company.
Not only will they need to remove the mold from the unit and ductwork, but they will have to sanitize and clean the entire system. This oftentimes requires disassembling the blower wheel, cleaning the coils, cleaning the vents, and cleaning the registers. These duct cleanings professional will clean all these surfaces with microbial chemicals that are specifically designed to kill mold spores.
Finding An Air Duct Cleaning Company In Dallas TX
Due to the warm environment of Dallas TX residents are at more of a risk of finding mold in their HVAC units. And, this is because the units run in the air conditioning stage most of the time. These conditions increase the chances of mold growth.
This is why it will be imperative to find a quality company that will not only be able to identify the mold but one that can remove it effectively and safely. When looking for companies make sure you choose ones that are licensed, certified, insured, and offer a money back guarantee. Ducts Pro providing mold remediation services in Dallas Texas and can help you with every mold and mildew smell in your home
