Let's talk about Mold.

What is mold at its most basic, and how does it get inside?

Mold, at its most basic, is a living organism. Mold is a part of the natural environment and is actually very beneficial in nature. The problem arises when it gets inside a structure. Mold spores are everywhere and are very abundant. Whether you leave the door or window open on a windy or even a calm day, this allows mold spores to enter the structure. Every house has mold spores present, but most of the time, they cause no issues.

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How does it grow?

Mold is part of its own classification, fungi, which includes mushrooms and yeast. Mold needs two things to grow: food and moisture. The food is abundant and everywhere, from leftover food on the counter or hiding under the stove, to dust particles covering every open space of a house. The food mold needs is never-ending; however, mold will not grow without moisture. Moisture is the key "ingredient" mold needs to grow, and this is how we can prevent mold growth in homes.

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What does it feed on?

As stated above, mold needs food, which is in the form of organics. Buildings are full of organic materials that mold can use as food, including paper, cloth, wood, plant material, and even soil. Molds secrete digestive enzymes that decompose the substrate, making nutrients available. Some molds can even digest synthetic materials such as adhesives, pastes, and paints. Because all it takes is organic material, this means mold can even grow on inorganic surfaces like concrete, glass, and metal, since dirt and dust tend to be everywhere we look.

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How can you prevent it?

Mold spores are impossible to prevent indoors. It is through controlling moisture that we can stop mold growth before it causes issues. Water and moisture can come from many, many different sources, so it's important to understand a few of them to avoid having mold become an issue.

Mold has been found to germinate, grow, and produce spores in as little as 24 hours after water damage occurs. Humidity is one easy source of moisture that can help mold grow. Indoor relative humidity (RH) should be between 20% and 40% in the winter and less than 60% the rest of the year.

Mold does not need a lot of moisture to grow. A little condensation in a bathroom or around a windowsill can be enough. Other ways moisture can help mold grow include condensation from windows, bathrooms, HVAC units, leaky faucets and toilets, sump pumps, window AC units, home humidifiers, ductwork, and leaking roofs.