4 Factors That Lead to Mold Growth

With warmer weather and summer storms, keeping the humidity down in your basement can seem impossible. High levels of humidity in your basement creates the perfect environment for mold to grow.

Mold requires four main factors to grow and unfortunately 3 of them are very common in basements and crawlspaces.

1. Spores

Spores are the seeds of mold. They are the first factor for mold growth to start. They are also relatively impossible to stop from entering your home. They are microscopic, they are everywhere and all over the air we breathe. Mold spores are impossible to eliminate from a home due to the fact they are so difficult to detect.

2. Organic Material

Organic materials are the primary choice of food for mold. So you should just get rid of all organic materials in your home right? Well, that's not possible. Almost all homes are built with organic materials such as wood, paper, cardboard, insulation, etc. Midwest Basement Systems offers inorganic basement material that will not allow mold growth – but the majority of basements are built with organic materials.

3. Temperature Control

Unfortunately for us, mold can grow in temperatures ranging from 32° - 100°. This is also the temperature we like to live in. So unless you want to live in a freezing cold or blistering hot home, temperature control isn't really an option for mold prevention.

4. Water and Humidity Control

This is the key to combating mold growth and keeping you and your family healthy. It is important to identify how and where water is entering your basement and then finding a solution to that problem spot. Depicted above is the Vapor Barrier Shield - designed to prevent moisture from entering your basement. 

It is highly recommended you have a professional come and help you with your mold issues. Improper cleanup or preventative maintenance of mold growth can often times worsen the problem. For instance, cleaning with bleach(people's favorite DIY solution) leaves behind a residue that is a breeding ground for even more mold.

The only way to completely get rid of mold is to properly prevent an environment where mold can grow or if you already have mold to remove the moldy materials and then create an environment where mold can't grow. Inorganic basement products, SaniDry Dehumidifiers, as well as products like vapor barriers and other wall products are great ways to create this type of environment.