Mold Removal Crawl Space Information

Crawl spaces are shallow areas in between houses and the ground which they sit atop. Acting as a permanent foundation, crawl spaces can vary greatly in size and makeup. Crawl space floors could be concrete, gravel, or even dirt. The space can range between knee-deep to over four feet in depth, but usually are too small for home owners to stand upright.

Proper maintenance of a crawl space is crucial to the indoor air quality of the home or office as the environment is prone to mold growth.

Mold can grow and colonize in any dark, damp, and humid space. Because crawl spaces oftentimes are never exposed to direct sunlight and sit beneath the ground, they become dark, damp, and humid regularly.

Mold and its spores, or seeds, are found in and outdoors. However, when mold spore counts indoors exceed those of their outdoor counterparts, the indoor air quality of the home or building can cause major health risks for the inhabitants.

Spores generally travel through the air, but can attach themselves to anything including clothing, skin, hair, shoes, pets, and any other material that makes its way into the home or office. Spores will find a habitable environment to grow, causing the presence of harmful, and potentially toxic, mold colonies.

Three key steps can be taken to prevent mold growth in your crawl space. Once mold is found, a mold remediation service should be contacted.

Keep the Crawl Space Dry

Water and moisture is a major factor in mold’s ability to grow and thrive. Home and business owners may want to regularly place dehumidifiers and fans into the crawl space to dry up any potential moisture.

Home and business owners should also regularly inspect their crawl space for seepage from floor and leakage from pipes and outside sources. Standing water damage can cultivate mold after just 24 hours and should be addressed immediately.

Do Not Use the Crawl Space for Storage

Mold grows by eating and destroying any organic, porous compound it can find. This means wood, paper, drywall, fabric, rust, metal and any other organic matter can be the host for mold growth.

By not storing anything down in a crawl space, home and business owners eliminate potential hosts for the toxic fungus to feast on.

For home and business owners keen on storing items in their crawl space, regular inspections must occur to ensure mold has not overtaken their possessions.

Remove Debris and Other Elements

Mother Nature can also play a part in mold rearing its ugly head in your crawl space. Plants, roots, twigs, insects, rodents, and other animals that find their way into the crawl space can create byproducts and opportunities for mold to grow. If these things can thrive in your crawl space, so can mold.

By removing these elements from the space you will be giving the toxic fungus less incentive to grow.

What Happens When Mold is Found?

Removing mold can pose many health risks. Mold exposure can cause high fevers, congestion, lung deficiencies, skin and eye irritation, and serious infections. Patients with immune deficiencies can suffer more harmful symptoms. If you have additional questions visit our Mold Removal FAQ's page.

Mold removal should be done by certified mold contractors. The mold removal industry is governed by agencies like the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and OSHA. Highly trained mold technicians will be able to ensure that all proper guidelines and procedures are followed to ensure a safe, healthy mold removal process.

Please call SI Restoration if you need mold remediation services in Maryland or Washington DC as we service crawl space mold removal in Baltimore, Towson, Glen Burnie, Owings Mills, Columbia and the rest of Maryland and District Of Columbia.