How quickly does mold come back? Do they really return after remediation? Let’s dig into the facts.
For people dealing with mold issues, one of the common questions that get asked is the possibility of mold returning after successful treatment.
There have been several situations of mold growth reoccurring after initial treatment has been performed. Several reasons can be given for such a situation.
If you’ve experienced such in the past or currently do, you’ll want to know the causes.
For homeowners who haven’t but are afraid of experiencing a return of mold problems, the information here can be the little difference you need to turn the tide.
As you read on, you’ll find this article highly informative.
Can Mold Come Back After Remediation?
The possibility of mold problems returning after a remediation procedure is performed is likely.
Note the emphasis on the problem being likely to repeat itself. Mold return after treatment mostly occurs when underlying issues that led to the earlier growth of mold aren’t addressed.
It’s common knowledge that mold growth is promoted by moisture presence. As long as there’s moisture or humidity within your home, you’re likely to face mold issues even after initial treatment.
Your mold issues will have to be comprehensively dealt with to have any real results with your outcomes.
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Some Moisture Conditions are Easier to Resolve than Others
Due to moisture being a major determinant of mold growth, it’s logical to say with its absence, there won’t be a repeat of mold growth.
Now, certain moisture problems like broken pipes can be fixed much easier compared to a situation when your home is situated in a moisture-prone area.
Once the leaky pipe or plumbing is fixed, it no longer lets out water. So, a previous mold issue that was brought about by your leaky pipes is unlikely to return after having your plumbing issues resolved.
On the other hand, you might face a potential return of the mold problem when your home is located in a moisture-prone area.
With moisture-prone areas, you could have high water levels which become worse during the rainy season. There are also cases where water springs are identified below a house.
Here, unless adequate moisture management techniques are adopted, you may be faced with a recurring mold problem.
Moisture Problems Get Worse in Rainy Season
In a bid to figure out how to prevent mold re-growth, it’s vital to consider increased moisture conditions as a real threat to your mold remediation efforts. For example, a moisture-prone area might seem okay in dry weather conditions but begins to manifest during the wet or rainy season.
During such times, there’s a general water table rise which is likely to aggravate your moisture conditions. For instance, the spring located beneath your home tends to add a lot of moisture to your structure. Without an adequate moisture control system in your basement, you’re likely to experience a recurring mold problem.
Similar to basements, crawlspaces get a great deal of moisture presence in wet seasons. A crawlspace that isn’t encapsulated at all or not properly encapsulated is likely to have mold growing back again even after a remediation procedure earlier performed.
A Comprehensive Mold Remediation Process is Necessary
Comprehensive mold remediation isn’t only about removing mold. Such extends to actions like controlling moisture presence within the area.
This broad-based approach does a lot in terms of preventing future mold growth. This requires a detailed treatment plan and is best performed by a trained and licensed mold remediation contractor.
A wide range of possible solutions is recommended by the expert. These include installing moisture management systems like sump pumps in basements, as well as encapsulating crawlspaces.
Proper venting of moisture-prone spaces is another recommendation that may be given by the experts.
Coupled with actual mold removal, such combined efforts go a long way in preventing a repeat of the problem. Also, the extent of mold remediation matters. Experts will always advise homeowners on the best course of action.
However, the steps taken will be determined by your budget.
With Mold Growth, it’s all About Moisture
If you’ve seen mold issues returning after initial treatment, is likely due to moisture presence. Moisture plays a major role in determining your mold situation.
So, a comprehensive strategy will require taking a look at the moisture source and having it fixed. This might require more work, but is a necessary action aimed at getting desired results.
The placement of moisture control systems around the most vulnerable spots will help your mold situation. Dehumidifiers are great moisture control appliances that help in this regard.
Is DIY Mold Control Advisable?
Recurring mold issues are more serious than they seem on the surface. If you have to deal with mold problems every few months, chances are that you’re not fixing the main problem.
In other words, the moisture source may be neglected or avoided while focusing on the effects represented by mold growth.
This is what applies when adopting DIY mold removal. Here, the expertise required for a comprehensive resolution of the problem is lacking. You might not have the training or skills necessary to get to the root cause of the problem.
Such an ineffective approach may lead to your mold problem worsening.
This is where experts tend to give better outcomes. Calling a team of mold remediation experts does a lot in terms of fixing the problem once and for all.
Plus, competent mold removal services come with warranties. This means you can have a recurring problem addressed at no added cost when the initial treatment provided isn’t effective.
Ask a Professional
No one gives better advice than experts or professionals worth their salt.
Also, the advice given by mold remediation experts is unique to your situation. After visiting your home and inspecting the mold problem, they determine its extent as well as the causal factors.
Definite remediation procedures are drawn out for execution.
By discussing with such experts, you get an in-depth understanding of what led to the problem and how the mold issue can be resolved once without the need for repeat treatments.
We’ve seen that mold issues are likely to return when the causes or underlying problems aren’t addressed. For the most part, moisture presence is responsible for repeated mold growth presence.
A comprehensive approach is required to fix the problem.
