Mold is pretty much everywhere. Chances are, you inhale mold spores on a regular basis. Most of them are harmless and some are even beneficial. If it wasn’t for mold, Sir Alexander Fleming would have never discovered a means to make penicillin. Think about that. Something we safeguard our homes from also contained the blueprint for one the greatest medical breakthroughs in history. Now, at this point you may feel relieved. Now need to worry about those odd smells in the bathroom or cellar, right? Well…certain forms of mold (or simply a large enough amount) can create complications. If multiple people in your household are experiencing cold-like symptoms, or allergies are flaring up during off seasons, it might be time to check around the home.

  1. The Smell

This may seem simple but it’s actually the hardest to define. The sense of smell (like taste) is largely a subjective sense (everyone’s is different). But most people agree that mold smells stale and rotten while also being wet. As if a carton of eggs were placed in a bowl of water and forgotten about for weeks. If you notice this smell when the air conditioning is running, you’ll want to consider getting your HVAC systems inspected.

  1. Ignored Leaks

On a rainy day, you climb up into the attic to get something and notice a slight drip. It’s slight, nothing big –and it’s not even dripping on anything. Just a little bit of moisture on the attic floor. Is it really worth spending the time and money (and danger) to fix something so harmless? Maybe, maybe not. But if you start to notice that smell or notice tiny black spots on the ceiling, then the leaky roof may be leading to larger problems.

  1. Deterioration

If you notice the base of your home breaking down, water stains in walls or hardwood warping into off shapes, then mold could be embedded into the walls and foundation. While all things break down in time, rapid or noticeable deterioration is a large warning sign.

  1. Health Issues

If you’re experiencing frequent flu-like symptoms. Respiratory problems or having your allergies flare up in the off-season, mold may be cause. Mold is a fungus and its spores linger in the air. When you breath those in, the results are a plethora of potential health problems. Since mold can linger in between walls, in basements and attics or even in between house floors, this is usually the first major warning sign.

So can anything be done? Well you can inspect yourself, though tearing into the crevices of your home may be required. You can also check out your local Ohio plumbers to schedule an inspection. If the damage is extensive, renovation may be required. If you’ve been meaning to remodel parts of your home, this is actually the perfect time to turn misfortune into an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.