Mold is considered a homeowner’s worst nightmare because of its pungent odor and high costs of remediation. It can start as a small growth on your walls and other damp places before it becomes a major problem. You will have to put in a lot of effort to eliminate mold once it gains a foothold in your home. Mold requires moisture, a food source, and the right temperature to grow. It is quite difficult to tackle carpet mold since it remains hidden for a long time before growing in large numbers. Mold in carpet is usually caused by insufficient ventilation, flooding, or liquid spills that were not taken care of. Here are five signs that you have mold in your carpet.
- Musty Odor
If you feel a musty odor within the vicinity of your carpet, it is a definite indication of mold festering in a damp and enclosed environment. If you spend most of the time in your home, you might find it difficult to notice the pungent odor arising from your carpet. However, this situation worsens over time as the moldy smell becomes stronger every time you walk into your house. Visitors or family members who have been away for some time are more likely to comment on a musty odor, which is a direct sign of mold growth underneath your carpets.
- Allergy Reactions
People that are allergic to mold or have compromised immune systems may display mold symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and runny nose. When you inhale or ingest the mold spores present in the air, your system reacts to the foreign materials present in your body. Symptoms of mold exposure such as sneezing or runny nose may worsen if you spend time in a particular room. If all the floors and walls in your home look clean, it is important to do a thorough inspection of the carpet since mold could be hiding underneath.
- Discoloration on Your Carpet
You may start to notice black, green or white growth on your carpet once the mold growth has reached an advanced stage. The patches assume different shapes and colors and can sometimes appear in various shades of green. The different colors are usually caused by the multiplication of the mold colony on your carpet. In situations where you see visible mold growth on your carpet, there is nothing much that can be done to make it clean again. The best way to deal with this problem is to replace your carpet and cut off any sources of moisture in your house.
- Damp Carpet
A damp carpet is prone to mold invasion because it creates a perfect environment for existence. A carpet can remain damp if it was exposed to water for some time and was not dried out. It can also be caused by failure to dry it out completely after a thorough cleaning. As long as it contains some little amount of water or moisture, it is likely to cause mold growth. The type of material underneath the carpet can also trap excess heat that causes moisture to build up when the temperatures are low. Over time, space underneath the carpet becomes damp leading to mold invasion.
- Old Padding
If the padding underneath your carpet is degraded, it is most likely that your carpet has seen better days and that it is time you got yourself a new one. Over time, the padding grimes the ground in itself and gets dirty, creating a perfect spot for mold growth. This may worsen if you experience flooding or frequent spills on the carpet. The material used also determines the life expectancy of the padding. When replacing your carpet, it is important to replace the padding to avoid any chances of recurring mold.
When replacing the padding, it is advisable to replace your carpet too to minimize the chances of recurring mold. For instance, an old carpet that has been affected by mold needs to be replaced since no cleaning procedure can get rid of the mold completely. If your carpet is still new but has encountered some sort of flooding, it is important to clean it thoroughly and give it time to dry off before taking it back to the house. Carpets can last for a long time with the right kind of maintenance and care. However, you need to replace them when they cannot be salvaged or no longer serve their purpose. If you are still not sure whether to replace your carpet or not, then you need to reach out to a professional for assistance.