Winter is right around the corner, and New Englanders know what that means, cold, snow, and wetness. The wet season of winter is a perfect time for mold to grow and expand in your home.

The cold weather causes many homeowners to crank up their heat but what they don’t know is turning up the thermostat can leave you at higher risk for mold growth. In the winter, we tend to close up our homes to protect them from the cold outdoors but you can be trapping in moisture and raising humidity levels as well. This humidity can dwell in homes for long periods of time. If wetness outdoors finds a way into your home you can be creating a breeding ground for mold and mildew.

Mold growth can be commonly found on the exterior of drywall sheet rock and other surfaces of rooms located on the corner of a home because they are more exposed to outdoor (colder) air. This causes a higher relative humidity levels creating conditions that will harvest mold growth during the winter months. In order to avoid high relative humidity levels, rooms should be balanced neither too moist nor too cold.

Some tips to help you avoid mold growth in the winter

• Use a dehumidify to lower moisture indoors
• Use ceiling fans in reverse to disperse air
• Keep air ducts and filters clean
• Do not allow stagnant water in your home

The crew at Mold Guys Restoration has been working hard on a large mold removal project in Foxboro MA. Tackling one of our biggest projects this year. Completing mold removal from almost the entire house including 10 rooms and the basement.

After the harsh winter we faced in Massachusetts last year, many roofs were left damaged due to the heavy impact of snow and ice, and this Foxboro home was no different. Ice dams left this home with a damaged roof which lead to leaking and water damage inside the home. The water damage quickly turned to mold and mildew in the ceilings and walls of 10 of the home’s rooms.

Ice dams are a large hump of ice that form when the roof of your home is heated and the first layer of snow melts. This causes the water to trickle down the roof and refreeze when it reaches the eaves of the roof (which are not insulated by the attic). Eventually this melting and refreezing causes a large hump of ice that can lead to roof damage. If your roof is damaged it can allow water to seep underneath the shingles and eventually drip into the wall and ceiling causing water damage in your home.

Warmer air in the attic from heating your homes is one of the main reason ice dams form. And after these ice dams damage your roof water is able to enter your home. The warm temperatures that caused the ice dams in the first place create a perfect environment for mold to grow. Mold thrives on moisture and a warm temperature and grows by feeding on the material that homes are made of. If these factors are present then mold will continue to grow, sometimes without you even knowing.

Many homes in the New England area this winter suffered from ice dams and if left untreated the water damage from the leak can turn into mold. That’s where Mold Guys Restoration comes in. If you are dealing with water damage from a leaky roof you may also be at risk for mold and mildew. Thankfully for this Foxboro resident Mold Guys Restoration was able to assess the damage and remove it completely. Check out all the before and after pictures from this renovation.

Mold can come in many different forms, shapes, sizes, colors. From black, green, white and even orange Mold Guys Restoration have seen and dealt with it all of them. Not all molds are the same and it is important to determine what type of mold is present in order to determine the relative health risk and how to best remediate the mold. The most common types of mold found in a home are Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Stachybotrys atra.

Aspergillus is an allergenic mold usually found in warm damp climates and a common occupant of house dust. This type of mold is dangerous because it produces mycotoxins a poisonous chemical compound which can lead to lung infection and aspergillosis.

Cladosporium is a common outdoor fungus that often finds its way into your home and grows on textiles, woods, and other damp porous materials. Cltypicalladosprium is typically a black or green substance that grows on painted surfaces and fiberglass air ducts.

Stachybotrys or otherwise known as black mold is extremely toxic and produces mycotoxins that can cause serious breathing difficulties and bleeding of the lungs. This mold grows on common household items such as wood or paper.

Mold in your home can be harmful to the health of you and your family. If you have any types of mold in your home call Mold Guys Restorations in East Bridgewater MA at (781)-733-3675