Is Bathroom Mold Common In The Home?
Just about every home experiences mold in the bathroom due to the nature of moisture and running water needed in the bathroom. Fortunately, many bathroom molds like those that form in the dark corner of your shower, aren’t present in large enough quantities to affect the indoor air quality because they are removed each time the bathroom is thoroughly cleaned with the proper products. However when bathroom mold on the ceiling or walls causes damage to your home, or family members start experiencing health problems from the mold on the sink, around the toilet, or in the shower, it’s best to enlist the help of the professional mold remediation team at MSR Restoration.
What Causes Bathroom Mold?
Bathroom mold is very common because this part of the home is the source of nearly all leaks and moisture problems. There is a lot of potential for poor or failing seals and connections in a bathroom, especially those found around any pipes or drains for the sink, toilet, and shower. Homes in climates with high humidity or cold winters have problems with mold on the bathroom walls when the condensation from showers comes into contact with these cool surfaces.
When To Be Concerned About Bathroom Mold?
Because bathroom mold is so common, it’s important to know when you need to take serious action against it. If you notice excessively high relative humidity levels or elevated moisture levels in your home, then mold will grow faster. This can happen when the bathroom ventilation fans have failed or are not working properly. When you notice any mold growth on the bathroom walls or ceiling or any visible signs of water damage, you need to take immediate action to eliminate the excess moisture that is accumulating.
Why Do I Find Mold?
Anywhere you find moisture in the bathroom, you can find bathroom mold. Below are some common places to find mold in the bathroom:
- On the bathroom ceiling: If you notice mold on your bathroom ceiling, chances are you have poor ventilation. Since hot, humid air from the shower rises, the cool ceiling is the first surface it makes contact with. Without proper ventilation in the bathroom, the condensation is trapped and will undoubtedly lead to bathroom mold.
- On the shower tile: Bathroom mold and mildew on the shower tiles is common and doesn’t cause structural damage or affect the air quality. But when the grout between the tiles is cracked and pervious, it creates a space for mold to flourish. To avoid mold on the shower tiles, be sure to clean after each shower use, run the exhaust fan for an hour after showers and fix or seal any grout problems.
- Near the sink: This is a less visible location to find bathroom mold under a bathroom sink. This can be due to a leak in the water supply or drain pipe and it sometimes causes water damage to the underside of the vanity. Condensation can also accumulate under the sink from poorly insulated exterior walls when the warmth of the bathroom gets trapped under the sink and contacts the cold surfaces. Finally, a damaged seal around the edge of the sink can allow splashed water to seep into the space between the sink and countertop and slowly lead to mold growth.
- Near the toilet: The seal ring of the toilet is a common place to find bathroom mold. If the seal has failed or connected improperly, mold and water damage can lead to wood rot in the subfloor and you’ll notice it by the discoloration of the flooring around the base of the toilet. There is also the potential for mold to form on the wall behind the toilet. If the bathroom is warm and humid, then condensation forms from the cool water in the back of the toilet. This moisture can be trapped in the space between the toilet and the wall and create a great place for bathroom mold to thrive.
How Do I Stop Bathroom Mold From Spreading?
If your bathroom mold problem is small enough, it’s possible to fix it yourself and stop it from spreading. The EPA recommends calling a mold remediation professional if your affected area is larger than ten square feet. You’ll also want to work with mold remediation experts if there is water damage and mold in the bathroom walls or insulation.
The first step is to identify the source of moisture and eliminate it. Remove and replace any caulking or sealant that shows signs of bathroom mold. For moisture forming from humidity and condensation, installing an adequate exhaust fan that vents the humidity to the outside of the house. Next, the entire bathroom should be cleaned with mold killing products like hydrogen peroxide, bleach, or vinegar. Use fans and circulate with fresh air during and after the cleaning process to dry the area completely.
Contact MSR Restoration To Remediate Bathroom Mold
If you have bathroom mold problems, it’s important to address them before they have a chance to spread. Contact MSR Restoration today for your free in-home evaluation and to learn what you can do to prevent mold from harming the structural integrity of your home or becoming a health hazard for your family.
