3 Reasons Why Delaying Black Mold Removal Could Cost You More in the Long Run
We tend to think of cost as one thing: the price on the sticker. But, as is common with home maintenance, there are plenty of hidden costs that can crop up over a lifetime! When it comes to black mold removal, these hidden costs come to the fore in delayed remediation. MoldTech has been helping families with mold remediation in Mississauga for over a decade, and we’ve seen denial, a lack of awareness, and inexperience with mold hurt families — in the pocketbook as well as in their physical health and safety.
What is Mold?
Mold is a living organism that breaks down materials like wood, paper, and textiles. Mould is an essential part of the ecosystem (otherwise, we’d be drowning in plant matter!), but when it grows in our houses, it can cause illness and damage to crucial structures of the home.
Mold can be any colour (though black, green, white, and brown are the most common), and be fuzzy, slick, or furry in texture.
3 Common Problems Caused by Delaying Mold Removal
1. An Increased Risk of Structural Damage
Black mold infestations can cause a host of problems at home. It can eat through joists and beams, weaken drywall, and reduce the efficacy of insulation in the attic. The problem with weaknesses in these components is that your home’s various elements rely on each other to function correctly. For example, weakened insulation means that your furnace has to work harder to keep your house warm, driving up energy costs.
Structural damage is always more expensive, invasive, and challenging to fix than surface-level issues, which is why catching mold early is critical. Removing a new or young infestation can be quick and inexpensive, and it can usually be done in one visit, resulting in no long-term damage to your home. The longer mold affects a surface, the harder it is to remove and the more costly the knock-on effects of treatment become.
2. Higher Health Costs
Mold growth negatively affects the human body. Spores, tiny airborne mold “seeds,” are easy to breathe in and cause a range of irritating symptoms, such as:
- Coughing or wheezing.
- Headaches.
- Sneezing or congestion.
- Skin irritation.
- Lowered immune system.
- Disrupted sleep.
While this may not sound serious, the cumulative effect of living in a mold-infested home has a subtle but powerful impact on all areas of your life. And then there are mycotoxins, which have toxic effects and are produced by some types of black mould. Mycotoxins cause cognitive and physical effects and have been linked to serious, long-term illnesses like cancer and immune deficiencies.
Regardless of the type of mold or presence of mycotoxins, certain populations like children, elders, or people with compromised immune systems generally have an increased risk, which also drives up the long-term risk and your quality of life.
3. Higher Remediation Costs
The bigger a mold infestation is, the more likely it is to cost more to remediate. Mold infestations can grow incredibly fast and spread throughout a home in a few short weeks. At MoldTech, we always recommend mold testing and inspection as soon as there’s been a flood or leak or if you’ve noticed a strange odour or visible change to an area like a bathroom or attic.
More significant infestations may also need more involved remediation techniques to remove them safely — mould is a living thing and grows through and into wood or objects. Our team can remediate a range of objects, architecture, or flooring, but extensive remediation takes time, and we may not be able to save heirlooms or one-of-a-kind items.
Know the Signs of Mold Growth
By paying attention to the minor signs and symptoms of mold growth, you can avoid costly mold remediation in Mississauga! Some of the most common effects MoldTech clients report include:
- A musty odour.
- Discoloured walls, ceilings, or flooring.
- Peeling paint or wallpaper.
- Drafts or hot/cold areas.
- Headaches that appear in specific rooms.
- Colds and flu that seem to last longer than usual.
- An increase in asthma attacks or chronic symptoms.
The most important thing to do if you suspect you have a mold problem is to get professional mold testing and inspection help. MoldTech can assess your home for mold risk factors and uncover hidden infestations through our safe and reliable testing methodology. To learn more about black mold removal or have your home tested for mold, contact our team to have your questions answered.
