Mold and the Rainy Season

If you live in the Northeast, you know that the summer of 2009 has been wet and rainy. Between May and June, Pennsylvania had over 10 inches of rain. In New York City, rain fell for 23 out of 30 days in the month of June.

All this precipitation leads to more than just rained-out games and soggy barbecues. When the ground becomes saturated with water, there’s no place for it to go. Water often migrates into crawl spaces and basements.

This wet summer is setting up conditions for mold to grow as people who suffer from respiratory problems shut their homes up during the fall.

Homeowners should check their basements, attics and crawlspaces for leaks and flooding. If there is flooding you should dry the area as quickly as possible. Standing water can lead to serious mold problems. Mold, such as stachybotrys or ‘black mold’, can grow if water isn’t properly removed.

Any type of water damage can cause mold problems. Mold can grow on wood, sheetrock and even carpeting.

Of course, you don’t need a flood to have mold. Some older homes already have water within the foundation’s crawlspaces. Heavy rains can make the situation worse.

A dehumidifier or exhaust fans to exchange the air can help prevent mold growth. Wet, dark and stagnant makes the perfect environment for mold.

At least if you’re an allergy sufferer, you’re in luck. The wet weather is holding down the grass pollen.