Why is it damp and mold forming on the exterior walls of my home?

Question

The mold is at the base in the bedrooms and bathroom. We have had no furnace this winter and have heated with a wood stove only. There has been quite a bit of moisture that has been present throughout the course of the winter also

Answer 1

The walls are shaded by trees or other buildings. When it is damp or it's a rainy climate, those areas don't have an opportunity to dry out, thus forming mold.

Answer 2

Mold forms because the conditions are present to allow the spores to grow. The culprits are moisture, lack of air circulation and lack of sunlight. Irrespective of the cause, you should remove it as soon as possible to keep yourself and your family from becoming ill. Also, try to determine where the moisture is coming from. I had a rental unit with a cement and stucco planter that leaked into the unit because the drain was clogged. Check to see whether you yard outside the damp areas are draining properly away from the house. Is there a gutter nearby which could be extended away from the foundation?

You can use a mixture of bleach and water to remove the mold. However, if you have carpet or wood flooring this method will cause damage to your floor treatments. You can also purchase a product by DampRid that is both a remover and protector of mold and mildew. That is to say, it will kill the mold you already have and prohibit new spores from growing. It is non-toxic, has no fumes or special requirements to use and it is inexpensive. You can find it at Lowes home improvement store in the cleaning aisle. I would also get a couple of DampRids moisture absorbing cyrstals while you are at the Lowes. These handy plastic tubs have crystals that draw moisture out of the air and whatever is around them. You have to check the tub every couple of days to discard the accumulated water, but it will help eliminate one element of your mold problem, the water.

Answer 3

It is because of the lack of air flow circulating in the rooms. Those walls that face the outside of your house is the ones that collect mold. If you have an overhead fan it would help or a fan that is on a stand. I must tell you that if you do not use your furnace from time to time even tho you use the wood stove that your fire box in your furnace will rust and it will be dangerous to use. I know because the same had happened to us in the past. To remove the mold use a bleach and soap solution to remove the mold and if you can wear a mask so you do not breathe in the mold spores.

Answer 4

Mold grows in any damp, moist, dark condition. If the sun is not getting to that side of the house very well, mold will form. You can get an anti-fungal siding wash and scrub the heck out of it in the spring. It will eventually come back if you don't correct the reason for the shade. Sometimes the placement of the house is the problem, and there is nothing you can do about that. Trimming any trees or removing any foilage in that area can help.

Answer 5

Outdoor humidity can affect the indoor humidity, with in turn can cause moisture between the walls. this is a perfect place for mold to grow. You need to be aware of health issues because it can cause some major ones. Just go to a web site by typing in black mold and you will be amazed at the info. You will be able to learn how to clean it, test for it and so on. Good luck at stoping the problem but do check it out as I said it can really have some health issues.

Answer 6

check out side and see if any of the wood is touching the ground. if it is dig down below the concret foundation. below the bottom plate ( 2 x 4 ) between concret and house. dig down a foot, and apply roofing tar to the concret. let dry. then cover. cover only up to the hight of the concret. as for the mold inside use vinager to kill mold. use rags, sponges. be sure to cover the floors with a drop. and use glove, because it stinks !!! also do you have a vent

Answer 7

it isn't a plumbers pastime or field of knowledge. you opt for a moist proofing specialist to survey the resources, maximum businesses will attempt this for loose, you could then pass their findings for your landlord who has a responsiblity to fix the placement. i'm no longer efficient yet i imagine in case you notify your landlord of a difficulty and they do no longer some thing you could with carry employ. once you've sloped ceilings it sounds like you've flat roofs, have each and every of the flashings been checked? What style of heating are you using ....gasoline heaters(no longer gasoline considered necessary heating) actual positioned more beneficial moisture into the atmophere.