6 Signs You Might Have Carpet Mold

Carpet mold can be a difficult problem to tackle. Mold can grow fast in damp places, and once it gains a foothold in your home, you must put in a lot of work to eliminate it. Damp basements are ideal for mold growth. Likewise, rooms with insufficient ventilation also provide mold a breeding ground. You may encounter difficulty in detecting carpet mold because the mold may thrive underneath the surface. Regular inspection is the only way to rule out carpet mold. Some of the signs that indicate the presence of carpet mold are listed below.

A Musty Odor

A musty odor in the vicinity of the carpet is a definite indication of the presence of mold, which will fester in a damp, enclosed environment. If you note the presence of both these factors, you must invest in a mold testing kit. These kits are available in most home improvement stores. You can perform the tests yourself by following the provided steps.

Higher Incidence of Allergies

Carpet mold can cause several health problems such as allergies, breathing trouble, asthma, bronchitis and flu. If you notice a higher incidence of such conditions in the members of your household, you must consider the possibility of carpet mold in your home. If the walls and floors in your home and basement look clean, be prepared for a thorough inspection of the carpet.

Damp Carpet

Any carpet that remains damp or wet for more than a day may grow mold. If you notice that your carpet is damp, the cause may be a leak from the floor underneath. This scenario occurs mostly in basements. If you have had a water leak or similar accident, wherein the carpet was left wet for an extended period of time, you will probably find mold. A basement with leaking pipes is also a major cause of mold growth in nearby carpets.

Green, White or Black Growth on the Carpet

In most cases, when the mold growth reaches an advanced stage, you can see discolored patches on your carpet. Most of the times, these patches are white, black or various shades of green. The color is caused by the mold colony multiplying on your carpet.

Mold Growth under the Carpet

A great way to keep ahead of mold is to regularly look for its presence on or under your carpet. Lift your carpet and thoroughly examine the floor under it. Look for any musty odors or discolored patches on the underside of the carpet. These are also definite signs of mold.

Positive Results from a Mold Testing Kit

You can use a mold testing kit to test the air flow across a carpet. The mold spores, if any, will land on the testing kit and multiply. A testing kit is a reliable method of confirming the presence of carpet mold.