Now that the evenings are getting cooler and the leaves are beginning their colourful fall display, many factors contributing to mold growth are on the rise. Along with the usual seasonal culprit – pollens – it can make autumn of special concern for anyone with allergies or asthma.
We’ve had a wet summer this year in Ontario, which means the ground has never been bone dry. Autumn rains will quickly moisten the earth and have the potential for saturation and even flooding. The leaves that fall from now until the end of the season will retain moisture and that means mold spores present in the outdoors and entering your home too with the air.
Now that the weather’s cooler, the windows are closed more often or even all the time and the furnace is on at least some of the time. That produces conditions which can raise humidity levels and promote mold growth.
Suggestions for Fall:
- Avoid piles of dead leaves; they almost certainly contain mold spores.
- If you must rake leaves, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf.
- Make sure your home is properly ventilated
- Quickly clean up any debris that comes inside with your shoes, boots and outerwear.
Mold in Your Home
Proper ventilation is of course important any time of the year, but it’s hard to monitor every possible source of moisture in your home. Even a pinhole leak in plumbing can create lingering moisture where mold flourishes behind a wall – and you won’t see a thing.
Worsening allergies and asthma (in the absence of other obvious triggers) can be a sign that mold is in your home. Here are some of the other signs and symptoms:
- A lingering musty odour
- Persistent cough or sore throat
- Eye, nose and throat irritation
- Skin irritation
- Wheezing and other respiratory problems
We Can Help
Get help from the experts at MoldInspections.ca. Please call us for a hassle-free quote today.
MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and Global news, official supplier to HGTV’s Income Properties with Scott McGillivray and Leave It To Bryan and recommended by local contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.