Does Mold Die When It Dries Out in Your Fort Worth Home?

8/5/2020 (Permalink)

Have you found mold in your home? Our Fort Worth SERVPRO location provides expert mold remediation services.

On the cleaning aisle of any retailer, you’ll find an assortment of products that promise to get rid of mold and mildew. When we use these cleaning solutions (like standard bleach), does mold die when it dries out?

After bringing in a cleaning service or scrubbing away at the mold yourself, the hope is that you’ll be rid of the mold once and for all. Is a deep cleaning enough to keep mold from showing up again?

We at SERVPRO are the expert mold fighters here in Fort Worth, Texas. We’re here to offer mold solutions to property owners for a healthier living environment. We’re publishing this information so the Fort Worth community can be more proactive about mold issues.

Common Moisture Problems in Fort Worth that Cause Mold

Mold thrives in a moist environment. Standing water or trapped water vapor in the air are the chief causes of moisture problems in or on structures.

Specific examples of what causes this are humidity, leaky appliances, bathrooms, etc. Adequate ventilation is needed so that moisture dries out rather than settling into areas where they make contact with mold spores.

A huge patch of mold is a sign that water or moisture has collected with no way to escape or dry out. So if too much moisture is the problem, will mold die when dry?

Will Mold Grow Without Moisture?

Assuming you do everything in your power to keep moisture from building up, can mold grow without moisture? As a rule, mold cannot develop without some amount of moisture. How much is needed depends on the species. Some get by with very little moisture.

For example, Stachybotrys (common black mold) needs substantial saturation to germinate. We’re talking at least a 90% humidity level to activate, then around 70% humidity to continue to thrive.

So at what humidity does mold die? Is there a threshold at which mold growth becomes unlikely? Humidity occurs when the air is warm enough to soak up water vapor like a sponge. Mold thrives in a warm atmosphere as the air contains plenty of moisture.

Humans will usually detect humidity with physical discomfort. It’s often described as being “stuffy” or “muggy.” So if it feels humid, chances are there is significant vapor in the room.

The sweet spot for humidity is between 30% and 50%. Moisture-rich air with nowhere to go settles into areas where mold will begin to colonize. 

The key to managing humidity is ventilation. Extra vents, fans, opening a window, or using a dehumidifier are all helpful for improving the air quality. Reducing the air temperature with AC also reverses humidity.

What Happens to Mold When It Dries Out?

Does mold die when it dries out completely? If we were to make the environment completely sterile and arid as a desert, will mold die without moisture?

Mold needs moisture to thrive. Without it, mold spores do dry out eventually and become dormant. In this inactive state, the mold spores aren’t dead, they just stop flourishing.

Mold spores are never completely eliminated as they are a natural part of the ecosystem. Once these spores make contact with moisture again, they reactivate within a day or two to reboot the germination process. 

How to Prevent Future Mold Growth

Will mold die on its own? We know mold spores to be abundant and very successful at survival. 

To tackle a mold problem, you have to remove what is contaminated and modify problem areas. Here are some pointers on how to take care of current mold growth and keep dried mold from resurging.

• Identify the areas where mold growth seems to happen most often and determine the cause. Troubleshoot why to eradicate the contributing factors.
• Manage interior humidity with improved climate control. Areas that get hot or steamy are susceptible to humidity. The goal is to keep the humidity level under 50%.
• Ensure areas have adequate ventilation and free airflow. Fans, vents, windows, and AC help. An HVAC company can do a tune-up and check for any leaks in the system.
• Look for leaks. Water could be trickling from appliances, faulty pipes, broken toilets, loose faucets, or walls and ceilings when it rains.
• Take action during flood events. Mold starts growing within the first 48 hours of flood damage. Hire SERVPRO for water damage restoration in Fort Worth. We’ll make sure contaminated items are removed and that the affected areas dry completely.
• Remove and dispose of mold-contaminated objects (like bathroom caulk). Some things could be salvageable, but if it’s porous and covered in mold, it’s best to discard it. Our Fort Worth mold remediation service will determine what items can be saved or not.
• Remove soggy carpet. If carpet dampness is a common occurrence, switch to alternative flooring.
• Use mold inhibitors on surfaces. When replacing a mold-infested wall, it could very well get that way again. Add mold inhibitors to the paint.
• Keep areas dry and clean. Use anti-mold cleaning products. Clean and thoroughly dry items that are exposed to moisture like towels, bathing suits, and shower curtains.

This list is just to cover some basics. There may be other factors unique to your situation that aren’t mentioned here. The trick is to understand how mold behaves and why it’s growing in certain areas of your space. Mold likes moist, dark places with plenty of cellulose materials to consume like paper, fabric, dust, etc. 

SERVPRO’s Fort Worth mold removal services will not only identify any species of toxic mold present (well beyond black mold), but we’ll also be able to point out the factors that made it grow there in the first place. We can help you manage your mold issue.

Fort Worth Mold Remediation and Removal Experts Ready 24/7

SERVPRO of North Richland Hills is Fort Worth’s locally owned and operated provider of expert mold solutions. We’ve done meticulous inspections and thorough residential and commercial mold remediation for many years.

Trying to solve a mold problem at its root source can be like solving a puzzle. With our expertise, we accurately pinpoint and efficiently apply the best solutions.

Our goal is to make it "Like it never even happened." We want the healthiest environment for our customers, so our certified technicians do a thorough remediation to remove toxic mold.

When you have a mold problem on your hands, call our mold experts anytime at (817) 589-1499 or fill out our convenient contact form.