Knowing the familiar mold sources in your property can help you avoid severe damage. Warm and humid areas are breeding grounds for mold. Windows, window sills, leaking roofs, and pipes in these environments can be common sites where it festers; however, any water-damaged or flooded area is susceptible to its presence.
During the wintertime, water (or moisture) often appears around your windows due to condensation. This dripped water causes damage to the drywall beneath the windows, leading to awful mold growth that can be difficult to manage.
Specifically, mold can go unnoticed on windows since it doesn’t always appear as a dark color. It’s often mistaken for innocuous dust and therefore ignored until later.
Consequently, the mold is given more opportunities to cause harm- indoors and out. The windows are just one of many areas affected by excessive time without proper home maintenance, causing significant stress for any homeowner.
Without a doubt, mold should never be overlooked or underestimated in any form or quantity. If you detect any signs of mold near windows or anywhere else in your home, it is essential to take action immediately. It is essential to be informed of the facts surrounding mold, understand how to spot it, and take steps to prevent its reappearance. Here are a few critical pieces of information that will help you do that.
What is Mold?
Mold is a type of fungus that can be found in any damp, warm environment. It can take on different colors and textures but is most commonly associated with black, pink or green discoloration. It typically grows in the places exposed to moisture, such as windows, walls, basements, bathrooms, roofs, etcetera. Everywhere that elevated moisture and a food source are present, mold grows. As a part of the Fungi kingdom, these living organisms reside in moist environments like soil, plants, and decomposing matter. In the environment, molds play a part in decomposing organic materials such as leaves and trees. However, indoor mold should be avoided at all costs.
Mold Growth
Mold growth is a natural occurrence in our environment, but it can be dangerous and destructive when it infiltrates homes and businesses. In many cases, mold spores are present in the atmosphere and only become active when they land on wet surfaces such as windows, walls, carpets, and furniture.
Molds propagate by releasing minuscule reproductive cells known as spores that drift in the air. Microscopic mold spores (sizing between 2-10 um) are nearly invisible to the naked eye. They circulate throughout indoor and outdoor air, with some types of molds releasing their spores at each disruption or disturbance. Certain molds produce sticky spores that cling to surfaces and can be released by mechanical impacts, like brushing against or touching them directly.
Spores have the remarkable ability to remain viable for years, even after they are produced.
Black mold in Window Sills and the Window Frame
Black mold in window sills and window frames is a common problem. Not only can black mold weaken the structural integrity of your windows, but it can also spread to other areas of your home and create an unhealthy environment. In the home, dust composed of various elements such as dead skin cells, hair strands, bacteria, and plastic fragments can lead to mold growth. If this combination is exposed to moisture and warmth, it will likely result in mold growth.
Unknown to many, mold on window sills and frames can quickly proliferate; it begins growing at the juncture of a window’s glass and sash frame – usually from the bottom up. Generally, the mold is distinguishable by its color; however, in some instances, it can take on a similar shade to the window frame, making visibility nearly impossible.
If the black mold found in your windows has now extended to the Sheetrock under or around it, then you must take serious action. Hire a professional expert as soon as possible who can safely and entirely remove all evidence of fungus from the entire structure – including walls and window frames. This is essential to ensure that your home is safe from any potential health risks associated with black mold exposure. When mold penetrates your walls and causes substantial harm, it may be necessary to remove portions of the wall for repair altogether.
Moisture is the leading cause of mold growth from leaks or condensation. Bathroom and kitchen windows are especially prone to it, but any window sill can be affected.
Unless you address the source of moisture, scrubbing your window frames is merely a temporary solution; mold will almost certainly reconvene in short order. Untreated mold accumulation will inevitably cause harm to your windows over time. Additionally, the mold spores released during cleaning can cause harm to your eyes and skin; it may even hurt your lungs, throat, and nervous system.