Contrary to popular belief, it is entirely possible to have mold growth inside a residential or commercial structure in the state of Colorado. Despite dry weather conditions, there are many common scenarios that occur which create the perfect breeding ground for mold.
What does mold require to start growing?
Mold requires very few conditions to thrive. There are three essential components to mold growth: moisture, suitable temperature, and food. Food for mold typically refers to any organic matter, and this can include insulation, paper, drywall, wood, and more.
When an environment has those conditions, the only factor left for mold to grow is time. If there is no attempt to stabilize or dry an environment affected by water, mold can start to grow within 24-48 hours. Lack of ventilation is likely to increase the speed at which it grows.
The most common issues leading to mold are plumbing failures, lack of waterproofing, compromised foundations or roofs, and flooding events.
Plumbing Integrity and Related Emergencies
Over time, plumbing systems break down in a wide range of ways. Regardless of the quality of your home’s plumbing, it is going to wear down over time due to usage. This includes leaks, burst pipes, and more.
Sewage Backups
Sewage backups contain grossly contaminated water, otherwise known as Category 3 water. Backups are often caused by a compromised main sewage line, which could mean it is damaged, clogged, or overwhelmed due to heavy rainfall.
Sump Pump Failures
When water levels reach a certain point beneath a structure, a sump pump diverts water away from the foundation. Sump pumps can become overwhelmed when there is heavy rain or flooding. This causes sump pumps to fail, which makes the structure highly vulnerable to water intrusion.
Burst Pipes
It is common to see burst pipes during the winter, especially once there are multiple days of freezing weather. Many homeowners may have no idea that their pipe has burst until the water within it starts to thaw. If the water the water in your home is frozen, you should be prepared for the possibility of damaged pipes afterwards.
Leaks
Regardless of the severity of a leak, it will damage any structure. Leaks allow water to pool up and bind to wood or other building materials. If this occurs behind a wall, it may allow mold to grow easily due to the lack of airflow.
Other Plumbing Scenarios
Accidents can happen, and it is not uncommon to see water damage resulting from homeowners who forget that water was running in a sink or bathtub.
One surprisingly common accident is when a pet—typically a dog—interacts with sinks. We have received calls from customers in situations where their dogs turned on a sink when they weren’t home, and the sink overflowed for hours because there was something blocking the drain.
Waterproofing, Foundations, and Crawlspaces
Having high quality waterproofing is essential due to the types of materials we use in construction. Certain items, such as drywall, are a highly effective food source for mold. When drywall or insulation gets wet, it creates the perfect conditions for mold growth.
Waterproofing
Proper waterproofing for windows, basements and crawlspaces is critical when it comes to avoiding water intrusion.
This is especially true during heavy rain or floods, which cause the ground around a property to become saturated with water. Once the ground is saturated with water, the moisture begins to travel through materials in a process called water seepage.
Foundations
Your foundation is critical to the structural integrity of a house. Having a secure and professionally evaluated foundation is one of the best ways to control moisture and avoid water intrusion.
Crawlspaces
Unfortunately, crawlspaces are great places for mold to grow since they typically have the food, moisture, and temperatures required for mold growth. They also lack proper ventilation, which means mold can grow quickly in a crawlspace due to lack of air flow.
Recent: May 2023 Colorado Flooding
On the week of May 10, 2013, there was a substantial amount of rainfall resulting in water intrusion and flooding for many Colorado residents. The flooding was followed by a couple weeks of rainstorms, wind, and hail.
Weather Events Exacerbate Water Damage
Weather events like these make it inevitable for some homeowners to have flooding or forms of water intrusion. We also had hail in some areas, which means those who dealt with hail also dealt with water damage resulting from heavy rain due to damaged roofs and windows.
It is very common to see water damage during these events. In the weeks following widespread flooding, we should expect to see more homes with mold damage as a result. Depending on the location of growth, some people might not realize they have mold for months. Individuals may remain unaware of mold until they show symptoms, or if they mold becomes visible to occupants.
Water Seepage
Heavy rain and flooding caused the ground to become extremely saturated with water. This presents multiple issues:
- Many homes will start to face water seepage. Anything that is underground will be affected by the high volume of moisture, and it will start traveling through building materials until it is visible on the interior of a structure.
- As a result, this causes materials such as drywall to become wet and damaged. Heavy moisture will lead to insulation being wet, sagging, and ineffective—which can create further issues.
- Foundation and waterproofing companies are typically unable to service homes that are resting on saturated ground. This further delays the opportunity to prevent moisture and can lead to further water damage or mold.
Water seepage is not typically covered by insurance. Restoration companies cannot interpret your insurance policy for you, which means you need to speak with your insurance agent to understand coverage and caps as soon as possible if there is an emergency.
How can we protect a home from future mold growth?
While Colorado does not seem to have the typical weather we expect in a mold-friendly ecosystem, a few abrupt changes within the environment can quickly change circumstances to become favorable for mold colonization. As a restoration company based in Denver, we receive calls and inquiries about mold concerns on a daily basis. This is usually caused by leaks, floods, sewage backups and more.
Tips for Success
Here are the most essential ways to avoid mold growth in your home:
- Annual Plumbing Inspections: If you have a plumbing company you trust, you should consider hiring them for inspections to ensure there are no vulnerabilities. It is much more cost effective to pay for plumbing repairs than it is to deal with water damage and mold removal.
- Foundation and Waterproofing: This is critical to avoid water intrusion, especially during floods and heavy rainfall.
Quality Home Insurance: A lot of individuals save money by reducing their insurance coverage, or by ignoring important coverage areas such as sewage and mold. This can be a huge mistake, because the cost of insurance is negligible compared to the cost of repairs. - Address issues immediately: Time is of the essence when it comes to any form of water damage. If you cause more damage due to negligence, your insurance company may deny your claim.
Performing Water Damage Mitigation or Remediating Mold in Colorado
If you have questions about emergency water damage response or removing mold, our team is available to answer your questions anytime.
Call Pure Restore at 303-955-7072 today to be connected with our customer service team.
