If you suspect mold in your garage, call your local mold remediation company for inspection and treatment. Just as fire requires air, fuel, and heat to breakout, mold needs moisture, organic matter, and spores to grow. Remove either the moisture or the mold food (organic matter), and mold won’t grow. In the context of a garage, moisture is most commonly brought in by vehicles or other sources like floods or internal spills, while wooden surfaces, paper on drywall, and dust provide food to mold. Thus, garages are vulnerable to mold growth. Now that you know garages are susceptible to mold growth, you should do everything to prevent the mold from growing. Hence, here are some common causes of mold growth and what you can do to avoid its spread. Car Washing Most vehicle owners wash their cars inside their garages and forget to get rid of the accumulated water. If water is allowed to stay on the floors, it will take only 48 hours for mold to develop and start growing. Therefore, be sure to wipe and dry the floors, walls, and other surfaces every time you wash your car. If that’s too demanding for you after washing your car, consider taking your car to a nearby car wash shop instead of washing it in your own garage. Natural Sources If you’re located in an area prone to storms or frequent rain or snowfall, it won’t be difficult for moisture to make its way into the garage. Every time you return in your car, any snow and rainwater will accompany the vehicle inside the garage. Leaky Pipes No matter how much effort you put in to keep your garage dry and clean, a leaking plumbing system means that mold will keep growing in your garage. Before it facilitates mold to spread all over your garage, call a plumbing professional to get the issue fixed. If the problem isn’t fixed, mold can weaken the structure and foundations of your basement as well as pose serious health risks for you and others. Poor Ventilation Another issue specific to garages is poor ventilation, which is another driver of mold growth. In a poorly ventilated garage, the lack of air circulation causes high humidity. This results in condensation, which in turn causes mold growth. To avoid this, consider installing exterior vents in your garage. These draw fresh air inside the space and at the same time allow the inside air to be pulled out. This way, you should be able to get rid of any pollutants in the garage too. However, if you do use exterior vents, make sure they are not obstructed. When that happens, debris will build up on them, clogging the air flow. Seek Professional Mold Remediation Now that you know what makes your garage a breeding ground for mold, do your best to ensure a moisture-proof garage. Yet, if you suspect garage mold, reach out to your local mold remediation service before the problem exacerbates. For effective mold removal, get in touch with STOP now.