Fall Allergies? Mold Could Be a Factor

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Fall Allergies? Mold Could Be a Factor

Fall is a lovely time of year: crisp afternoons, hot apple cider, changing leaves. But for people with fall allergies, the first cool weeks can be full of sneezing. Even worse, what if they don't go away when the pollen dies down? You could have a mold problem at home. Here's how to tell if mold is making your fall allergies worse.

Types of Common Fall Allergies

So what could you be dealing with this fall? Here are some common allergy causes:

Ragweed (particularly common in the fall)
Grass pollen
Tree pollen
Mold

All of these allergens can cause similar symptoms, but if you're avoiding pollen and still have allergy symptoms indoors, it could mean you have mold in your home.

Inspecting Your Home for Mold

If you suspect mold, how can you find out for sure? A professional mold inspection is the best way to find out for sure if there's mold in your home. It's hard to find the extent of a mold problem on your own. Professional mold inspectors:

Use special equipment like infrared cameras and moisture sensors to find mold that can't be seen or smelled
Send any mold found to a third-party lab to be tested, so you know what you're dealing with
Assess your home for the cause of the mold

Mold is quick to spread in high-moisture environments. If you already have some, soon you'll have more. A mold inspection can help you identify the extent of the problem.

How Can I Prevent Mold From Returning?

Once you have mold, what can you do to stop it?

Fix any water damage promptly. If there is obvious water damage in your home, the sooner it is repaired, the less time mold has to take root.
Lower the humidity in your home. Even without water damage, mold can grow in humid environments. Humidity as low as 60% can encourage mold growth.
Hire a mold remediation professional. With a professional, you'll be able to come up with a thorough plan that assesses the entire scope of the mold and the root cause. Mold remediation is a thorough process that completely removes mold and addresses the reason the mold grew in the first place. This is the best way to manage existing mold and prevent future problems.