Permanently Removing Mold On Your Bathroom's Walls

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If your bathroom is having a problem with mold growing on its walls, then you need to get down to the root cause of the problem and eliminate the source of moisture that is feeding the mold colony. There are three main reasons that bathroom walls develop problems with mold, including

1. water splashing on painted walls

2. improper bathroom ventilation

3. a buried plumbing leak

Here is some information to help you determine the cause of your bathroom's chronic mold problem and some advice about how to solve the problem:

Water Splashing on Painted Walls

If water is continually splashed onto the walls near your bathroom's shower or sink, then the water will seep under the paint and soak into the drywall below it. Once the drywall is wet, it becomes a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Mold will also grow on exposed areas of sheetrock where caulking is damaged or missing.

To prevent mold growth from water's contact with drywall, you need to carefully seal all of these areas with caulking, tiles, or other building products designed to protect drywall. Before you repair the area, first remove any active mold colonies using a solution of household bleach mixed with water.

Improper Bathroom Ventilation

If your bathroom's mirrors and walls are covered in moisture when you are done taking showers, then the room does not have adequate ventilation to prevent mold from growing. Since all of the moisture does not have a fan to expel it outside, the walls will stay damp all of the time and as the paint degrades from the excessive moisture, mold will grow on the walls.

The easiest way to solve this type of bathroom problem is to install a strong fan to vent the moist bathroom air to the outdoors. In the meantime, you should shower with the window open and let the bathroom air out after you are done showering.

A Buried Plumbing Leak

Finally, if your home's bathroom does not have a problem with steam when you shower and there are no obvious signs of water splattering on an unfinished wall, then the room may be growing mold because it has a buried plumbing leak. As pipes in walls or inside of cabinets leak, they add moisture in the room. Over time, this moisture builds up and allows mold to start growing in areas located remotely from the main source of the water leak.

To find this type of water leak, open all cabinets and look for signs of moisture. If you do not see any water stains or feel any moisture, then you should knock lightly on the walls of your bathroom. As you knock, take care to listen for areas where the wall sounds hollow or like the surface behind the wall is softer than that which surrounds it. If you find a spongy place, then you likely have found the location of the plumbing leak that needs to be repaired. If you cannot find the leak, then you need to contact a local plumber and have them locate it for you.

For more information about mold cleanup, contact a local company like Walker's Carpet Care & Janitorial Services Inc.

19 May 2016