Can Mold Grow in My Garage?

When you think of mold, you often think of damp basements, creepy crawl spaces, or ancient attics. It’s uncommon for garages to be high on someone’s priority list when looking for a mold infestation. But your garage can be just as susceptible to mold as any other place in your house. Though they often fly under the radar, moldy garages are a common problem. 

Should I Worry About Mold in My Garage?

Your garage is one of the most poorly ventilated areas of your home. This lack of ventilation, combined with environmental factors like moisture from snow or rain that get tracked in, creates the perfect habitat for mold to grow. 

While this infestation won’t happen right away, it doesn’t take long, and it can be hard to notice before it’s too late. The mold won’t limit itself to your garage floor, walls, or ceiling, either. Anything you have in your garage for a prolonged period is fair game. And the worse your garage’s condition is, the quicker it’ll happen. 

Be wary of poorly sealed doors that let in moisture, leaky or burst pipes, high humidity, and any paper-based items stored in your garage. Paper-based items and wood feed mold and accelerate the growth process. 

How Do I Tell if There’s Mold in My Garage?

The most obvious signs of mold in any area are visible mold spots, musty smells, and noticeably worsening allergy-like symptoms. If your garage is poorly lit, badly sealed, or not properly ventilated, then you should take into account the increased likelihood of a mold infestation as well. 

While visible mold spots are common with mold infestations and are a dead giveaway that you have a problem, it is possible to have a mold infestation with few or no visible indicators. Mold spores can cause a few health symptoms, so if you have chronic issues with any of the following, you should probably call in a professional to inspect your garage:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Irritated/sore throat
• Sinus congestion
• Runny nose
• Breathing issues
• Eye irritation
• Itchy skin
• Rashes

How Can I Prevent Mold in my Garage?

Most people use garages differently than other parts of a home. They often become extra storage, hold parked cars, and sometimes serve as a second entrance to the house. Because of this, they have unique environmental factors to consider. 

If your garage has an HVAC system, mold and mildew may even stick there and start to spread until you have a full-blown infestation. Mold spores can stick to anything that isn’t mold-resistant, including the clothes of anyone who passes through. Because mold has many opportunities to come into your garage, minimizing your risk is essential. It’s vital to use every means you have to prevent mold growth. 

First, deal with any water damage as soon as possible. Mold loves a damp environment, especially one with still, warm water. Remove any remaining water from the affected area to minimize the chance of mold popping up in places with water damage. Next, remove any items that got wet or retained water damage and put them somewhere where they can dry quickly. Dry your garage walls and floors as much as possible. 

Besides dealing with water damage, you must make sure your garage has a decent drainage system, so any water and moisture can drain quickly. Make sure your garage has as much ventilation as possible without allowing additional moisture and humidity in. Having windows to let in sunlight also helps because mold thrives in the dark. 

What do I do when I find Mold in my Garage?

While mold starts small, it can quickly grow into a full-blown infestation. The longer you leave mold unhandled, the worse it’ll get and the harder it will be to remove mold spots. It’s essential to get rid of mold is because it can cause or worsen specific health issues. 

If mold prevention is no longer enough, we recommend calling in mold remediation experts, like the ones at AdvantaClean. We can deal with your mold problem promptly and safely, but there are a few things you can do yourself. AdvantaClean can also help with mold identification while selecting the appropriate treatment.

Call AdvantaClean to ensure that the problem has been handled, and the mold won’t be returning anytime soon.