With global warming, the climate is changing around the world. These changes affect you in more ways than you may realize. Specifically, the extreme weather changes that come with global warming can make mold problems worse. If you thought that mold was a problem before, think again. Global warming has made mold even more troublesome.

Why is Extreme Weather Now a Problem?

You might be wondering why extreme weather is suddenly an issue. In the past, the weather was rather predictable. While there were some extreme events, they didn’t occur frequently. However, global warming changed that. The rise in the temperature had a butterfly effect. Many of those effects relate to the weather.

Extreme weather events are much more common now than they were in the past. If you want proof, then turn on the news. There are frequent natural disasters that relate to global warming. In coastal areas, there’s a greater risk of flooding. If you live in an area prone to wildfires, the risk is now higher.

As natural disasters become more common, there are more risks to your home. One of those risks comes in the form of mold. With the prevalence of extreme weather events, you might find mold forming in new places.

How Does This Affect Mold?

The extreme weather events that occur make mold more likely to grown. Consider the issue of coastal flooding. After a flood, your home is at risk for mold. Mold thrives in moist environments – exactly what the flood provides. Even a few inches of flooding can cause mold to take over your home. Regardless of how minimal your flooding might be, you need to consider that mold could be growing.

Another common weather-related disaster is a hurricane. Although it’s impossible to say for sure, the climate change could be the reason for the strength of recent hurricanes. Some experts believe that climate change played a part in Hurricane Harvey’s fury. In addition to all the destruction that Harvey brought, it also brought mold. Many homes flooded. As a result, they developed mold problems. Because the water level was so high, mold started growing in areas where you don’t usually find it.

Other Issues

There’s also the issue of power outages. If an extreme event causes your power to go out, then mold could become a problem. Extended power outages often lead to mold growth. Most people leave their windows open during an outage. If you live in a humid climate, then this could let moisture into your home. With no proper ventilation and lots of moisture, your home becomes ideal for mold.

In the damp conditions of extreme weather events, mold thrives. Everyone who is a victim of a natural disaster needs to consider mold.

What Does it Mean For You?

More mold in more places means several things for you. For one, it means that you should be more vigilant. If you see anything that looks like mold in your home, then you should contact a specialist. If he can get to the problem before it gets worse, then you might be able to prevent an expensive mold removal job.

More mold also means that you should take more preventative measures. There are many different ways that you can try to keep mold out of your home. For example, you could make sure that your home has the proper ventilation to reduce moisture. Additionally, you could make sure that your waterproofing is up to standards. Keeping water out of your home is the key to preventing mold. With great waterproofing measures, you can minimize your chance of mold problems.

You might want to consider hiring someone to examine your home. When she does, she can tell you all the problem areas. Then, she can tell you how to fix them. This could include details like waterproofing, fixing foundation cracks, and installing better drainage. When you make the fixes, you limit your chances of a mold problem.

Other Preparations

In addition to preparing for mold, you should also know how to prepare for extreme weather events. If you live in areas prone to flooding, then learn how to secure your house during a flood properly. Be ready to use sandbags if necessary. Learn about all the different techniques that you can use to protect your home during a flood. When the bad weather comes your way, you can be ready.

A final adaptation that you might want to consider is to make changes in your homeowner’s insurance policy. With a greater chance of being in a natural disaster, your home is at risk. If you get flood insurance or better coverage on your homeowner’s insurance, then you can protect your home. When disaster strikes, your policy could cover the damage. That could include any mold damage.

After you become a victim of a natural disaster, you should immediately have a professional check for mold. Before you go back home, be sure that you have no mold growing in your walls.