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Windows are one of the most common places for mold growth in a home because there is a plentiful supply of moisture from weather and condensation. You may not think mold on the windows is a big problem since it’s so common, but it’s actually a gateway for mold to enter your home.
Mold on the windows can be a source of mold as well as moisture. To reduce the risk of mold within your home, you need to understand how mold grows on your windows and what to do to remove it.
What Causes Mold on Windows?
You may be confused at first about the presence of mold on your windows, since it has a well-known tendency to grow in warm, dark places. But the presence of moisture, oxygen and a food source will actually allow mold to grow anywhere.
There are several reasons mold can develop on window panes, window sills, or between the panes of multi-pane windows:
Poorly sealed windows that allow moisture to leak into the sills.
Excess dust on the window sills or between panes. Dust is organic matter that mold feeds on.
Exposure to high humidity in bathrooms and kitchens.
Dangers of Mold
Mold is made of tiny spores that float around until they land somewhere they can grow and multiply. Mold is dangerous to people and pets in large amounts, so it’s best to remove it as soon as you find it on your windows.
Mold is a common allergen, causing symptoms in humans and animals including all of the following:
Coughing and scratchy throat
Sneezing, congestion, and runny nose
Headaches
Rashes and itchy skin
Shortness of breath and wheezing
In some people, mold can cause neurological symptoms like depression and insomnia.
Black Mold
Black mold is an especially dangerous type of mold. Unfortunately, it is one of the most common molds found in windows and window sills.
Black mold varieties produce mycotoxins that are released into the air. Mycotoxins can lead to mold poisoning, which is much more severe than basic mold allergies.
For your home, mold is dangerous as well.
Mold can stain vinyl and paint, and it can actually feed on wood and paint, so no matter what your windows are made of, mold can cause irreparable damage to them.
Cleaning Mold
In its earliest stages, you can spray mold with a bleach or anti-fungal cleaner and wipe it from window surfaces. If it goes further than the beginning stages, you’ll have to go a different route.
The method above is typically used for single-pane windows or when mold is only on the exterior of multi-pane windows.
To remove mold from double- or triple-pane windows, you’ll have to get between the glass panels somehow. The most common way to do this (the method professionals use) is to drill a hole in the glass of one pane and spray antifungal cleaner between the panes. The hole has to be big enough that you can also remove this cleaner. Finally, use a defogger to remove excess moisture.
As you can see, this process is complicated, and you run a high risk damaging your windows. If you don’t have a mold specialist to help you, you’re at least going to need a glass expert (called a glazier). Neither option is cheap, but ruining your windows and replacing them isn’t, either.
Given the options for major mold removal, your best bet is to leave it to a mold removal team.
Mold Testing & Inspection
If you see mold on your windows, an inspection really isn’t necessary. There is mold and it needs to be removed. You might still prefer to have a mold inspection done to see if it has spread to another area, but an inspection wouldn’t necessarily be needed in this case.
Mold testing, on the other hand, can tell you what kind of mold is present. Again, you still need to have the mold removed, so the type isn’t all that important. However, if you are trying to determine what mold(s) you or a family member is allergic to, it can be helpful to determine what kind is in your home before removing it.
Mold Remediation
When you have had a mold issue in your home, it probably means that there were excessive amounts of mold floating around in the air already, and it simply found favorable growing conditions due to increased moisture.
Mold remediation is a professional service that filters the air and removes excess amounts of free-floating mold spores. While it is impossible to completely eliminate mold from your home, it should be within a low range to reduce the risk of mold growth in your home.
Scheduling Mold Services from Pure Air North Carolina
If you still have questions about testing, inspection, removal, and remediation, Pure Air North Carolina will be able to answer them thoroughly. We can explain which services you need and which ones are recommended but not required.
If you see mold in your windows, even if it’s a small amount, don’t hesitate to call us rather than trying to navigate mold removal yourself.