Mold may seem like a small thing, a minor nuisance. That is until you or your family members begin to get sick. Some types of mold can even cause fatalities.

Mold is also a symptom of underlying structural issues in your home. You want to do everything to ensure your home is mold-free. Before you decide that you have no mold problem, consider these indicators.

Here are signs that you could be having mold in your home.

Visual Signs

You may notice black, green, blue, or red spots on surfaces. They may appear like dots or may be more fuzzy. If you can see mold on exposed surfaces, there's a lot more that's hidden.

Allergy Symptoms

Some health symptoms may indicate the presence of mold in your home. These include a runny nose, sneezing, dry, itchy skin, coughs, and congestion of air passages.

These symptoms are associated with people suffering from allergies, but they are worsened by the presence of mold. If you find yourself coughing or sneezing when you enter a room, conduct a closer check of the surroundings in the room.

The Smell

It's a damp, musty smell, more like a damp towel that has been locked away in a suitcase. If you can smell mold, even if you don't see any, take action before it spreads further.

Leaks

Mold thrives in damp, moist conditions. Water leaks in confined indoor spaces provide just the right environment for mold growth. So where there is a leak, there's likely to be mold. Pay special attention to the area under the kitchen sink, bathrooms, and ceilings.

Signs of water damage, such as peeling paint and plaster, are normally accompanied by mold growth.

Condensation

Any type of condensation on surfaces, such as windows, is a sign that your home is too humid, a perfect breeding ground for mold.

Testing

The surest way to identify mold is to conduct a mold test. Typical mold testing consists of an air test, a surface test, and bulk testing. You can buy a mold testing kit and do the test yourself.

But to be on the safe side, and for more accurate results, hire a professional mold services company to do the test. If a company finds mold, they can perform residential mold removal.

There are many ways of identifying mold in your home. You can do so through your sense of smell and sight. You can also identify mold through health symptoms such as sneezing and coughing.

Finally, you'll be able to confirm the presence of mold by conducting a mold test. If you need help identifying and removing mold, call a mold services expert.