Winter Mold: Causes, Risks, and How to Protect Your Home

1/9/2025 (Permalink)

When people think of mold, they often associate it with humid summer days. But did you know that winter can be just as problematic for mold growth? As temperatures drop and homes are sealed tight to keep the cold out, mold can become a hidden threat. Understanding the causes and risks of winter mold can help you protect your home and family.

Why Does Mold Grow in Winter?

Mold thrives in moist, warm environments with poor ventilation—conditions that are surprisingly common during winter. Here’s why:

1. Condensation on Windows and Walls: When warm indoor air meets cold surfaces, condensation forms. This moisture can seep into materials like wood, drywall, or carpet, creating a perfect breeding ground for mold.
2. Poor Ventilation: Homes are sealed tightly in winter to conserve heat, but this can trap humidity and limit air circulation, allowing mold spores to settle and grow.
3. Ice Dams and Water Intrusion: Melting snow from ice dams can leak into your attic or walls, providing the moisture mold needs to flourish.
4. Basement and Crawlspace Issues: These areas often stay damp year-round, but winter’s reduced airflow can make matters worse.

Risks of Winter Mold

Mold isn’t just unsightly; it can pose serious risks to your property:

• Structural Damage: Left unchecked, mold can weaken building materials, leading to costly repairs.
• Unpleasant Odors: Mold often produces a musty smell that’s hard to ignore and even harder to eliminate without proper treatment.

Signs of Winter Mold

Watch out for these warning signs:

• Dark or discolored spots on walls, ceilings, or around windows.
• A persistent musty smell in certain rooms.
• Increased allergy symptoms or respiratory issues indoors.
• Visible water stains or condensation that won’t dry.

How to Prevent Winter Mold

1. Control Humidity Levels: Use a dehumidifier to maintain indoor humidity below 50%. This helps prevent condensation and discourages mold growth.
2. Improve Ventilation: Open windows periodically to let fresh air circulate, or use exhaust fans in areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
3. Address Leaks Quickly: Repair roof leaks, ice dams, or any other source of water intrusion as soon as possible.
4. Insulate Cold Surfaces: Proper insulation on walls, pipes, and windows can reduce condensation.
5. Keep Gutters Clean: Ensure gutters and downspouts are clear of debris so water can drain away from your home.

What to Do If You Find Mold

If you discover mold in your home, it’s essential to act quickly. Small areas of mold (less than 10 square feet) can sometimes be cleaned with soap, water, and a household cleaner. However, larger infestations or mold caused by water damage require professional remediation.

How SERVPRO Can Help

At SERVPRO Team Holcomb, we specialize in mold remediation and restoration. Our certified professionals:

• Inspect and assess the extent of the mold problem.
• Contain the affected area to prevent mold from spreading.
• Remove mold and infested materials safely and thoroughly.
• Restore your home to its pre-mold condition, ensuring a safe and healthy environment.

Winter doesn’t have to mean mold problems. Let SERVPRO Team Holcomb help you stay protected.

If you’re dealing with mold this winter, don’t wait! Contact SERVPRO today for expert mold remediation and prevention services.

Winter Water Damage: How to Protect Your Home

1/9/2025 (Permalink)

Winter brings unique water damage risks, from frozen pipes to ice dams. These issues can cause costly repairs if not addressed promptly. Here’s what you need to know to safeguard your home.

Common Causes of Winter Water Damage

• Frozen Pipes: Expanding ice can cause pipes to burst.
• Ice Dams: Melted snow refreezes at roof edges, trapping water that can seep into your home.
• Snowmelt Flooding: Melting snow near your foundation can lead to basement leaks.
• Clogged Gutters: Blocked gutters can overflow, causing water damage.
• Foundation Cracks: Freezing and thawing cycles can create cracks that let water in.

Prevention Tips

1. Insulate exposed pipes and keep your home warm.
2. Clean gutters and ensure proper roof drainage.
3. Shovel snow away from your foundation.
4. Seal cracks in your foundation and windows.
5. Inspect your roof for damage and ensure proper attic insulation.

How SERVPRO Can Help

If water damage happens, SERVPRO Team Holcomb is here to help with:

• 24/7 emergency response.
• Professional water removal and drying.
• Repairs to restore your home to pre-damage condition.
• Mold prevention services.

Don’t let water damage ruin your winter. Contact SERVPRO today for fast, reliable restoration services!

What Are Biohazards, and How Can SERVPRO Help?

1/9/2025 (Permalink)

Biohazards are biological substances that pose a threat to human health. They can result from events such as accidents, crime scenes, chemical spills, or exposure to infectious materials. Proper cleanup of biohazards requires specialized training, equipment, and precautions to ensure safety and prevent contamination.

Common Biohazard Scenarios

• Trauma or Crime Scenes: Cleanup of bloodborne pathogens and bodily fluids.
• Hoarding Situations: Removal of biohazards like mold, animal waste, and decomposing materials.
• Sewage Backups: Contamination from harmful bacteria and viruses.
• Chemical Spills: Handling of dangerous chemicals or hazardous materials.
• Infectious Disease Cleanup: Sanitizing spaces exposed to pathogens like viruses and bacteria.

Why Professional Cleanup Is Essential

Biohazards can carry serious health risks if not handled properly. DIY cleaning puts you at risk of exposure to harmful pathogens and may not fully eliminate contamination. Professionals like SERVPRO use advanced techniques, protective equipment, and industry-standard cleaning products to ensure safe and thorough remediation.

How SERVPRO Can Help

Our certified biohazard cleanup specialists provide:

• 24/7 emergency response.
• Safe removal and disposal of hazardous materials.
• Deep cleaning and disinfection to restore safety.
• Compassionate, discreet service during stressful situations.

If you’re facing a biohazard situation, don’t take chances. Let SERVPRO handle the cleanup so you can focus on what matters most.

Contact SERVPRO Team Holcomb today for expert biohazard cleanup and restoration services.

Restoring Homes, Rebuilding Lives: The Role of SERVPRO Reconstruction

1/5/2024 (Permalink)

An interior construction project of a home that needed new flooring.

When disaster strikes, the aftermath can leave homes in shambles, requiring more than just cleanup. Enter SERVPRO Reconstruction – the unsung hero in the journey of recovery. Specializing in rebuilding structures after fire, water, or storm damage, SERVPRO seamlessly transitions from mitigation to reconstruction, streamlining the restoration process for homeowners. Their expert teams handle everything, from assessing the extent of damage to executing comprehensive reconstruction plans to working with your insurance to ensure you have coverage. With a commitment to quality craftsmanship and efficient project management, SERVPRO ensures a smooth path toward rebuilding what was lost. From minor repairs to complete renovations, SERVPRO Reconstruction is the trusted partner homeowners turn to for restoring not just properties, but the sense of security and normalcy that disasters disrupt.

Spotting Previous Damage When Buying a New Home

1/5/2024 (Permalink)

A home inspector check the crawlspace for any signs of previous damage or mold growth.

Embarking on the journey to purchase a new home is thrilling, but a cautious approach is key to a successful investment. As you tour potential properties, pay close attention to signs of previous damage, especially water or mold issues. Check for discolored patches on walls, ceilings, or floors, as they could indicate hidden problems. Engage a home inspector to thoroughly assess the property and reveal any potential issues. Delve into the property's history, examining past renovations, and disclosure reports. By navigating the home-buying process with diligence, you equip yourself to make an informed decision and secure a new home free from unwelcome surprises. If you have purchased a new home and are concerned about previous damage that could impact the integrity of your home, call your local SERVPRO. 

The Importance of Attic Care

1/5/2024 (Permalink)

This man is installing thermal roof insulation in an attic.

Often relegated to a forgotten corner of our homes, the attic is a space with untapped potential. Beyond being a storage area, this often-overlooked space plays a crucial role in maintaining the overall health of your home. Proper insulation in the attic contributes to energy efficiency, preventing heat loss in winter and minimizing heat gain in summer. Adequate ventilation is essential to control moisture and prevent the growth of mold. Regular inspections for pests, leaks, and proper insulation maintenance are key to a well-functioning attic. By investing time and attention into this space, you not only ensure a healthier living environment but also contribute to the longevity of your home. Don't underestimate the impact of an attic on your home. If you are concerned about mold growth or water damage to your attic, call your local SERVPRO® today.

Our Business? Protecting your Business!

1/11/2022 (Permalink)

Look at these folks! They're far too busy to be worrying about damage restoration!

Everyone’s got a passion he or she lives for. Maybe yours is selling artisanal soaps, or artisanal coffee, or artisanal craft beer, or artisanal cinderblocks or artisanal hubcaps, (etc.) Ours, however, is protecting your business from whatever non-sentient force of nature wishes to do it harm. That means cleaning and restoring your business after a fire, after a COVID exposure, or after a flood. It means cleaning up mold damage, and restoring your walls, floors, and ceilings, and getting all the spores out of your air ducts by cleaning it to industry professional standards. If that sounds like the kind of business you’re looking for, get in touch! We’re just a phone call away: (704) 939-1944, and we can be onsite in less than four hours, which gives you plenty of time to get some cookies or lemonade ready for when we get there (hint-hint!), and we’re open 24/7!

What is Kannapolis’s Risk for Flood Damage?

1/11/2022 (Permalink)

This is the most important map you will see for the entire day. Quick! Draw a copy from memory. You have to train yourself for the coming days.

Floods can take you by surprise, covering an entire block in a deluge in less than an hour. An important part of preventing that from happening to you is finding out what your risk is for flood damage! Luckily, Kannapolis has a flood map as part of Cabarrus County, and you can find said map here: Kannapolis Flood Map. It’s also attached at the top of the screen as the thumbnail image.

If you find yourself in a situation where flood damage has struck your home or place of business, your first step should be to call SERVPRO of North Cabarrus at (704) 939-1944 and we can be out there in less than four hours to help clean and restore your damaged goods, furniture, structures, and precious items you care about, and make them as close to preloss conditions as possible.

Winter Weather is Coming–What’s your Risk?

1/11/2022 (Permalink)

Red normally means hot, but now it means cold. Blue isn't hot, though, it's just less cold.

From now until April, it’s going to be getting a bit nippy outdoors. The temperature will drop, the air will become frigid, and people everywhere will look like chimneys everytime they exhale. But it’s not all fun and games, folks! Winter weather can be dangerous. Luckily, FEMA has put together a map of the risk of Winter Weather Damage here: https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/winter-weather

If you like, you can check your area and see what your risk of loss or damage from winter weather is in your county, and you can plan accordingly!

There’s also a map as the image at the top of this page, if you don’t feel like clicking that pesky link.

The first step to preventing damage or loss is to determine your risk, then to determine an action plan. Keep in mind that even if things go entirely South, you’ll always have SERVPRO of North Cabarrus to call and help you with your damage cleanup and restoration.

What is Kannapolis’ Risk for Rapid Cold?

1/11/2022 (Permalink)

Brrr! You've heard of the "cold shoulder," how about the "cold wave risk by county?"

Rapid cold is all the danger of winter weather without any of the fun. When temperatures plunge in hours with little warning, you can be stuck outside in a risky place with no way to return home. Don’t let that happen to you–use FEMA’s tool to determine your risk for rapid cold and start preparing (if necessary) now! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

So what’s your risk? Follow this link to find out: https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/cold-wave.

Alternatively, you can check the featured image in this article and try to find your county. Despite cold usually being represented by blue, red signifies the actual dangerous areas, and grey means there’s either no risk or not enough data to determine the risk.

Stay safe!