What does a strange musty odor in your home and a noticeable spike in allergic reactions such as sore throat, runny nose, itchy eyes, and breathing difficulties among family members have in common? Both are a sign that mold may be growing in your home.
Mold is a fungus that grows and spreads on all kinds of damp surfaces and decaying organic materials found in the home. Because it loves humid enclosed environments with stale air and minimal sunlight, it is quite common to find mold growing in a home’s drainpipes.
The favorite places for mold to grow inside drainpipes are areas where there is a buildup of debris. The presence of mold in drainpipes does not just signify the possibility of buildup inside the pipes; mold growth could encourage drain clogs.
In addition to serving as an indication that your drainpipes may be blocked, Real Management Talent Team warns, the presence of mold in your pipes poses major health risks to the people living in your home.
Dangers of mold in your home’s drains
Some of the dangers associated with mold inside the home include:
Risk of mold sickness
Constant exposure to mold, mold spores and toxic gases emitted by mold may have a direct impact on human and animal health. Stuffy nose, wheezing, red or itchy eyes/skin, watery eyes, sneezing, itching, coughing, headache, and fatigue are some of the symptoms associated with mold exposure. Mold can also aggravate existing allergies and respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Structural damage
Whatever mold grows on it feeds on. That is why it will not thrive in an environment without organic materials to sustain its growth. It means that mold breaks down the structures of your building when it grows on them. Also, one of the byproducts of mold growth is a corrosive material that accelerates the deterioration of surfaces.
Shorten the lifespan of plumbing
The sum effect of having mold in your drains is that your plumbing is subject to stresses that can shorten its lifespan. The conditions that make mold growth possible, as well as the activity of mold are harmful to the function and stability of your plumbing. If mold is not removed, it can force you to replace your drainpipes before you plan to.
Poor indoor air quality
Mold is a significant contributor to poor indoor air quality with other pollutants like carbon monoxide, asbestos, cigarette smoke, dust, pet dander, hair styling products and kitchen smoke. The danger of mold lies in the spores and mycotoxins released by the fungus. If inhaled, mold spores and toxic mold gases can cause lung inflammation and suppress the human immune system.
How to remove mold from your drains
Getting rid of mold will stop its harmful effects on your family’s health and your drainpipes. But how do you do that? Since mold can grow anywhere inside your drains, how do you pinpoint the exact location of mold in your drains and get rid of it?
It is not necessary to know the specific places where mold grows in the drains before you can remove it. That is because there is a safe, effective, quick and affordable method. You can use it to clean your drainpipes and get rid of all the blockages and mold inside them.
This method is called hydro-jetting.
What is hydro-jetting, and how can it help remove mold from your drains?
What is hydro-jetting?
Hydro-jetting is a method used by professional plumbers to remove clogs from drainpipes. It involves the use of water jets that can shoot up to 20 gallons of water a minute (that is, pressures of up to 5,000 psi) into the pipes to blast away debris, mold and tree roots.
Hydro-jetting your home’s drain does not require any special preparations. All that is needed is for the plumber to find the right place to insert the hose and start pumping water into your drains. This method is superior to other drain-cleaning methods because it is:
Non-invasive
Hydro-jetting does not require excavation of your home’s drainpipes. With this method, you can avoid the cost of digging up pipes and replacing them. There is no expensive landscaping repair when you hydro-jet your drains.
Quick
This process can easily be completed in a few hours. The disruption to the household is minimal, and you can start using the drains as soon as hydro-jetting is completed.
Highly effective
Hydro-jetting is effective for all clogs, including tree root removal from your sewer lines. You can use it in both residential and commercial plumbing systems.
Completely safe
Because it uses only water, hydro-jetting is perfectly safe. It is unlike other drain cleaning methods that pose significant risks to your plumbing systems.
Eco-friendly
Hydro-jetting does not harm the environment. This method does not leave chemical residues that can leach into soil and groundwater systems.
Hydro-jetting your drains at least once a year is a proven method for preventing drain clogs and mold growth that may result from those clogs.