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Mold can live and grow behind a fridge, this can cause damage to your fridge, the walls and more and even cause health risks to your family and pets without you knowing that there is an issue. This article will tell you how you can prevent, identify, and remediate mold under refrigerators.

Types of Mold Found Behind Refrigerators

The most common type of mold that you will find under or behind a fridge is black mold. This mold is also called stachybotrys and this mold can be very toxic to your health if it is not taken care of.

Dangers of Black Mold

There are a lot of health issues that come with being exposed to black mold for pets and humans. The effects can cause respiratory issues and even neurological problems. If you start to notice any of the symptoms that are listed below, it is recommended that you call right away to see if you have black mold growing.

• Immune System & Reproductive System: recurrent infections, miscarriage, infertility
• Skin: itchiness, blisters, rashes, and skin irritations
• Vision: blurry vision, eye inflammation, bloodshot or red eyes
• Circulatory: blood clotting issues, low blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat
• Respiratory: nose bleeds, clogged/runny nose, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing
• Neurological: difficulty concentrating, tiredness, shortened attention span, and confusion

There are more risks than just health risks when dealing with mold, there are risks to your property. For instance, black mold will eat away and even deteriorate parts of your fridge.

What Causes Mold Under Refrigerators?

Many types of mold can break down and feed off of animal and plant matter which can be found in your environment. The spores from mold can grow in just 48 hours almost anywhere that there is plenty of moisture and organic materials to survive off of.

It is because of this that mold is normally found kitchens. The kitchen is often damp from things like dishwashers, heat from the oven, and more which make it the best place to breed mold. Refrigerators are also able to provide organic materials and since it is dark under a fridge, it can help mold to keep living.

Another cause of mold behind refrigerators is there is a leaking pipe on the fridge. If you have a pipe that is leaking then the dark and cool environment mixed with moisture can make the perfect home for mold.

How to Identify Mold

Visually spotting mold behind refrigerators is not always something that can be done easily. The fridge can hide mold really well. A common way to find mold is by the smell. Many people often think of this mold smell as an earthy smell.

When it comes to fridges, another indicator for mold is any type of discoloration or slimy spots on the fridge. This can be harder to tell if the refrigerator is built in. There could even be a bit of warping on the wall behind the fridge, which tells you that there is moisture and mold may in fact be growing.
If you are not sure if you have mold growing, then get a mold testing kit to help you find it.

Prevent Mold From Spreading

If you find mold is growing, then there are a few steps that you can do in order to keep it from spreading. You will want to contain your fridge and the area around it by using polyurethane sheeting and be sure to wear protective gear which keeps mold spores from causing health issues and spreading. Then you can remove the fridge and the building materials that were damaged by the mold.

Once you have removed and disposed of the bad stuff, you can scrub behind the fridge and the walls using a mold spray to make sure that there are no extra growth places. Ensure that you are scrubbing all parts of the way, even if you have not seen mold growing. Mold spores are very tiny and they are hard to detect until it starts growing. Once your walls are clean, let your walls dry completely and use the right type of ventilation and fans.

Hiring A Professional

We usually recommend against trying to remove mold on your own because it can grow back and be dangerous if it isn’t done right. Professional mold removal companies will know how to remove it in the most effective and the safest way possible. Call the number on our website now to get a free mold remediation quote from a company in your area.

Prevent Mold Growth

The main part of keeping mold from growing is to keep all areas dry. This means having the right type of ventilation by using a fan that vents to the outside of your home or opening a window. You can even invest in prevention techniques such as water resistant paint or drywall. There are many products on the market like coatings or sprays which can let you protect your items from mold growth. It is also very important that you take time to monitor just how much moisture you have within your home. You can do this by getting a moisture meter. This tool can help to tell you when your kitchen is too wet, which makes for the ultimate breeding ground when it comes to mold.