Rotten wood is often thought of by homeowners as an aesthetic concern or a problem with their home’s structure. However, wood rot has a serious and potentially harmful relationship to the air you breathe in your home. Knowing how these three items are connected is very important to the health of both your home and your family.
How Wood Rot Creates Conditions for Mold to Grow
Wet, decayed wood is a result of fungus that thrives on the moist fiber in wood. When your windows have faulty seals or a crack in the exterior paint, it holds moisture in the wood, allowing for the growth of biological organisms.
- Moisture Relationship: Rotten window sills, rotten sashes, and frames act as sponges, holding onto water that triggers the growth of mold and mildew.
- Spreading Spores: Once mold establishes itself in the decayed wood, it can easily spread into your drywall and the structural studs of your home.
- Hidden Dangers: Mold can grow inside the “soft spots” in the wall behind the paint and in the window framing, and can release spores before the mold is visible as a black mark on the wall
Impact on Indoor Air Quality and Health
Poorly managed windows contribute greatly to degrading indoor air quality. Contaminated air can circulate through the home when existing window frames have rotten wood or mold.
- Respiratory Issues: Mold spores and dust from rotting wood can trigger existing respiratory disorders such as asthma or bronchitis.
- Allergic Reactions: Many residents have experienced “unexplained” allergic reactions, such as sneezing, burning eyes, or rashy skin, due to mold growth present in improperly maintained window frames.
- Musty Odors: The presence of a damp, musty smell at your windows is a common indicator that both wood rot and mold are negatively impacting your home.
Breathe Easier with Professional Restoration
If you ignore an issue, you run the risk of creating a health hazard for you and all those who enter your home; as is the case with an environment that is contaminated by wood rot or mold. Our “surgical” approach to restoration at Rotten Window Repair not only fixes the damaged wood but also purges your home of contaminants.
- Eliminating the Source: We remove all rotted wood and moldy materials from your home, thus eliminating the presence of mold spores at their source.
- Airtight Sealing: All of our caulking is done with high-quality silicone and rubber caulks; this prevents moisture intrusion and air leakage from your home.
- Humidity Control: When we restore the integrity of your window units, we can maintain the proper level of humidity in your home, making it more difficult for mold to grow and flourish.
Is Your Home at Risk for Poor Indoor Air Quality?
Contact us today for a free assessment:
- Phone: +1 (630) 716-6181
- Email: rottenwindowrepair@gmail.com
You can also read about 5 Signs Your Windows are Rotting from the Inside Out
