Molds are capable of growing everywhere- even in the most constricted area inside the borders of your home. It comes in a variety of shapes and colors that may bring a threat to your health and home. As much as it differs in appearance, it also comes in a variety of musty smells too.
Some people are more sensitive to the presence of molds. As a result, they may suffer from allergic reactions, irritations, nasal congestion, or even trigger asthma-related symptoms. Aside from its health impacts, molds also feed on the surfaces of your home appliances.
Even your refrigerators could not escape from this threat of mold! Molds can get anywhere as long as there is a presence of moisture and water. Can you imagine how crucial it is when your fridge, your daily food storage area is being invaded by these molds?
To top it off a fan starts and pushes mold around the inside or the outside of your refrigerator.
Why are Your Refrigerators Prone to Molds?
As much as the inside of your refrigerators matter, consideration must also be given to its exterior. The back part of your refrigerator may be the next target of molds to infiltrate, despite being mostly disregarded. If you want to know why mold can grow on your refrigerator, just see below:
Your refrigerator produces water every day!
Molds could quickly grow in an environment that is humid or has poor air circulation. On a regular basis, your refrigerator pulls moisture from the ambient environment and the items you place inside the fridge. Improper coolant levels, freon, can cause the unregulated cooling of pipes to cool and freeze. During this unusual cycle, you may notice that your refrigerator is slightly warmer than normal or condensation may start to develop on bottles and colder items in the unit.
Opening and Closing the door
In addition to the improper cycling of gases, opening and closing the doors cause additional strain on the fridge. This additional stress on the refrigerator can cause the evaporative coils to freeze in the back of the unit and cause an ice dam. As this ice dam slowly recedes moisture develops and drips into the reservoir. The additional deposits of water into the pan, below the unit, are normally evaporated by the condensing fan and the heat produced by the compressor. Yet, once this overflow event happens the water drip onto your floors or gets absorbed into your walls.
Water Source Through a Broken Pipe
Water the mold’s source of life. Thus, that wall surrounding your fridge may cause mold build-up through a leaking pipe. With just a tiny source of water, molds could start to create its colony. Normally, it is difficult to know or even prevent this from happening. Often, a family member may go into a room adjacent to the kitchen and notice a wet floor or soggy carpet. “On some account, people often report a small stain of water in front of the refrigerator that showed up one or two times.” R.S. Thinking nothing of it homeowners collect the water with a paper towel or just clean the stain on the floor. The slow drip often goes unnoticed. That’s why the moment you discover a broken water pipe, or similar indicators, act immediately by a thorough investigation.
The drain
The water/ice drain should be emptied and cleaned at least once a week. This area collects water on a regular basis and can easily produce mold and mildew in the reservoir.
Broken Fridge Causing Water Leakage
Leakage does not only come from pipes and roofs but also your refrigerator too. Inside and outside your fridge, water leakage could happen due to several causes like the ice maker. To make things worse, these are times you may not notice the problem occurring right away.
There are many possible solutions to prevent this issue.
Fridge basics
First, you may try to improve air circulation by not pushing your refrigerator close to the wall and leaving an ample amount of space for air to circulate behind your unit. Proper placement of your unit is good to maintain a normal operating unit.
Water lines
Next, when moving your fridge be prepared to follow the water line and ensure that it has no been kinked or jammed below the refrigerator wheels. It is common for a failure to occur in one of the plastic or copper pipes found behind the refrigerator.
Temperature problems
Uneven temperatures are an indicator that the unit may not be functioning properly. It may be worth calling an appliance repairman to evaluate the unit. With an unit that is not properly balanced, condensation and mold growth are a real possibility.
Spills and leaks
Spills and leaks should not go unnoticed and alert you to a possible moisture problem. Document leaks and problems to see if they occur again within a short period of time. This may indicate a major water intrusion problem. A small problem may come and go, so please be aware and track those visual cues too.
Maintenance
Maintenance of the refrigerator is important. Since the unit is cooling, condensation does develop in areas on a regular basis. The gaskets forming the seal between the refrigerator and the doors are a perfect place for black mold to form. The remedy
Storage
Refrigerator storage – to properly execute mold-free storage it is recommended that the door remain slightly ajar. This will prevent any elevated humidity and stillness from occurring. Ultimately this is the best way to prevent mold from developing inside the unit.
Need more help?
If you are living in Los Angeles, California, let FunGuy Inspections solve your mold issue! As mold removal and remediation experts, we offer services ranging from mold inspections and survey to the recommendation of best solutions possible. In any water source, a mold may arise; in every mold issue, FunGuy Inspections is ready to serve you! If you are interested, schedule an appointment with us today by visiting our website or by calling (866) 674-7541.