Mold and Your Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Mold is a type of fungus that lives on plant and animal matter. In homes and buildings across Grand Rapids, mold can grow on:

• Building materials such as wood, drywall, and plasterboard
• Furnishings like carpet, rugs, and upholstered furniture
• Curtains and blinds
• Books, cardboard boxes, and stored items in basements and attics

Mold grows best in damp, poorly ventilated areas and reproduces by making tiny spores. These airborne mold spores are commonly found in both indoor and outdoor environments throughout West Michigan, including Grand Rapids.

When spores land on damp spots indoors, they can begin to grow and spread. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold indoors. The most effective way to control indoor mold growth is to control the source of moisture.

Because Grand Rapids has humid summers, wet springs, and snowy winters that can cause condensation and leaks, it is especially important that your home has good ventilation to minimize internal moisture and prevent mold growth.

How to Recognize Mold in Your Grand Rapids Home

Mold is not always easy to recognize. It often looks like:

• “Fuzz” on surfaces
• A stain, smudge, or discoloration on walls, ceilings, or furniture

The most common molds are black, green, or white. However, mold can also be:

• Grey, brown, orange, or even other colors
• Changing in color over time, depending on age or life-stage

Common places to find mold in Grand Rapids homes include:

• Basements and crawl spaces
• Bathrooms and around showers
• Around windows (especially in winter due to condensation)
• Attics and around roof leaks
• Behind furniture placed against cold, outside walls

If you can see or smell mold (a musty, earthy odor), you should assume there is a moisture problem that needs attention.

How Mold Affects Your Health

Mold associated with damp buildings can trigger:

• Nasal congestion or runny nose
• Sneezing
• Cough and wheezing
• Sore throat
• Respiratory infections
• Worsening of asthma and other allergic conditions

People who are more susceptible to mold-related health effects include those with:

• Asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Allergies (hay fever, environmental allergies)
• Weakened immune systems (for example, from cancer treatment, HIV, or certain medications)
• Chronic lung disease or other serious respiratory conditions
• Infants, young children, and older adults

In Grand Rapids, where cold winters often keep people indoors with windows closed and heating systems running, indoor air quality can significantly impact respiratory health.

If you or a family member experience breathing problems, persistent coughing, worsening asthma, or flu-like symptoms you think may be related to mold, seek medical advice from a local healthcare provider such as:

• Your primary care doctor
• Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health–University of Michigan Health, or Mercy Health clinics
• An urgent care center in the Grand Rapids area

In an emergency (such as severe breathing difficulty), always call 911.

Common Causes of Mold Growth Indoors

Mold only grows when there is sufficient moisture on a surface or high humidity in the air. In Grand Rapids homes and apartments, common causes include:

• Condensation from:

  • Cooking
  • Showering
  • Drying clothes indoors
  • Poorly insulated windows and exterior walls (especially in winter)

• Areas with poor air circulation, such as:

  • Cupboards and closets
  • Corners of rooms
  • Behind furniture placed against uninsulated outside walls
  • Closed-off basements or storage rooms

• Building and maintenance issues, including:

  • Leaking roofs and walls
  • Faulty or aging plumbing
  • Blocked gutters and downspouts (common after fall leaves and winter ice)
  • Flooding from heavy rain or snowmelt (especially in basements)

Because Grand Rapids is in the Great Lakes region, heavy snowfall, spring thaws, and strong storms can all contribute to water intrusion and moisture problems in homes.

Practical Steps to Prevent Mold in Grand Rapids

The most important actions you can take to prevent mold in your home are:

Fix Moisture Problems

• Repair leaky plumbing, roofs, windows, and foundations as soon as possible
• Ensure gutters and downspouts are cleared and maintained so water drains away from your home
• After spills or leaks, dry affected areas within 24–48 hours

Improve Ventilation and Airflow

• Air out your home regularly by opening windows and doors on milder or drier days
• Use ceiling fans or portable fans to improve air circulation (avoid blowing directly on visible mold)
• Increase air circulation around furniture by moving items a few inches away from exterior walls
• Avoid placing mattresses directly on the floor or on surfaces without adequate ventilation
• Vacuum and rotate mattresses if it can be done safely

Control Condensation and Humidity

• Wipe up excess water caused by condensation, such as:
  • On single-glazed or older windows
  • On shower doors or tiles
• Use dehumidifiers in damp areas such as basements (a common need in Grand Rapids homes)
• If available, use reverse-cycle air conditioning or mechanical dehumidification to keep indoor humidity down
• Avoid drying clothes indoors where possible; if you must, open a window or use an exhaust fan

Using Exhaust Fans and Appliances Safely

In Bathrooms and Kitchens

Reduce condensation by:

• Using exhaust fans when:
  • Showering or bathing
  • Cooking or boiling water
  • Using the dishwasher
• Keeping exhaust fans running for at least 15–20 minutes after showers or heavy cooking
• Opening a window slightly while showering or cooking if it is safe and practical

Clothes Dryers and Cooling Systems

• Vent clothes dryers to the outside, not into the home or basement
• Clean lint filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions
• Ensure sufficient exhaust openings to the outside of the building if using evaporative cooling systems
• Follow manufacturer’s instructions for evaporative coolers, as they increase indoor moisture
• Maintain heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems with regular servicing

Using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter can help reduce dust and some allergens in the home.

Mold in Rental Properties in Grand Rapids

In rental properties, responsibility for mold often depends on the cause:

• Landlord/property owner is typically responsible for:

  • Fixing mold caused by building faults (e.g., leaking roofs, faulty gutters, plumbing issues, structural problems)
  • Addressing chronic moisture problems from poor building design or maintenance

• Tenants are typically responsible for:

  • Using extractor fans when available
  • Opening windows when safe and practical to ventilate the home
  • Heating and airing the property to reduce condensation
  • Promptly reporting leaks, water damage, or mold to the landlord or property manager

Sometimes, the cause of mold growth may be due to a building fault that is not easily fixed. If, as a tenant, you have taken reasonable measures to ventilate and heat the property and mold is still growing, you should raise the issue with the owner or property manager in writing.

For guidance on housing and health standards, you can also contact:

• Kent County Health Department – Environmental Health
• Grand Rapids Public Health or local code enforcement for rental housing concerns

Do You Need to Test for Mold?

Where mold is clearly visible, it is generally not necessary to test for it in the home. The priority is to:

1. Identify and fix the source of moisture
2. Clean up and remove mold safely
3. Prevent it from returning

However, not all mold is visible. Mold contamination may occur:

• Inside wall cavities
• Under flooring or carpets
• In attics or ceilings
• Behind built-in cabinets or fixtures

If you can smell a persistent musty odor but cannot find visible mold, or if you have already taken steps to prevent mold and are still having problems, you may consider hiring:

• An occupational hygienist
• An environmental health and safety professional
• A reputable mold remediation company

For a fee, these professionals can provide specialized mold inspection, testing, and remediation services.

After Flooding or Water Damage in Grand Rapids

Heavy rains, river flooding, and rapid snowmelt can cause water damage in West Michigan homes, especially basements. After a flood or significant water event:

• Remove standing water as quickly as possible
• Dry carpets, furniture, and building materials within 24–48 hours if they are to be salvaged
• Dispose of items that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried (e.g., heavily soaked carpets, some upholstered furniture, cardboard boxes)
• Clean hard surfaces with detergent and water, then dry completely
• Use fans and dehumidifiers to speed drying, if safe to use

If your home has been significantly flooded, consult your insurance company and consider professional water damage and mold remediation services.

When to Seek Medical Help in Grand Rapids

Seek medical advice if:

• You or anyone in your family feels unwell and you suspect mold exposure
• Asthma or allergies suddenly worsen at home or in a specific building
• You experience persistent coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath

You can:

• Contact your local Grand Rapids GP (family doctor)
• Visit an urgent care clinic or hospital (e.g., Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health)
• Call 911 in any emergency

For public health information about indoor air quality, mold, and housing conditions, you can contact:

• Kent County Health Department
• Grand Rapids Public Health / local environmental health services

Key Points About Mold and Your Health in Grand Rapids

• Airborne mold spores are commonly found in both indoor and outdoor environments across Grand Rapids and West Michigan.
• It is important that your home has good ventilation to minimize internal moisture and prevent mold growth, especially during humid summers and tightly sealed winter months.
• The most common molds are black, green, or white, but they can appear in many colors and may look like stains, spots, or fuzz.
• Mold can trigger nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, respiratory infections, and can worsen asthma and allergies. People with weakened immune systems, severe asthma, chronic lung disease, and young children and older adults are more vulnerable.
• Sometimes, the cause of mold growth is a building fault (such as leaks or poor insulation) that may not be easily rectified and may require professional assessment or landlord involvement.
• The best way to control mold is to control moisture: fix leaks, improve ventilation, manage condensation, and dry wet areas quickly.