If you find mold growth in your basement, and there's no sign of a leak in the basement's sink, you may not know what to do or where to look. Although leaky plumbing pipes can cause mold to grow in your basement, the culprit may actually hide behind or in the room's walls. Water lines traveling through these places can corrode or break down over time and leak. Ground water can also enter damaged seams in the walls. Both issues can allow water and moisture to build up in the room and attract mold. You can stop the problem before it gets out of hand with the tips and information below. 

Test the Walls for Dampness

One of the first things you want to do is test the walls to see if they're damp. Damp walls can be a sign of water leaking or seeping into the room's foundation. The material of your walls may feel wet or damp to the touch. If the walls do feel damp, look for small cracks, holes, and other damages in them. You may find the leaks when you do.

If you don't see any visible problems on the walls, check the seams of the basement. Seams describe the areas where the flooring meets the walls. Ground water can leak into the seams if they have any gaps, wear and tear, or cracks. If you look closely, you might notice wet spots or pooling water near the damaged seams.

After you find the cause of the mold growth, you can take steps to fix it.

Repair the Leaks

If the leak is small or in one location, you may be able to seal it with waterproof caulk. But if the leak is large or occurs in many seams, contact a plumber for assistance. Even if you manage to seal the leaks, mold can still grow in the basement if there's damaged plumbing pipes behind the walls or saturated soil outside the basement. The leaks can also spread or create problems in the rest of the home.

A plumber may test entire basement for water leaks as well as look for deterioration in the room. Water and moisture can potentially weaken the basement's foundation, which may place your house at risk for structural damage. If any of these issues show up, a plumber can discuss the best ways to fix them. 

Don't hesitate to contact a professional plumber like AAA Home Services for an inspection of your moldy basement.