Alton, MO · Oregon County

Mold Inspection Alton, MO.

Closer Look Inspectors offers mold inspection and mold testing in Alton, Oregon County, Missouri, through a local partner in our Missouri network.

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Why moisture builds up in Alton homes

Water nearby: Eleven Point River, Missouri's only National Wild and Scenic River; Greer Spring (National Natural Landmark, designated 1980) is in the Eleven Point River basin.

Setting: Oregon County holds a large area of the Mark Twain National Forest; Greer Spring, a karst spring in the Salem Plateau, is north of town.

Missouri summers are hot and humid. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals put average yearly precipitation at Springfield 44.7 inches, Poplar Bluff 50.8 inches. Warm, damp air is what lets mold take hold in attics, crawlspaces and bathrooms.

Housing age and hidden moisture in Alton

Housing: The Greer Mill, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

In pictures

Where moisture and mold hide.

Illustrative photos of the kinds of homes and conditions found in this area.

Dehumidifier running in a basement, newer home

Dehumidifier running in a basement, older home

Clear plastic sealed crawlspace with a white liner, newer home

Clear plastic sealed crawlspace with a white liner, older home

Sump pit with a pump in a basement corner, newer home

Sump pit with a pump in a basement corner, older home

In Alton

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Questions

Common questions.

Why is Alton the county seat instead of Thomasville?

Oregon County's first seat, Thomasville, was laid out on the Eleven Point River in 1845. In 1859 the county seat was moved by law to a more central location, where Alton was founded.

What is Greer Spring and how is it tied to Alton?

Greer Spring is the second-largest spring in the Ozarks and was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1980. It lies north of Alton on Missouri Highway 19, within the Mark Twain National Forest, in the Eleven Point River basin.

Why is mold common in southern Missouri homes?

Southern Missouri has humid summers and about 45 to 50 inches of precipitation a year, based on NOAA normals for Springfield and West Plains. EPA advises keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50 percent. Basements, crawlspaces and bathrooms are where moisture tends to collect.

Why do crawlspaces and basements matter in Missouri houses?

EPA notes that crawl spaces with high humidity are common sites of hidden mold growth, especially over bare soil. Missouri summers are humid, so foundation moisture is a frequent buyer concern. EPA also advises grading the ground away from the foundation so it does not stay wet.

Sources for the facts on this page

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