How Do I Know If My House Has A Moisture Problem
One of the best ways to tell is by checking the humidity. A home with high humidity likely has a moisture problem. Musty smells suggest mold, mildew or rot. Household odors that linger may indicate too much moisture in the air. Frost and ice on cold surfaces from condensation can be a sign of excess moisture in the air as well.
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Technical Reviewers & References
Why Choose Hrs Restoration Services
There is so little time to waste when you discover a water beach in your home. Damage happens quickly, and mold commonly black mold can begin to grow in just a few hours.
As professional mold and water remediation and restoration experts, the team at HRS is ready to help homeowners in Denver who suspect mold is growing.
We have a combined two decades of experience helping people just like you who want to protect the health and safety of those who live and work in homes that have had a water breach and may be suffering a mold infestation.
Our team of certified technicians, licensed contractors and customer service professionals partner with you and your insurance company to ensure that the mold is found, removed and all damage is repaired in the quickest and least stressful manner possible.
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Black Mold Is Usually Present In Drywall Under Carpets Or In Corners Of Walls That Have Been Flooded
In addition to damp rooms and moisture-exposed wood, mold can grow in some less obvious spaces as well. Water leaks from a homes pipes, bathroom, HVAC units, or roofs, as well as improper ventilation, can all contribute to black mold growth in and on various surfaces.
Porous surfaces, such as drywall and carpets, are particularly susceptible to black mold growth following moisture exposure. Water can also accumulate near the corners of walls after a flood or leak, causing the mold to grow within these nooks and crannies.
How Do You Know If It’s Black Mold
Here are the 3 best ways to tell if black mold is growing in your home:
Many times black mold will not be easy to find. In most cases the mold will be found the the corner of a room, in-between the walls, in a damp basement, in cabinets, or under a sink. If you do not have adequate light, then use a flashlight to find the mold.
All types of mold give of a damp and musty smell, but black mold is especially pungent. If you smell an odor that is very strong.
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Home Remedies For Black Mold
1. Tea Tree Oil Solution
Being a natural fungicide, tea tree oil eliminates black mold and prevent it from coming back. Combine two tsp of tea tree oil and two cups of water into a spray bottle. Spritz it all over the moldy area and wait for 10-15 minutes before scrubbing with a soft-bristled brush. Wipe the treated space with a damp cloth and let it dry properly.
2. Try Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar takes out the mold in no time, thanks to its mild acidic content named acetic acid. Pour 2 cups of distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle. Coat the moldy area with vinegar and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Spritz the solution again on the spot, scrub with a clean rag, and let it dry. Redo the process if needed.
3. 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
The anti-fungal properties of hydrogen peroxide make it the best tool against black mold. Pour two parts of water and one part of hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Shake it well and spray on the moldy spot. Wait for 5-10 minutes, scour with a soft-bristled brush, and wipe with a dry cloth. Dont use this method on wallpapers as it can damage them.
How To Test For Black Mold In Your House
The first step in figuring out if you have mold in your house if it is not visible to the naked eye is by smell. Since mold grows in wet and damp locations, it could be hidden behind a wall, floor or ceiling. A musty, earthy odour will permeate around building materials.
Basements and crawlspaces are places that promote black mold growth, especially if there has been flooding due to heavy rains or snowmelt. If mold issues are not dealt with in these less-trafficked areas, mold can continue to grow and spread, and affect the indoor air quality and the health of you and your family, in your entire house.
Black mold in attics is also a problem for houses that have leaky roofs or are not properly weatherproofed or insulated.
If you discover black mold in your home, it is recommended that you get a mold inspection from a certified professional. If it is present then mold testing can let you know if the black mold in your home is toxic or non-toxic to ensure your safety. Hiring a mold removal company would be the next step.
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How To Identify Black Mold On Other Surfaces
Black mold has a distinct look that should signal to you its presence on other surfaces in your home. It may look dark green or gray, depending on where it is growing. It also may simply look like black, fuzzy spots growing in dark and wet corners of the floor, ceiling, walls and other areas.
If other surfaces in your home have been exposed to moisture, humidity or water and have this type of growth on them, you should suspect that the spores are actually black fungus. The spots may even be difficult to sweep or scrub and only be removed and killed if you spray bleach or ammonia on them.
What Does Black Mold On Drywall Look Like
Black mold on drywall generally looks like a circular black stain on your drywall.
While the color can vary from a dark gray to dark black depending on how long the mold has been there, it is normally black often with white fuzz.
Black mold usually will have a fuzzy texture, similar to a cotton ball, when it is first growing. Fuzzy spores are less common in older black mold.
Black Mold that has been sitting for a long time will look more like a flat black stain than fuzzy spores.
Black Mold patches on drywall usually grow in a circular shape that are denser toward the middle.
The thickest part of the black mold will be closest to the cause and hardest to eliminate.
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Black Mold On Building Surfaces
Black mold feeds on cellulose, so it prefers to grow on wood. Any wood paneling you may have outside can be a solid place for it to grow. Always keep your wood dry and in open spaces. Large piles of wood provide more surface area for growth.
It also grows on and in drywall, if you see splotchy black patches on one side of drywall it is most likely soaked all the way through. Keep an eye on your drywall as often at this point the whole wall will have to be replaced.
Black fungal growth can even happen inside fiberglass insulation. When your insulation is infected it will have to be replaced as it is not keeping the elements out of your home.
Black Mold In Basements
If you see a yellow or pink stain on your basement wallpaper, drywall, or wood this could be a sign of mold right on the other side.
Clustered fungal growths along the molding of your floor that seem to crawl up the wall are a bad sign.
While heat rises, water sinks and your basement is the bottom of your house where it all pools. If you have a carpeted basement watch out for dark spots. Any damp areas should be cleaned right away.
Leaks in basements are common and provide perfect conditions for mold. Check any pipes that leave from your basement and make sure there are no cracks, as mold can follow the leak right down a wall.
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Where Is Mold Found In A Home
A research study found that Stachybotrys preferred a very high relative humidity within wallsapproximately 97%which indicates that relative humidity could be an important risk factor . For black mold, you may consider smaller microclimates that may harbor such humidity levels: sweating pipes, under sink cabinets, front loading washing machines, standing water, roof leaks, damp cars, windows with condensation, etc. Generally, common places to check for mold growth include the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room.
However, humidity alone is not the only requirement for mold growthmold requires nutrients to grow. Any environment that has nutrients like cellulose or other organic matter can harbor mold if the humidity level is right. To further enable mold growth, an environment that has poor air flow and minimal disruption is ideal. For example, you can find mold on wallpaper, furniture, drywall, overly-packed bookshelves or overstuffed closets.
What Are Black Mold Health Symptoms
We all know mold isnt welcomed in the home, but did you know too that breathing in the presence of mold can harm your health? There are over 2,000 different species of mold and the most dangerous of all is called Stachybotrys Chartarum, also known as black mold or the invisible killer.
Why is black mold so dangerous? Black mold releases toxic spores that linger in the air and attack your respiratory health. The potency of these toxic spores has proved to be the most detrimental to human health.
Black mold often appears as slimy and greenish-black. If its water source runs out, it can also appear as dry and powdery. Black mold is also dangerous because its sometimes difficult to distinguish from other species of mold.
The following are health symptoms associated with black mold exposure:
- Eye irritation
In severe cases, symptoms caused by inhaling black mold can lead to the following health troubles:
- Vomiting
- Asthma
- Respiratory complications
Sometimes mold invades spaces that are hard to see and reach. It spreads fast, burrowing into walls and ceilings and hiding in cupboards and under carpets. Quite often, people are exposed to black mold without even knowing it. If you or anyone in your home is experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms without knowing why, you may be exposed to mold.
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How Is Black Mold Identified
Collected mold samples on a medium such as a bulk sample, swab sample, or even air sample are sent to a laboratory. A microbiologist then identifies the spore type which can be Stachybotrys or other mold spore species under a microscope.
But who collects the samples?
Well, you can hire a licensed mold inspector who may tell you many issues about your house that you did not know.
You can collect the samples yourself using something such as My Mold Detective.
I always recommend the mold inspector route if possible, to avoid any contact with dangerous toxins produced by mold growth. However, getting a mold inspection can be expensive.
Signs And Symptoms Of Black Mold Poisoning
Black mold exposure may often present with your typical allergic complaints that are listed above. However, one must be mindful that other non-allergic, mold-related illnesses exist and may present similarly to a mold allergy, but often with more seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Research has found that people who have been exposed to mixed mold, mold spores and mycotoxins have experienced neurological and behavioral symptoms. These symptoms have been corroborated by other studies like Gordon et al. and Rea et al. .
Such non-allergic symptoms to mold may include, but are not limited to:
- Cognitive impairment
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How To Remove Black Mold
Protect yourself. You don’t need to worry about having mold tested if you find mold in your house. But you should get rid of it no matter what type of mold it is. Take precautions to protect yourself before you attempt to remove mold.
Use an N-95 face mask to avoid breathing in mold spores. Wear gloves to protect your hands and goggles without ventilation holes to protect your eyes.â
Find and destroy the mold. The most important part of removing mold is finding and removing its water source. Mold can’t grow without moisture. Keep the following tips in mind when you’re cleaning up mold:
- Items that can’t be dried quickly should be discarded if they show signs of mold or water damage. Porous items such as carpet, padding, drywall, and paper soak up moisture.
- Do not paint or caulk over moldy surfaces. Remove the mold and dry the surfaces before you paint. Paint applied over mold will peel.
- Use plastic sheeting to block an area with mold from the rest of your house and keep the spores from spreading.
- Scrub hard surfaces with mold with detergent and water and dry them thoroughly.
- Put any moldy items in a plastic bag before you take them out of the room to prevent mold spores from spreading.
- Use a HEPA filter in your air conditioner and furnace to capture mold spores that may be airborne in your house.
- Consult a specialist if you’re not sure of the best way to clean a valuable or sentimental item.â
How Do I Know If Its Black Mold
Black mold, as the name implies, is often dark in color. When searching for black mold, look for circular-shaped spots that are black, dark green or dark brown. Some black mold can also take on shades of orange or have flecks of white within it. Most of the time, black mold has a slightly furry appearance.
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Black Mold Usually Appears On Wooden Surfaces That Have A Water Source Nearby
Black mold can also grow on wooden surfaces if there is a nearby water source. Common areas include wood trims on bathroom walls, cabinets underneath kitchen or bathroom sinks, and wooden furniture found in damp basements.
Because wood is highly porous, the mold is able to grow on the surface while also growing roots deep within. Black mold growth on wooden surfaces can be particularly difficult to remove.
Is Black Mold Dangerous Heres The Truth
The truth is, many people arent negatively affected by mold. However, mold can cause allergies in some people who are sensitive to mold. In these cases, it can make their lives miserable. Mold can also cause severe medical issues with a small percentage of people who have other health complications.
If youve seen a concerning growth in your home or been told that you have a black mold issue, you probably have a lot of questions.
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Black Mold Smells Like Must And Mildew
Small areas of molds are often concealed behind wallboard and never really breakthrough to the visible side. But the clumping molds often have a very distinct aroma when growing.
Small areas of molds are often concealed behind wallboard and never really breakthrough to the visible side. But the clumping molds often have a very distinct aroma when growing.
The smell of black mold is quite distinctive, commingling mildew with a must. The odor is usually most noticeable after it comes into contact with a surge of air, such as when pushed through a homes ducts. Or after people have not been around the rooms indoor air for some time, such as in Joe and Cathys case.
Create A Bleach Mixture
If the black mold growth in your home is small enough for you to treat alone, a simple mixture of bleach and water can help. Add one cup of bleach to one gallon of water and apply it to the moldy spots. You can also find commercial black mold removal products.
Soak a paper towel in the cleaner and press it over the mold growth to dampen the area. Then start scrubbing. Avoid spraying moldy areas, since the droplets will collide with the mold spores and launch them throughout the room, making them easier to breathe in and harder to eradicate.
Be sure to dry the area thoroughly when youre done.
Do NOT mix bleach with ammonia. This combination can create toxic fumes that are far more dangerous than any mold youre trying to clean.
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Mold Identifications: Black Mold Vs Regular Mold
It is also important as a homeowner that you do not confuse toxic black mold with regular mold. In fact, both types can look similar to each other. However, the regular type of fungus does not pose as much risk to your home or your family.
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The regular variety may be black in color but is not toxic. Toxic black mold can be either green or black. It releases mycotoxins that can make you seriously ill if you come into contact with or inhale them.
