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How Do You Know If Your House Have Mold

Is Black Mold Dangerous

9 Signs You Have Toxic Mold In Your Home

The short answer isnot really. But that doesnt mean you should keep black mold as a pet.

Everyone has different levels of tolerance to allergens like mold spores, but thats all black mold isan allergen.1 Those with asthma, respiratory allergies, or immune suppression will feel the effects of black molds mycotoxins more than most folks.

As one source put it, Previous reports of toxic mold syndrome or toxic black mold have been shown to be no more than media hype and mass hysteria. 2

But whether you feel black mold symptoms or not, its best to get rid of black mold as soon as you find it.

Sign 6 Of Mold In House: Physical Symptoms Of Mold

Do you experience frequent headaches, an inability to focus, memory loss or dizziness? The toxic substances of mold can cause these symptoms in addition to allergic reactions or in more severe cases asthma attacks. Those with weak immune systems are especially susceptible to the health risks associated with mold.

If you are experiencing one or more of these signs of mold in your house, be sure to take immediate action and contact a professional, such as Crossroads Property Rescue, for further inspection and/or remediation. We provide emergency property restoration and decontamination services to Morgantown, West Virginia and the tri-state area of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Western Maryland and all of Northern West Virginia. Were available 24/7 at 855-DRY-3222 .

Sign 4 Of Mold In House: Water Leaks And Condensation

Leaking sinks, ceilings and pipes are common causes of mold growth if left untreated. This often causes mold to grow in inconspicuous places around your home. Whether theyre behind a wall or another surface, water leaks need to be taken seriously and mandate further investigation for mold growth in the surrounding area.

If your glass windows and pipes are showing signs of condensation or if you notice increasingly rusting metal pipes, there could be excess moisture in your home, leading to a potential mold problem. Higher humidity levels that cause these levels of condensation feed mold spores and are warning signs of future mold growth.

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How Do Molds Get In The Indoor Environment And How Do They Grow

Mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, and pets can and be carried indoors. When mold spores drop on places where there is excessive moisture, such as where leakage may have occurred in roofs, pipes, walls, plant pots, or where there has been flooding, they will grow. Many building materials provide suitable nutrients that encourage mold to grow. Wet cellulose materials, including paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, and wood products, are particularly conducive for the growth of some molds. Other materials such as dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery, commonly support mold growth.

Your Planter Of Begonias Is Leaking

3 Step Guide For Removing Mold in Your Home

Exterior landscaping that is close to the home, as well as planters placed against exterior walls, can also lead to mold issues, especially for stucco homes, says Gregg Cantor, President and CEO of Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel. Moisture finds its way inside the walls and can cause mold growth in the drywall and insulation. This type of mold growth can be particularly dangerous because its rarely caught until the mold shows up on the interior of the wall, at which point the growth can be extensive and a danger to your health, says Cantor. Watch out for these other sneaky backyard dangers you need to be aware of.

Also Check: How To Remove Mold From Vinyl Seats

Moisture: Investigating And Solving Problems

Mould will grow indoors if moisture is present. Moisture problems in homes may result from:

  • daily activities such as showering or bathing, washing clothes or cooking, if exhaust fans are not working properly or are not used
  • infiltration of water from the outside when there are cracks or leaks in the foundation, floor, walls or roof
  • plumbing leaks
  • moisture condensation on cold surfaces
  • flooding due to weather conditions
  • inadequate ventilation.

Moisture indoors accumulates when it cannot be vented outside and becomes a problem when building materials become damp or wet.

Moisture problems are preventable.

Unless the cause of the moisture problem has been identified and solved, mould will reappear. Once the moisture problem and its causes have been identified, they must be fixed. To prevent future problems, measures should be put in place to control sources of moisture in your home, for example:

  • Ensure rain, irrigation water and snowmelt drain away from the house by sloping the grade away from the building.
  • Keep eavestroughs and downspouts clean of debris and ensure that the outflow runs away from the house and not into neighbouring foundations.
  • Repair plumbing leaks promptly.
  • Use exhaust fans, ventilation and air conditioning systems to vent moisture outdoors.
  • Use moisture tolerant materials in areas likely to get wet .

Run a dehumidifier in damp areas such as basements or if you observe that moisture is condensing on cold surfaces such as window panes.

Air Conditioning And Heating Vents

You probably prefer your bedroom to be at the optimal temperature for you to get a good nights rest. While using the AC and heating unit are fine , its possible for mold to grow in the vents.

To prevent mold from contaminating your bedroom, you should:

  • Use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air
  • Dry up any condensation you find on the walls and windows
  • Invest in a mold-resistant mattress or, at the very least, a waterproof mattress cover

Read Also: How To Mold Leather Holster

Keep It Clean And Dry

It never hurts to clean regularly. Make sure humid areas and rooms with plumbing get regular spot checks. Add mold and mildew removal products to your cleaning routine, especially for the bathroom and kitchen.

Mold thrives on moisture, so use dehumidifiers in humid areas of your home like bathrooms, basements, or closets.

Tips For Mold Prevention

How Do You Know If Your House Has A Mold Problem?

Wondering how you can prevent mold from affecting your home? Here are a few tips that may help you prevent mold from forming altogether.

  • Keep things clean Dirty surfaces can provide mold with the organic food materials they need to take hold, and start growing throughout your home. Be particularly careful in areas which may be damp, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and attics.
  • Address dampness Dampness may be an issue if you live in an area which receives a lot of rain, or your basement floods. Make sure to ventilate your home as much as possible in humid climates, and soak up any visible moisture as soon as possible.
  • Keep the air dry Air conditioners and dehumidifiers can help reduce the moisture content of the air. Keep your air at 40-50% relative humidity for the best comfort, and to prevent the growth of mold.
  • Heat damp areas to dry them out You may consider using space heaters or even a hair dryer to heat damp areas of your home where mold may form. This is a short-term fix, though. Its best to address the source of the dampness, not the dampness itself.
  • Keep the air circulating Proper ventilation from attics, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements and any other place where moisture is common is essential. Make sure that your home is properly insulated and ventilated, so that air can circulate properly
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    Condensation On Windows Window Frames And Sills

    • Promptly repair any leaks.
    • Lower the indoor moisture levels.
    • Use exhaust bathroom fans and a kitchen range hood.
    • Keep window coverings open to move the warm air over the windows .
    • Keep baseboards or heating vents clear of furniture to make sure the heat flows.
    • Dry your window frames and sills daily to keep water from dripping and causing mould to grow.
    • Leave interior doors open for good air and heat flow.
    • Unplug and remove humidifiers.

    Signs Your Home Has Mold

    ByJessica Stone, Andy Hartup14 July 2020

    Worried your house or apartment has mold? Here are the telltale signs you may have a damp or fungus problem.

    Does your home have mold? If you own your house or apartment, mold can be an expensive issue to fix, and a persistent problem. And it isn’t just the cost either – many forms of mold are extremely bad for your health, if ingested over a period of time, so you need to get it sorted. If you’re in any doubt about whether you have mold, what type you have, or where it is concentrated, you should pick from any of the best mold test kits and check it out for yourself. They’re all inexpensive, and can help you start to fix the problem.

    However, you need to know the early-warning signs in order to start your investigation. Mold can often grow in places you rarely inspect, and can even spread behind stud walls, chimneys, or large items of furniture like wardrobes. One of the most common places for mold to grow is in your HVAC unit, which will then spread it through your home. Many test kits will sample from your air con unit, but some won’t. In some instances you may even need to change the heating and cooling system in your home, if mold gets bad, so if this is the case you should consult our guide to the best central air conditioning units.

    Hopefully, though, you’ll spot one of the signs your home has mold early, and get it fixed before it spreads.

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    Dont Ignore These Warning Signs You Have Mold In Your House

    Mold may look innocent, but it poses a serious threat to your health and your home.

    If youve seen any of these signs you have mold in your house, dont delay. Call in a professional mold remediation company to remove this dangerous substance from your home.

    Take a look around the rest of our site to discover more informative content!

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    How To Know If You Have Black Mold In Your House

    How to know if a house has black mold

    Mold isnt always visible. If you can see mold, its only a sign of the real potential health risk, which is the harmful types of unhealthy levels of mold in the air of your home or workplace.

    Airborne mold is all around us in both the outdoors and indoors. The types and amount of mold is what determines the potential health risk. Most of us are typically accustomed to the varieties and amounts of mold present in our outdoor environments.

    Healthy indoor environments will have mold conditions similar to or better than those in the surrounding outdoors. Over time, because of moisture , many indoor spaces develop unhealthy types and/or unhealthy levels of airborne mold that can be harmful to you or your pets.

    These signs will help you know if you possibly have unhealthy mold conditions in your house:

    • Allergic symptoms
    • A damp or musty odor in one or more places
    • Frequent headaches
    • The air in the home feels different
    • Your house has been flooded or currently has leaks
    • You previously tried removing mold yourself

    Take note of how you feel in and out of the house. If the symptoms disappear or decrease when youre out and about, then you might have a mold problem, yes, even if you cant see mold.

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    How To Beat Mold And Mildew

    • Method 1 of 3: Treat the bottom of the mold. Keep in mind that mold is mainly caused by moisture. Mold is a moisture problem.
    • Method 2/3: Use of different cleaning solutions. Try a mixture of bleach and warm water. Mix one cup of bleach for every gallon of hot water.
    • Method 3 of 3: Clean less common surfaces and materials. Remove mold or mildew from clothing.

    What To Do If You Find Mold On Your Walls

    If you suspect that you have mold on the walls or walls of your home, there are several ways to solve this problem. First, remove all mold residue, including drywall, insulation, subfloor, and carpet. Then you can use commercially available products containing ammonia or bleach on any hard, moldy surface.

    Also Check: How Long After Water Damage Does Mold Grow

    Black Mold Removal And Cleaning

    Mold remediation in stores, offices, or schools is best left to the pros. This also applies to household mold exceeding 10 square feet.

    The contractors you choose should have insurance and licenses from organizations like the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification .

    Homeowners can handle cleaning about 10 square feet of black mold on their own.3 If the patch is small enough, a combination of bleach, water, scrubbing, and ventilation should do the trick.

    Before treating mold on your own, prioritize ventilation and protective gear.

    Removing black mold is a tough and dirty job. If you or anyone in your family is sensitive to mold allergies, has respiratory or immune issues, trust the professionals.

    Find a contractor in your area to get started.

    What Are The Signs Of Mold

    How to know if you have mold in your house?

    Mold starts out as a little spot but expands quickly. Youll usually notice it early on, unless its in an out-of-the-way location.

    Mold can be black, white, spotted, or just about any color, and may appear powdery, cottony, or velvety.

    If you notice a spot and arent sure if its just an old stain or a splotch of dirt, heres how to tell if it could be a sign of mold:

    • It has a musty, earthy smell.
    • Theres a nearby source of moisture, but not much light.
    • You see warping, cracking, or peeling of whatever material its growing on.
    • A drop of bleach lightens its color in a minute or two.
    • Unchecked, mold will continue to grow. Dirt and old stains wont.

    Having mold in your home wont necessarily make you sick. But it does have the potential to cause certain health issues.

    Touching or inhaling mold spores can cause allergy-type symptoms such as:

    • runny nose and congestion
    • lung irritation
    • wheezing

    In many cases, you can get rid of household mold yourself. Mold can be removed with:

    • commercial products
    • a bleach solution of 8 ounces of bleach per 1 gallon of water

    Before you begin:

    • Wear protective eyewear, nonporous gloves, and a face mask or N-95 respirator.
    • Never mix other cleaners or ammonia with bleach, as it can create toxic fumes.

    Use a brush to scrub mold off surfaces, making sure you get it all. Porous materials, such as carpeting, furniture, and ceiling tiles, may have to be discarded. Dont paint or caulk until youre sure all the mold is gone.

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    Condensation And Persistent Moisture

    Whether there is excess moisture on your windows, or condensation dripping from your pipes, a damp home is an ideal breeding ground for mold, and can be an indicator that mold is already present in your home. The best dehumidifiers serve as a good solution to reduce excess moisture as they will set the humidity in your home to the level you indicate on the dehumidifier. They aren’t a permanent solution, however, and you should consider getting your windows swapped for double-glazed panes, or having them re-sealed by a professional.

    If you’re finding moisture on pipes, a plumber can help diagnose the problem here. In some instances, putting insulation around pipes can prevent moisture build-up, and in others you can consider running warm-water pipes away from cold ones, to avoid excess moisture build-up.

    Visible Growths And Odd Colors

    You may be able to visibly see a black mold growth in your home. While most black mold is indeed black, it can have a wide range of variations. For instance, you may notice a dark, furry growth or what appears to be a black stain, or there could be white, orange, brown, and even green specks.

    A good rule of thumb is no matter what the color, get it treated to avoid damage to your health.

    Also Check: What Causes Mold On Ceilings

    How To Tell If Mold Is Toxic

    Now, lets take a look at what you need to know in order to identify toxic mold.

    In general, we always suggest that you get more info from a professional in toxic mold identification and removal. This way, youll have greater peace of mind, and will be able to be 100% certain that the mold has been removed.

    Remember that all molds, regardless of its toxicity, should be taken seriously. In addition to being a hygiene issue, its simply unsightly and can cause damage to the home.

    However, there are a few things that you can look for in order to learn how to tell if mold is toxic.

    Identifying black mold begins in moist rooms and spaces in your home. Generally, black mold will appear as a kind of cluster. In some cases, you may even be able to smell a musty odor, especially near cracks in your walls.

    You may notice you also have more mold in the colder months.

    When in doubt, look for signs of water damage. Chances are high that mold is lurking somewhere nearby. If you suspect that the mold is actually hiding behind walls, look for pinkish or dark stains on the walls themselves. Discoloration, peeling wallpaper, and water stains are all also probable signs of mold.

    Remember that toxic mold isnt always black, or even especially dark in color.

    It can be pink, green, or even yellow. Instead of focusing on the kind of mold youre dealing with, resist the urge to play detective, and play it safe instead. Call a mold removal company ASAP.

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