What To Do If You Think You Have Been Exposed To Black Mold
Remove any objects from the area that havenât been touched by mold growth. Throw away any other items that canât be cleaned. Cut away and replace mold-damaged drywall, ceiling tiles, and carpet. Cover and scrub nonporous surfaces affected by mold with bleach, a fungicide, or detergent and water, then dry them.
Time Taken To Recover From Allergic Symptoms Due To Mold
When it comes to allergic reactions due to mold, several things need to be taken into consideration these include the length of exposure, as well as the ability to determine what these allergens are.
Prolonged mold exposure is chronic or more severe allergic reactions.
Under normal circumstances, situations of mold exposure not considered prolonged should last only a few days to get over. Here, anti-allergy medications are factored in.
On the other hand, severe or prolonged mold exposure will lead to chronic allergies.
Chronic allergies take longer to fully recover from and could last for a week or longer with medication. Treatment of the surrounding area for mold issues will need to be performed to fasten the healing process.
Plus, affected persons must keep away from such areas during mold removal.
Avoid Moldy Weed By Storing Your Nugs Properly
Contrary to popular belief, keeping your ganja in an air-tight container with plenty of humidity trapped inside or just baggies that get packed and never opened is not a smart move. Trapping air means not enough airflow, which creates the perfect incubator for mold to start its growing process if the spores are already stuck in that space.
Additionally, some growers add orange peels or fruit peels to keep the cannabis fresh, but all this does is blend the buds with any mold spores that may have been located on the fruits to begin with. The best way to get rid of excess humidity and prevent mold is to store your tested cannabis buds in an airtight container that also contains some type of humidity pack because these little devices absorb excess moisture. Most of all, pick buds that dont smell strange, dont feel damp to your fingertips, and that appear fresh with no visual signs of mold.
Purchase your weed from a place you know you can trust, and go over some of the obvious signs before agreeing to buy if it isnt from a lab-tested dispensary. Hopefully, if you do all of these things and invest in some quality ganja, you wont even have to think about the question of how long it takes before weed gets moldy.
Don’t Miss: How To Remove Mold From Car Exterior
Does Inactive Mold Need To Be Removed
Dry mold spores, without moisture, are also much lighter than their active counterparts. Their lightweight nature can easily make them become airborne, spreading to other areas of the home and contaminating them.
While you may have gotten rid of your moisture problem in one area of the home, the airborne spores may move into a damp area where they can re-active and begin reproducing.
Additionally, even fungus that lies dormant in one place can threaten the health of those who live there. For these reasons, any and all fungal spores need to be physically removed from the premises. Its not enough to merely kill the mold. The spores need to be taken out of your home for good.
Sound like a major undertaking? It doesnt have to be!
Recommended Reading: How Can You Check For Mold
How Can I Prevent Mold From Growing And Spreading
On average, you can expect to see mold growth following a leak between 48-72 hours. This means that your window for prevention between the time of the leak and the growth of mold is very small.
Of course, its not always immediately obvious that you even have a leak. If you experience a sudden drop in water pressure, a sharp increase in your water bill, or a wet patch where there just shouldnt be one, it could be worth calling in a local water leak detection company.
Once you have identified and tracked down the leak, the best method for preventing mold and mildew from developing is to dry all affected areas as much and as thoroughly as possible.
This doesnt just mean drying up the spots on the floor that are visible. It also means getting into any nook, cranny, and crack that water may have seeped into, and drying it up.
Opening doors and windows may help dry larger areas, but it wont provide airflow to those hard-to-reach places.
Once all the excess water has been dried as much as possible, a vacuum or carpet cleaner can be used to try and suck up water from hard-to-reach places. Shoving towels between the crevice of a carpet and a wall is another method that can be useful.
Also Check: How To Clean Mold Properly
Calculate The Area Affected By Mold
After finding the source of moisture and creating a plan to repair the problem, you should calculate the area affected by mold. You can do this by opening drywall, removing carpet, or possibly checking inside ducts with a flashlight.
After viewing the area affected by mold, calculate the area affected. If the area is greater than 10 square feet, you will need to call a professional. If the area is smaller than 10 square feet, you can use some home remedies to clean the mold yourself. However, remember, you need to stop the source of moisture. Otherwise, the mold can return.
How Fast Does Black Mold Spread
Mold begins spreading the second a spore hits damp, fiber-rich materials wood, cloth, drywall and other porous surfaces are fair game in the spreading of mold. In many cases, black mold can spread to cover an entire square inch of your home per day. This may not sound like much, but the spread can quickly spiral out of control as more colonies develop in your home. Even with just two specific areas of mold colonies, the rate for mold to start covering entire square feet is immediately cut in half.
Unfortunately, black mold is typically already a widespread problem by the time youre able to catch it. Since mold isnt usually visible until it starts colonizing, you may not even realize its growing in your home until almost a month after the spores have begun to develop. Once you do recognize the presence of black mold, you can start assessing the damage right away. Be sure to take note of things like:
- The color of the mold
- Where the mold is located
- The presence of water damage in the area
- Any noticeable smells
- The approximate square footage of mold visible
As a general rule of thumb, you can use the square footage of mold to decide when to get professional help. If there is less than 25 square feet of mold visible, there may still be time to handle the damage yourself once the spread surpasses the 25-foot mark, its best to get in touch with your local contractor to handle the mold professionally.
Recommended Reading: How Serious Is Black Mold
How Fast Does Mold Grow After A Water Leak
Article Sections:
Have you recently dealt with a water leak? If so, you might be worried about mold.
In the presence of excess moisture often as a result of a water leak mold can begin to proliferate indoors on surfaces such as drywall, plywood, and tile.
One of the main concerns homeowners have about mold is that it can cause significant damage to buildings.
As mold grows, it breaks down wood and other organic materials, resulting in both structural and cosmetic damages.
Exposure to certain species of mold can also be dangerous to your health. Common mold-related symptoms include headaches, fatigue, rashes, allergic reactions, and other respiratory problems.
Proper moisture control is the key to preventing unwanted mold growth from damaging your home and your health. If your home has recently suffered any water damage, you should take steps to prevent mold from growing.
How Fast Does Mold Grow After a Water Leak?
There are many factors that contribute to the speed of mold growth. For example:
- Temperature and humidity
- The species of mold
- Types of surfaces affected
A general rule of thumb, according to the EPA and the CDC, is that mold can start to develop on surfaces within 24 to 48 hours of water exposure.
However, at this stage the mold spores are not easily visible to the naked eye. It usually takes around 18 to 21 days for the mold spores to colonize and become apparent.
Do Water Leaks Always Result in Mold Growth?
Water Damage After More Than A Week:
If water damage persists for more than a week, mildew and mold growth, structural damage and biohazard contaminants may pose serious risks to you and your family. The delay in restoration time may also increase the cost to repair water damage significantly.
Mold spores and the need for mold remediation and decontamination services are almost guaranteed at this point.
Recommended Reading: Will Hydrogen Peroxide Kill Mold
You May Like: What To Take For Mold Allergies
What Does Mold Feed On
First, lets consider molds food. In theory, most any type of organic matter can serve the needs of common indoor molds. That being said, surfaces that are porous tend to fall victim to mold growth due to the manner in which they break down easily. As for water, mold only needs as much water as is in humid air to subsist and thrive when temperatures are just right.
If these two factors are present, mold is able to germinate, colonize, and spread as described above. This spreading process is not unlike the ways in which trees spread their seeds, though mold spores are invisible to the naked eye. While an initial mold colony may orbit around a single point, prolonged mold exposure can cause an entire object or an entire room to become a haven for mold growth.
Donât Miss: Best Mold Remover For Bathroom Ceiling
The Top Hazards With Mold Growth
Most of the indoor mold exists in the form of airborne spores. These spores attach themselves to a favorable object and immediately start growing and colonization. Due to its microscopic nature, it is not visible to the naked eye. However, it does happen, as the mold begins to eat away the underlying organic material.
So, there is a bit of confusion when it comes to the time required for mold to grow and be visible. Technically, mold starts growing immediately, as soon as the ideal temperature and humidity conditions are met in the vicinity of organic matter. But you may not be able to detect visible progress at once.
According to researches, the first visible spots begin to appear in approximately 72 hours in some lab tests. Larger areas begin to manifest in about 96 hours when the colony is large enough for exponential growth. However, real-world tests by professionals have reported as long as 18 to 21 days for the visible growth of the mold.
Also Check: How To Remove Mold From Outdoor Wood
How To Keep Mold From Growing After Water Damage
From the above, it can be concluded that there is a 48-72 hour window between the water intrusion and the beginning of mold growth. If the flooded areas are completely dried off within this time-gap, mold has very little chance to develop.
Drying the flooded areas within the first 48 hours after the incident can prevent mold from forming.
Proper drying, however, is quite difficult. Water can find its way into all kinds of materials and spread into walls, under floors, and through ceilings on its route to the lowest point in the house.
What Happens To Mold When It Dries Out
Once mold spores dry out, they are temporarily inactive. However, they can still cause uncomfortable symptoms and allergic reactions in humans such as itchy eyes, runny nose, skin rashes and coughing/sneezing.
In addition, dry mold spores are very light and can become airborne quite easily. This can quickly lead to spreading and the contamination of other areas of your home. As such, simply letting mold spores dry out without cleaning or wiping them away is not a good solution to any mold problem.
Depending on the size of the mold contamination, you may either clean the mold yourself or contact mold remediation professionals for safe removal of larger mold problems.
Dont Miss: Can Mold Be Cleaned Off Wood
Read Also: Where To Find Popsicle Molds In Walmart
How Long Does Weed Stay Fresh
When it comes to marijuana, freshness and mold-free should not be synonymous. Your cannabis will stay fresh for a certain period of time, but just because it is no longer fresh, does not necessarily mean that its moldy.
Freshness simply implies the herb is not so dry that it becomes crusty, and that its pungency, aroma, and usual coloration still remains. It is said that with proper storage practices, your good green stuff can be kept for up to 6 months .
If your bud drying up is more so what youre concerned about, then be sure to keep it in an airtight container that is not too big for the amount of herb, as well as keeping it away from too much light or heat exposure. In terms of how long it takes before weed gets mold, well, thats a different beast altogether
Does Mold Grow In Cold Or Hot
At What Temperature Does Mold Grow? Most types of mold prefer temperatures above 70 ° F/20° C, but some molds will tolerate lower temperatures. While room temperatures may be lower, appliances like dishwashers, dryers, and hot water heaters can generate enough heat to raise the temperature in small areas.
Is mold unhealthy? Mold can produce toxic chemicals called mycotoxins. These can cause disease and even death, depending on the amount consumed, the length of exposure and the age and health of the individual . Acute toxicity includes gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, as well as acute liver disease.
Can you test yourself for mold?
Most mold is unmistakable, but sometimes small or largely hidden growths just make a surface look dirty. A quick test for mold can be done when you dip a swab in diluted bleach and dab it on the wall. If the spot quickly lightens , assume its mold.
What are signs of mold in your house? Signs Your Home May Have a Mold Problem
- Rotten Smell. Is there a damp, musty odor reminiscent of the smell of old books emanating from your floors or walls?
- Spotted Clothing.
You May Like: How To Remove Mold From Washing Machine
How Long Does Mold Take To Grow
Have you ever noticed organic growth in damp areas of your house, accompanied by a particularly pungent smell? If you have, then you can very well accept the fact that you have a mold problem. Mold is a type of fungus which usually grows on damp surfaces. Indoor mold growth is very difficult to live with because it is a potential health hazard.
Mold could take just a few days to a few weeks to grow in the right conditions. All it needs is a damp and moist environment.
Black Mold On My Floor What Should I Do
Did you know that black mold on your floor can be hazardous to your health? Black mold is the most dangerous form of mold and it can cause serious health problems such as nausea, headaches, sore throats, coughing and even respiratory problems. Black mold can grow in damp, warm, dark and poorly ventilated areas, such as kitchens, basements, bathrooms and showers. Black mold needs moisture, dark and a warm environment. It can be found in any area of your house that has a source of moisture.
Also Check: How To Get Mold Out Of My Car
How Long Does It Take For Mold To Grow On Wet Drywall
Mold growing on wet drywall follows a similar growth pattern as on other surfaces within two days of water intrusion, mold will begin to colonize damp drywall and release new spores. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that drywall is extremely porous, so it has a high absorption rate. This makes it more susceptible to water damage, and more likely to experience accelerated mold growth.
Treating Black Mold Poisoning
If you suspect youre suffering from symptoms associated with black mold exposure or poisoning, there are some things you can do to improve your health.
In conclusion, the best way to avoid the negative effects of black mold poisoning is to minimize your black mold exposure.
You can do this by preventing its growth in the first place. If its too late to prevent it and you suspect theres black mold already in your home, dont wait to book removal, completed quickly and efficiently by the industry experts.
Black mold, typically green or black, in your home, can be extremely hazardous to your health.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Mold On Wood Paneling
Timely Efficient Water Damage Remediation
As a responsible home owner, you should never allow water to stand for long after a leak inside your home. Make sure to remove the water quickly, dry the affected areas, get timely repairs, and eliminate all conditions that may allow mold to thrive.
In case of a flood that is too big for you to handle, call a professional water damage remediation service to correctly restore your home.
At West Central Equipment and Restoration, we provide prompt, reliable and efficient water damage and mold remediation. Our certified technicians are experienced in dealing with all manner of plumbing accidents, water damages, and mold growth.
So if you are located in Lecanto, Florida, make sure to call West Central whenever you have a sizeable water leak or need help with mold remediation. For more information on mold remediation and water damage restoration, visit the site West Central Equipment and Restoration.
