Can You Get Sick From Mold In Your House
Yes. Those will allergies, compromised immune systems, asthma, or other such issues are at a higher risk as even minor, non-toxic molds could cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. Mold in your house is rarely life-threatening. However, prolonged exposure is far from ideal for a number of reasons.
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What Are The Signs Of Mold In Your House
Musty smells are a tell-tale sign of mold. Another common indicator is visible signs of water damage.
As mentioned earlier, mold grows fast. Within 24 hours of a water leak, or a flood, mold will begin to take hold. This mold can grow on anything thats humid walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and even wet laundry.
When there is a chance of mold, its important to have a professional in to test. Professionals qualified to do environmental investigations can:
- Check the surfaces of your house for mold
- Test the air for spores
- Help you to identify sources of moisture
- Identify where the mold is growing and help you decontaminate your house
- Use natural enzymes to kill mold spores
If you dont get rid of all sources of mold, you risk getting sick from it.
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When To Remove Mold From Inside Walls
Unlike some other types of deterioration around the home, there is no acceptable level of mold in your walls and no waiting period. Once you discover mold, its best to open up the walls and remove the mold as soon as possible.
Mold can spread and affect other areas of the walls, insulation, ceiling, flooring, studs, and joists. The longer you wait to remove the mold, the longer mold has to grow.
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So What Is A Mycotoxin
, literally fungus poison in Latin, are secondary metabolites that can be produced by molds, and are not living organisms. Mycotoxins are a byproduct of mold. Not all mold spores produce mycotoxins, but some do. So the molds that produce mycotoxins are the ones that could be categorized as toxic or poisonous.
So, where is the line between an allergic mold and a toxic mold? That line is defined by the presence of mycotoxins, and is NOT defined by color. Mycotoxins are invisible and cannot be detected just by looking at the mold growth.
What Do Mycotoxins Do?
These chemical substances can cause many health problems ranging from mild to severe. Even if you are not allergic to mold, you can be affected by mycotoxins.
Mycotoxins can be absorbed by the body in a number of ways including: through the skin, the airways , and through the intestinal lining . Detrimental health effects caused by mycotoxins can range from acute poisoning to long-term effects such as immune deficiency and cancer.2 Chronic disease sufferers, such as people with immunosuppressive disorders or underlying lung disease may be more sensitive to molds and mycotoxins in their environment.4
Mycotoxins are NOT something you want in your home! Keep reading to learn how you can remove them. To learn more about mycotoxins in foods check out the World Health Organizations article: Mycotoxins.
Why Do I Suddenly Have Mold
Mold is a type of fungus that can thrive in humid environments. It is common in homes and can cause health problems such as allergies, asthma, and pneumonia. There are several reasons why someone might experience mold, and some are more common than others.
For example, someone who lives in a humid environment may be at risk because mold loves water. Molds can grow well in environments with high levels of moisture, so if your home is especially humid, you may have Mold.
If you have an allergy to any type of fungus, you may be at risk for developing Mold. In fact, many people who have an allergy to mold also have an allergy to other types of pollen and pollen products. If you have an infection or an illness that causes your body to produce mucus , the spores of the mold may be released into your airway.
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Get A Professional Mold Inspection
Your first step should be a comprehensive mold and indoor air quality inspection from a professional mold removal company. The main reason you want an inspection, even if you can see the mold, is that mold is tricky. Mold grows inside of its food sources and you probably can only see a part of the problem. An inspection will help you find all the mold and define how much damage really exists.
The company you choose for the inspection should offer a comprehensive mold inspection that you pay for, not hand over a price without truly investigating the problem. Your inspector should define the extent of the necessary work and what may or may not need to be done. The inspector should talk you through all your options and tailor a plan that fits your needs and your budget.
Check out our post: Do You Have Mold? How to Choose Between a Paid or Free Mold Inspection to learn about a problem we helped a homeowner with that was NOT mold.
Preventing Moisture In Homes Causing Mold
Now you know that condensation in the home is what is causing mold to form on your walls.
But, how do you prevent that moisture in your home and the mold from forming?
The best way to prevent that moisture on interior walls is to stop the outdoor temperature from meeting your indoor air. You can do this by adding insulation in your walls that acts as an air barrier.
Creating an air seal in your exterior walls, like with injection foam insulation, will stop air movement into and out of your home. It will prevent the extreme hot or cold outdoor temperatures from meeting with your conditioned air in the wall cavity and forming condensation.
Think of a pop can when you pull it out of a cooler on a hot summer day. The can starts to sweat because the soda inside is cold and the air outside is hot. This is essentially what happens in your walls when those two temperatures meet.
When the condensation starts to form, it clings to your drywall and the old traditional insulation you may have in the wall cavity. This becomes a breeding ground for the mold.
Creating the air barrier I mentioned above prevents this from happening, keeping your home happy and healthy.
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Check For Plumbing Leaks
Its likely that a nearby leak is feeding the mold if you detect it near water pipes and other water- or waste-related plumbing equipment. Turn on the water and keep an eye on the pipes and the surrounding area to see if there is any water damage or mold growth. The real leak may be some distance away from the mold since water can move in any directiondown, sideways, or even upwhen it wicks into absorbent material like drywall. Fix the leak once youve located it. When inspecting cabinets and other hard-to-reach areas, this lightweight work light is ideal. Learn how to remove black spots from the bathroom by reading this. Is it ok to use bleach in the bathroom to clean it? Discover the solution right here.
What Does Mold Smell Like
Mold has a noticeable damp and stale smell, almost like wet paper. If you notice this musty smell coming from parts of your house, youre probably dealing with a mold problem. Ceiling tiles, wallcoverings, and wood products are most susceptible to moisture, hence why they are often the target of mold. Follow your nose and locate the source.
If your house has a chimney thats been neglected for a while, chances are its full of mold. You can inspect it by smelling it, but we highly suggest hiring a professional for a quick checkup and routine maintenance.
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Signs Of Mold In Your House
There are several subtle signs that indicate that your home may have harmful mold.
1. Strange smell from the air conditioner or heater
If you think your heater or air conditioner has an unusual smell, you might want to check it out.
A stand-alone air conditioner is one of the main places where mold starts to grow. These devices are dark, damp, and often exposed to warm temperatures when not in use. If you put your air conditioner in a warm place in winter, this also increases the risk of mold.
Regularly check the condition of the air conditioner and clean it every two years.
2. The seams between the bathroom tiles have become dark
When you take a shower, pay attention to the seams between the tiles. If they are dark, it is most likely mold. Luckily, this type of mold is not that dangerous.
However, if your bathroom has been leaking recently or flooding an adjoining room, you may be dealing with a more toxic type of fungus that will be harder to remove.
3. Wallpaper starts peeling off
While wallpaper may discolor or wear out over time, wallpaper peeling is not normal. If the wallpaper bubbles or cracks, this indicates the presence of moisture on the walls. And moisture is a precursor to mold.
Pay attention to walls and any areas that look damp or warped.
4. Your cold wont go away
Symptoms of a mold reaction may be subtle. It can be a common runny nose or bouts of sneezing. If you feel like your cold has dragged on, this could be a hidden sign of a mold problem.
How Do I Detect Mold Inside My Walls And Drywall
Peeling wallpaper can also be a symptom of mold. While some scruffiness and discoloration tend to eventually strike your wallpaper, unusual surface or peeling abnormalities such as crackling or bubbling can be a sign of wall moisture. And remember, a reliable precursor to mold is always going to be moisture. Make sure to pay attention to any warped areas that feel damp.
To keep mold from growing in your cooling or heating systems, you can have a specialist check them regularly. Another indication of mold in the house is dark grout between bathroom tiles. Even if this type is most likely the harmless type, there could be flooding in the adjacent room or a leak in bathroom plumbing that could produce a more toxic fungus type that only professionals can remove. A sample sent for testing will let you know whether or not your shower is harmless.
Mold could also be the culprit when you have pre-existent problems with breathing that after long periods at home seem to flare up. Many household species of mold wont affect persons that do not have issues with breathing. However, in individuals suffering from asthma, it could aggravate it. Consider a mold inspection and a doctors appointment if the problems with your breathing seem to get worse with no clear cause.
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Know When To Clean And When To Call
Its not hard to take care of mold as a homeowner, but its a good idea to know when to call in the pros. If you 1. smell a musty odor in your home you cant identify, 2. have health problems associated with mold, or 3. if an area of mold covers more than around 10 square feet, there is a good chance the mold problem is more than an isolated issue. When any of those three conditions are met, its time to call the professionals.
Especially if you dont live in our service area, check out our post: How to Choose the Best Black Mold Removal Company. We help you know all the questions to ask the company you interview, and give you all the correct answers.
The company you choose should know all the answers to the questions in our article. Dont get scammed! Get smart! Always ask a lot of questions before hiring anyone to work on your home.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Having Mold In Your House
Whether youre selling a home, preparing to buy one for the first time, or just performing regular maintenance, the issue of mold may worry you particularly if your home is in a damp environment.
In most cases, a typical home inspection wont include mold inspections and testing. You will need to hire a professional mold inspector to check your home for issues like black mold.
So, to help you understand whether or not you may need a home inspection for mold, weve put together this comprehensive guide that will help you understand the signs and symptoms of mold, know what next steps to take if you think you have mold issues, and provide you with other helpful information and tips that will help you deal with a potential mold problem.
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Tips For Mold Prevention
Wondering how you can prevent mold from affecting your home? Here are a few tips that may help you prevent mold from forming altogether.
Surface Changes And Deterioration
Your walls appearance can change significantly if theres mold growth behind them. In addition to discoloration and stains, your walls may deteriorate. Paint or wallpaper can crack, peel, or bubble because of moisture and mold growth. Furthermore, your walls may become warped or even bow or bulge when theres a water issue, which often leads to mold growth.
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Mold Testing Vs Mold Remediation
If you do not find a water source, then the first step to determine if you have mold is to do a mold test.
Florida and many states require two different licenses:
- Mold testing license
- Mold remediation license
You will need two different companies. One to perform the mold test, and the other to do the mold remediation.
The following video will give you an idea of what the complete mold process looks like:
Although in most cases it is possible to stay in your home during the mold remediation process, ask an expert to ensure that it is safe. You may be more comfortable finding other accommodations for a few days.
During mold remediation, affected areas will be isolated with containment barriers to prevent further spread. Then mold will be removed using various tools including:
- Encapsulation paint
After all traces of mold on surfaces have been removed, the air itself is cleaned. After all, there may be airborne mold spores which could continue to cause health problems! Mold remediation professionals will use machines like hydroxyl generators, air scrubbers, and foggers to purify the air and make it safe.
How To Test For Mold
You probably dont need to do mold testing or buy a mold test kit, especially if the fungus is visible. Because the health effects of mold vary from person to person, the CDC says that if you can see it or smell it, it should be removed, no matter what type of mold is in your home.
While its not possible to completely eliminate mold in your house, you can prevent a build-up by cleaning up any wet or damp spots and fixing any existing water leaks.
Neither the CDC nor the Environmental Protection Agency recommends doing routine mold samplingsboth organizations point out that there are no federal limits for mold in buildings, so people cant check their apartment complexs compliance with the law, for example. Plus, the testing can be expensive.
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To Prevent Mold Growth In Your Home
- Keep humidity levels in your home as low as you canno higher than 50%all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. You can buy a meter to check your homes humidity at a home improvement store. Humidity levels change over the course of a day so you will need to check the humidity levels more than once a day.
- Be sure the air in your home flows freely. Use exhaust fans that vent outside your home in the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure your clothes dryer vents outside your home.
- Fix any leaks in your homes roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow.
- Clean up and dry out your home fully and quickly after a flood.
- Add mold inhibitors to paints before painting. You can buy mold inhibitors at paint and home improvement stores.
- Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.
- Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried right away. Think about not using carpet in places like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.
- To learn more about preventing mold in your home, see the Environmental Protection Agencys book A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home at .
