Visual Indicators Of Mold Growth
Seeing mold is obviously a sign that you indeed have mold. Greenish black areas, slimy textures residue left by stachybotrys chartarum and even simple mildew are all signs that a mold inspection needs to be scheduled. However, what most people dont realize is that smaller mold spores may look like ordinary dirt or soot, but it could actually be mold in disguise. And so, people ignore it.
If you visibly see mold growing, no matter how small, immediately take action. If common molds can grow somewhere so can black mold and toxic molds like that are slowly poisoning many across the country who dont realize how important it is to remove mold. Whenever you find mold make sure either you, the homeowner, or your landlord, if you rent, remove it immediately because all mold species can present a major problem if theres no remediation. Even seemingly insignificant mold patches can quickly spread.
The fact that you have mold means you have the right conditions for it to grow and proliferate to several other areas of your home.Sometimes mold is unusual looking and doesnt look like classic mold. In fact, some mold can appear whitish and thread-like, while other kinds of mold look like tiny clusters of black spots. Mold can appear in various colors including black, white, gray-green, or grayish-brown. Sometimes the mold that grows behind vinyl wallpaper can look pinkish-purple or even orange.
The Paint Is Bubbling On Your Walls
Have you noticed that the paint is bubbling on the walls of your bathroom or near a window? One of the most common reasons paint begins to bubble is moisture. And where theres moisture, theres probably mold. You wont be able to cover up the problem with a fresh coat of paint you have to find the source of the moisture. It could be a leaky windowsill, too much humidity, or leaky plumbing. Once you fix the moisture issue, then you can repaint. Just make sure to scrape, patch, clean, and thoroughly dry the walls before rolling on the first coat. Watch out for these sneaky everyday objects you touch every day that can be toxic.
The Hidden Dangers Of Black Mold
chronic sinus infectionsAllergic reactionsSilent, Often Invisible, and DangerousWho Is Affected By Mold?
Physical signs of mold exposure can range from itchy, water eyes to asthma and airway problems. The body reacts to a mold that may not otherwise be toxic by exhibiting allergy-related symptoms, such as an irritated throat, coughing, or a runny nose. For some people, the reaction may be more severe, causing nausea, fatigue, sinus infections or trouble breathing. In more extreme cases, fungus can produce volatile organic compounds, which can affect the central nervous system and cause headaches, dizziness, difficulty concentrating and decreased attention span, according to www.toxic-black-mold-info.com. The Environmental Protection Agency also has information on mold and how to combat it and protect yourself and your home.Documentation of the dangers of mold, the result of studies being undertaken by countries around the world, is pointing toward an increase in the prevalence of the health problems mold can cause, particularly in children.
The Mold You BreatheMethods for Preventing and Dealing With Mold
Are You A Clean Freak?
It’s easy to spot a clean freak when you see one in action. What’s not so easy is recognizing the signs of compulsive obsession with cleanliness when you’re the one who’s obsessing. Having a clean house doesn’t mean that you are a clean freak.
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Your Planter Of Begonias Is Leaking
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.
Different Types Of Mold That Could Be Lurking In Your House
It might sound gross, but mold is everywhere. Mold spores are constantly floating through the air, both inside and outside your home. Luckily, mold spores in small doses arent harmful. But if mold is allowed to grow unchecked, the higher concentration of spores can have harmful effects on you, your family, and your home.
While theres no way to determine exactly how many households have mold growing in unseen places, experts estimate that the number could be close to 70% of homes!
Fortunately, not all molds are harmful to your health. There are hundreds of thousands of different strains of mold, and they all look and act differently. While some could cause respiratory issues, others are just unsightly to look at. Either way, its always best to call a mold remediation expert as soon as you see any signs of mold just to make sure.
Lets take a look at some of the most common types of mold that could be lurking in your home.
The Classifications of Mold
While there might be hundreds of thousands of different strains of mold, they can all be classified into three categories based on how dangerous they are to humans:
Luckily, most types of mold arent toxic to humans. But even if you find a non-harmful type of mold in your home, its still a good idea to call a mold remediation service right away. It can still eat away at your homes structure, causing serious damage over time.
The Harmful Effects of Mold
10 Common Types of Mold
Stachybotrys Chartarum or Black Mold
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What Happens If You Live In A House With Mold
Mold and Your Health Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. For these people, molds can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation. People with mold allergies may have more severe reactions.
What happens if you drink water with mold?
Wondering what happens if you drink something with mold in it? Believe it or not, this kind of thing happens all the time. Some may notice transient GI upset nausea, cramping, and diarrhea but most whove imbibed a moldy mélange will notice nothing.
What can mold do to your brain?
Toxic mold can kill the neurons of the brain and affect a persons mental ability. They also cause nervous disorders like tremors and personality changes such as irritability and mood swings.
What does mold feed on?
The molds eat the sugar and starch from the cellulose. Molds can also grow on non-cellulose materials, such as plastic, metal, or concrete, provided there is a food source, such as a layer of organic dirt, sometimes called a biofilm, on the surface of the material.
Based on current research, black mold exposure is no more dangerous than any other type of mold exposure. It is impossible to avoid exposure to mold the spores are almost everywhere around us. In high amounts or in people with allergies, exposure to any mold may cause allergy symptoms.
What To Do If You Suspect Your Home Has Toxic Mold
Because toxic mold exposure can be a serious health threat, its important that you get professional help if you think you might have dangerous mold in your home. The first step is to have your home professionally tested for mold. This should involve a thorough inspection for any water damage or mold growth found on materials in your home, as well as an air quality test to check for airborne spores. This entire process typically takes an hour or less to perform.
Next, samples will be sent to an environmental testing laboratory to determine if there are harmful species of mold in your home. If needed, you can then call in a mold remediation company to remove the toxic mold in your home and get to the bottom of any remaining sources of water damage.
Once the mold has been remediated, a clearance air test can be performed to ensure that the mold levels in your home are safe.
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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.
Stachybotrys Species As Pathogens
In the Ukraine in the early 1930s, a unique disease of horses was recognized that was characterized by lip edema, stomatitis, oral necrosis, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis. The symptoms often progressed through well-defined stages to pancytopenia, coagulopathy and hemorrhage, neurologic compromise , superinfections, and finally death . There was also a rare atypical or shocking form, which was primarily neurological and highly fatal, with areflexia , hyperesthesia , hyperirritability, blindness, and stupor. In these latter cases, there were no blood dyscrasias. Pathologic examination of tissue from affected animals revealed diffuse hemorrhage and necrosis, with involvement of the entire alimentary tract. Pulmonary changes consisted of lung congestion and edema . Pathologic changes in tissue appeared unique, since there was no zone of demarcation around necrotic foci and since the tissue appeared to be in a nonreactive state. In retrospect, these findings were perhaps the first indication that the entity had a toxigenic origin rather than being due to direct tissue infection. In the wake of the equine outbreak, it was soon realized the disease was not limited to horses. However, there were marked species and age effects on susceptibility: cattle were less affected than horses, and younger animals fared better than older ones .
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How Toxic Mold Symptoms Affect Your Health
Mold negatively affects your homes air quality, can cause serious health problems, and should be taken equally seriously. If you suffer from any neurological symptoms like a short attention span, dizziness, headaches, memory loss, or have trouble concentrating, it could be a huge red flag that harmful, toxic mold is growing and continuing to spread throughout your home and its literally poisoning you. It doesnt matter if its visible mold or not enough mold to cause health problems is a problem no matter what. Just like allergies, if you or your familys toxic symptoms increase when youre at home, you can almost be sure your home is carrying mold. Dont wait take action immediately before risking both the health of your home and family gets too far out of control, especially if you have children.
Your Chimney Smells Weird
Chimney sweeps dont only remove dangerous creosote buildup they can clean out toxic mold too. Moisture can accumulate in the porous bricks and mortar of a chimney. Rusty chimney caps or flashing that needs repair allow rain and snow to seep in, creating an environment for mold to thrive. That may be the reason you smell something funky on days when the wind is blowing in a certain direction. Fix the cap and flashing and call the chimney sweep to extinguish the mold issues. Watch out for these other scary ways your fireplace could be toxic, too!
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Is Black Mold Toxic
Perhaps it is a little misleading to say, Yes when anyone asks, Is black mold toxic? The symptoms, allergies and illnesses that can arise as a result of black mold are real and create a serious health hazard. However, it is the Volatile Organic Compounds that are formed by molds that make them dangerous enough to create respiratory and immune problems.
According to the Centers for Disease Control , mold itself is not toxic and the word toxic mold is a misnomer. Molds found in most homes are toxigenic, which means the molds produce the toxins that do the damage to human systems and homes.
How Does Black Mold Get Inside A House
Mold spores find their way inside by hitchhiking on clothes, pet fur, and air currents into your home. But spores cant get comfortable without plenty of water. This is why youll usually find black mold around water-damaged areas impacted by plumbing issues like floods or leaky pipes.
Materials like drywall, carpet, or gypsum board can soak up water, creating a perfect home for a black mold colony. If you find water damage at home, its crucial to remove all the affected materials to prevent mold from growing.
A water leak sensor can alert you to leaks in hard-to-reach places where the water damage would otherwise go unnoticed.
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How To Clean Non
As we hope youve gathered already from this post, its extremely important that you leave the process of cleaning toxic mold to a professional.
However, if you think the mold is nontoxic, or if the mold hasnt gotten out of control just yet, you can attempt to handle things on your own.
Once youve put on a mask, gloves, and long sleeves and pants, youre ready to go.
Begin by spraying the moldy area with just water first. The goal here is to help to keep the number of airborne spores at bay once you start the intensive part of the cleaning process.
Use a scrubbing brush and water at the start Scrub the mold to loosen things up, and also scrub the area surrounding the mold.
Next, you can bring in the heavy-duty cleaning agents. In most cases, homeowners prefer to use bleach. This is certainly an effective way to get rid of mold, but it can also irritate your nose and throat. Again, ventilation and protective clothing are key here.
If youre especially worried about exposure to bleach or bleach poisoning? You may want to use white vinegar and lemon.
No matter what, just make certain that you never mix cleaning agents. Youll end up creating an extremely toxic gas, which can sometimes cause serious illness. Take frequent breaks, and immediately stop if you begin to feel sick.
Once youre satisfied with the cleaning job youve done?
Where Does Black Mold Grow In Your Florida Home
Mold thrives in places of high humidity and warmth. The damper and warmer an area or room is, the better for mold growth. The following are common places where mold is most likely to grow.
Kitchen:
- Microwave and Stove These are food-centric places. They see a lot of grease splatters and spillage two things mold need to flourish.
- Refrigerator and Pantry Food can cause mold, especially if expired. Always ensure that these places are free of old food and are wiped down regularly to prevent mold growth.
- Kitchen Sink Another area where you are most likely to find mold is in, on, and under the kitchen sink. Things like dirty dishes, water splashes, and wet sponges all contribute to the potential for black mold growth.
Bathroom:
- Shower and Bathtub These are one of the most suitable places for black mold to grow in the house. This is because mold thrives in damp, humid areas. Without proper ventilation during and after a bath or shower, mold spores will thrive.
- Sink and Toilet Sinks and toilets are also prone to black mold growth. This is due to the presence of water and the humid nature of bathrooms.
Bedroom:
Living Room:
Attic, Basement, and Garage:
The following table summarizes common areas where you are most likely to find mold in your attic, basement, and garage.
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How Do You Keep Mold Out Of Buildings And Homes
Inspect buildings for evidence of water damage and visible mold as part of routine building maintenance, Correct conditions causing mold growth to prevent mold growth.
Inside your home you can control mold growth by:
- Controlling humidity levels
- Promptly fixing leaky roofs, windows, and pipes
- Thoroughly cleaning and drying after flooding
- Ventilating shower, laundry, and cooking areas.
Where Is Mildew Found
Mildew is most commonly found on damp surfaces like shower walls, duct work, and refrigerators. It can also form on paper, fabrics, and organic material like plants and fruits and vegetables.
Mildew is classified as either downy mildew or powdery mildew. The downy variety starts off looking like yellow spots that gradually turn brown. Grapes and potatoes, for example, will develop downy mildew if theyre left out for a period of time. Powdery mildew, on the other hand, first appears as white or gray fluffy looking patches that then eventually turn yellowish-brown or black.
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Mold: What Every Homeowner Fears But Probably Shouldnt
J.T. Burton, a real estate agent with Long & Foster, was looking for a home for his growing family. The father of 6-month-old identical twin sons, Burton found what looked to be an ideal house: a four-bedroom, three-bathroom Colonial in Potomac.
In this hot market, the property should have been snapped up quickly. But there was a problem: The house had mold, and under Maryland law, the sellers were forced to disclose it. That was enough to deter potential buyers. Although the house had been under contract for $650,000, it languished on the market for nearly two months.
Unlike the other shoppers, Burton saw the problem as an opportunity to snag a good house for a discount.
I knew how to address so, therefore, I wasnt scared off, he said.
Mold seems to be cropping up more often these days, and it is not only because it has been a rainy year. Experts say mold is not more prevalent these days instead, we are more aware of it. The way new homes are built may not be helping matters. New energy-efficient homes tend to be conducive to mold growth because of their tightness, which restricts air movement.
Theyre too green, said Nelson Barnes Jr., a mold remediation expert in the Washington area. Houses need to breathe.
Still, experts say that finding mold need not be panic-inducing. Understanding what it is, what causes it, how to address it and how to prevent it, they say, can help homeowners ensure that their homes environment is healthy.
From EPA.gov
