Different types of molds are very common in homes and other buildings. Mold will grow anywhere, indoors or outdoors, that is warm and damp. Molds can enter your home through the doors, windows and even through ventilation, heating and cooling systems. Mold spores also attach themselves to people and animals outdoors and in this way, they enter your home. Once the mold spores fall onto a place that is moist they will grow. And, many materials in your home provide the mold with a suitable place to grow, for example, wood, ceiling tiles, paper products, carpeting, and more.
The most common molds found in homes are Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. There is another mold, called Stachybotrys chartarum, which is greenish-black in color and it is considered a “toxic mold”. This mold grows on material with high cellulose and low nitrogen content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, dust, and lint. You will find this mold where there is moisture caused by water damage, excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, water infiltration, or flooding.
Well, the term “toxic mold” is not really accurate. Molds, like Stachybotrys chartarum are toxigenic, this means that they can produce toxins (mycotoxins), but the mold itself is not toxic. In other words, molds that produce mycotoxins are not more hazardous than any other type of mold. And, all types of molds should be removed from your home as soon as they are discovered because they may be hazardous to your health, especially if you suffer from allergies.
Molds And Your Health
Some people can be very sensitive to molds. This is observed in symptoms such as coughing, itchy eyes, a runny nose and people who suffer from allergies or asthma may have even more serious reactions to mold. People who have a weakened immune system are more prone to mold infections.
Getting Rid Of Mold
Mold loves dark, moist, humid, warm places so there are many places for it to hide out in your home until you notice it. It is possible to clean a little mold away using a bleach solution, but there is no assurance that it won’t return. If you have mold in materials like your carpeting you might have to get rid of it.
It is very important to keep your home clean and dry to stop mold from growing indoors.
Once you notice that you have mold growing in your home we recommend calling in a mold remediation company who will look for the source of the water that is causing the mold to grow. Once this is found, the problem can be repaired and the area must be dried out and then the mold will be removed.