The Dangers of Living with Mold in the House
Mold can be a very sneaky substance, as it thrives in moist, dark areas. Although it is a common issue homeowners may face, many don’t consider its impact on humans. However, once excess moisture has settled into any porous material, such as drywall, it becomes a problem for everyone. From here, mold can disperse its spores and spread throughout the entire property.
Understanding the basics of mold growth and its potential impact is essential for maintaining a safe and healthy environment. This blog will discuss the dangers of mold growing in the home and how to prevent it.
What is Mold?
As mold can be classified as a fungus, it grows and responds like the others within its kingdom. In other words, it develops, eats, and spreads its spores the same as other molds, mushrooms, and bacteria. The home provides the perfect resources to allow for its development and growth.
Although not the most common, black mold is classified to be one of the most dangerous types of mold. As it is most frequently found in dark, undisturbed areas, these places can include rarely used shower stalls, behind the walls, in the attic, crawlspaces, and underneath staircases. To avoid these uninvited, dangerous inhabitants, be sure to check these areas now and then in addition to keeping moisture levels to a minimum.
Dangers of Mold
The presence of mold in the home is often overlooked by homeowners, yet its dangers are profound. Homes and other properties offer the nutrients mold requires to thrive; moisture, darkness, and organic materials. When these nutrients are present, mold can become destructive to building structures and the well-being of humans.
Health Risks
Mold can lead to several health concerns, some of which can be severe. Certain age groups, such as children and the elderly, are more susceptible to the health risks that mold poses. Having a weakened immune system can make these individuals more vulnerable to mold-related illnesses.
The CDC, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warns about the dangers of living with mold in the home:
- Respiratory tract symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and swelling of the throat.
- Those who have asthma and allergy problems are especially at risk.
- Those with hypersensitivity pneumonitis are prone to the immune-mediated condition.
If mold is not addressed promptly, the effects on human health can be severe. Identifying the signs of mold exposure is essential for proactively addressing the growth.
Air Travelers/Contamination
Mold will thrive anywhere there is an optimal amount of moisture and porous materials to feast on. These conditions can include a leaking roof, leaking pipes, damp areas of the basement and crawl spaces, flooding, or any path of moisture from the kitchen pipes to the basement. Even leaving damp towels on the floor is sufficient for mold growth.
As soon as it has found a proper location to grow and develop, mold will easily travel through the air, finding other susceptible spots. This is where the negative health effects start to occur. Keep in mind that mold can be the cause of the following symptoms:
- Allergies have suddenly grown worse
- Sudden itching, sneezing, and rashes
- Feeling irritable and lethargic
- Difficulty breathing and/or sleeping
Although mold prefers to remain in undisturbed areas, it will release its spores when feeling the slightest disturbance. These can include vibrations within the walls and floors when people are walking around on the above floor. When these spores are dispersed into the air, they can then enter the ventilation systems, such as the air ducts and air conditioning unit. Once they are inhaled, this is where the symptoms of coughing, wheezing, sneezing, etc. will start to take effect.
Damage to Building Materials
Once the source of the mold has developed in a certain area, it can eat away at its host; this can cause severe damage to the structural integrity of your property. Potential signs can include damaged hardwood floors, discoloration of the walls and ceilings, or condensation on the windows and walls. It can also be associated with a strong, musty odor. Those who are most sensitive to strong smells will notice this right away.
As mold will not go away on its own, it is up to you, the property owner, to find the mold and call professional mold remediation services. These services will include:
- Inspection and remediation of the areas that contain mold
- Decluttering the property if there are items that are contributing to the risk of mold
- Lowering the moisture levels within the home or building
- Proper air circulation throughout the property
Do You Suspect Mold Growth in Your Home?
As soon as you suspect signs of mold, it is important to act promptly to remove and remediate the area. For mold growth that is contained in small areas, you can clean the mold yourself using do-it-yourself methods. If the mold infestation is large or if the mold is toxic, it is advisable to hire a professional mold remediation service to safely and effectively remove the mold.
The professional technicians of RestorationMaster inspect, remediate, and prevent mold growth from occurring in the future. Professionals have years of experience and participate in ongoing training to ensure their methods are most effective.
About Vince Sandri
Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.
