The Dangers of Mold in Homes
Mold is a natural substance that can always be found in the air outdoors and inside of a home. Inactive mold spores are harmless, but they become problematic once the spores begin to develop into colonies.
In your home, mold growth can appear in fuzzy patches of black, brown, green, or yellow. Not only is mold growth unsightly with a musty odor, but it can also present various dangers to your property as well as anyone exposed to the fungus. As more time passes, the dangers of mold only increase. Knowing this, it is important to address mold growth as soon as possible.
Continue reading to learn more about mold growth, the dangers it presents, and what to do if you find mold growing in your home.
How Does Mold Grow in Homes?
Because mold spores are naturally present in the air, mold can grow in your home at nearly any time. All the spores need is the right environment.
For mold to grow, it needs an organic food source and a moisture source. When mold spores encounter both, they are triggered into forming colonies, which is when they become dangerous.
Due to the need for moisture, mold growth is a common occurrence in the aftermath of water damage. Porous building materials like drywall and wood, materials mold uses as food, absorb the excess water and provide mold spores with everything they need to grow.
Common places to find mold growing include bathrooms, kitchens, basements, near air conditioning units, and other places where there are high moisture levels.
How is Mold Growth Dangerous?
Property Damage
Drywall, wood, and insulation are among the common building materials that mold can use as a food source. No matter the material, mold will continually damage it as it continues to grow.
When mold grows on a surface, it is actually using the material as a food source. The fungus eats away at building materials that contain cellulose, such as wood, drywall, wallpaper, and various furnishings, ruining the material’s structure. Given enough time, the mold will have devoured the material enough to cause severe structural damage.
Once mold begins to grow in your home, it releases new spores that can spread to different areas of the property and cause damage elsewhere.
Health Problems
In addition to causing property damage, mold growth can also cause adverse health effects to anyone who has been exposed to the fungus.
When the mold growth distributes new spores into the air, people in your home become exposed to them. They can breathe in the spores, which can have harmful effects on their respiratory system. This can then cause people to suffer from various health concerns.
Some mold symptoms people may experience include headaches, coughing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, sore throat, skin irritation, and other allergy-like symptoms. With prolonged exposure, these mold symptoms worsen.
How a person reacts to mold exposure, however, can be dependent on various factors, such as their age and health condition. For example, one person may develop a mild cough after being exposed to mold, but someone else in the same home can suffer from coughing, nasal congestion, and an itchy throat. In more severe cases, mold symptoms can include breathing problems, fatigue, nausea, and sinus infections.
People who have asthma, a mold allergy, or a weak immune system are among those individuals who may experience more serious symptoms. The mold exposure may also worsen their condition.
Knowing this, it is impe
rative that you seek mold removal help as soon as you notice mold growing in your home.
How Do I Remove Mold from My Home?
If you notice mold in your home, it should be removed promptly to minimize the amount of harm it can cause your property and reduce the health risks to you and your family. While there are home remedies you can use to eliminate the mold, it is always best for mold removal to be handled by professionals. More so, professional mold removal is recommended for large cases of mold and for those who have a mold sensitivity.
Furthermore, if you use improper methods to remove mold from your home, not only will it be ineffective, but it could also worsen the mold situation.
Knowing this, it is in everyone’s best interest to seek help from professional mold remediation services when mold has grown in your home.
Professional mold technicians have the necessary training, knowledge, and equipment to thoroughly remove mold from your home in a safe, effective manner. First, the mold will be contained to prevent it from spreading elsewhere. Then, they will find and repair the moisture source that triggered the mold growth. From there, mold will be removed, and affected surfaces will be cleaned.
With professional mold remediation help, you do not need to expose yourself to the mold further, and your home will be restored to a clean, safe living space yet again.
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.
