Mold Damage What You Need to Know
While mold found in nature is very useful in decomposing and breaking down leaves, wood and other plant debris, it can become a huge problem when it grows where it is not wanted and begins to digest materials such as our homes.
Mold gets into your home as tiny spores. These spores require moisture in order to grow, digest and destroy. Mold can grow on nearly any surface such as wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paint, carpeting, rock and insulation. Mold grows especially well when it is provided with a lot of moisture from high levels of humidity, floods or leaking roofs and basement foundations.
Molds can be very dangerous to your health. Black mold in particular is a major health hazard. Mold spores are released into the air whenever mold is disturbed. You and your family can be exposed to these harmful molds simply by breathing the air containing the mold spores. Exposure can also occur by touching mold-infested items, eating food containing mold or by accidental hand-to-mouth contact.
People with asthma or allergies are more sensitive to molds. Some people break out in rashes, have runny noses, itchy eyes, cough incessantly or have a difficult time breathing when exposed to mold. A few molds produce mycotoxins and when people are exposed to these toxins they can suffer with more serious ailments such as nausea, fatigue and lung irritation. It is therefore highly advisable to contact your doctor if you think that you are being exposed to mold. Do not wait until your symptoms become severe. Mold exposure is something that must be taken very seriously. It is also recommended that you contact your local health department so that an inspection of your home can be arranged. Special mold kits are used to collect and analyze the mold to determine its type.
The source of the mold must be identified. Quite often mold grows around duct work and plumbing, in crawl spaces, behind walls and in attics. It can go undetected for months before that musty, telltale smell of mold is present. There are mold eradication companies in operation today that can be called in to find the source of the mold, kill it and ensure that it never gets a chance to grow again. These companies are experts when it comes to mold. They can tell you exactly the type of mold you are dealing with, how they will go about getting rid of it and will also tell you if you can remain living in your home while the eradication is taking place.
Consider buying a home mold test kit. This is a good thing to have on hand so that you can test your home for the presence of mold every year or so. Consider it just as important as having smoke alarms in your home as mold poses a great threat to you and your family much like smoke or fire.
