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What Is Mold?

Name: Exit Mold
Address: 1 Irwin Ct., Lynbrook, New York, 11563, United States
Telephone: (516) 512-7877

Mold is a natural part of your environment, and it surrounds you on a daily basis, whether you notice it or not. Mold colonies grow outside your home as leaves decay and vegetation goes through its natural life cycle, and mold spores can be found floating through the air you breathe inside your house!

While outdoor mold and a few indoor mold spores aren’t usually a cause for concern, mold can quickly become a nuisance or even a health hazard if an infestation starts to grow inside your home.

So, what is mold, and how can it impact your home and family? Let’s find out below!

Where Does Mold Come From?

Since mold is part of nature, it can exist anywhere moisture and oxygen are present. It is a living fungus that can exist as spores that float through the air, or it can settle into damp environments and grow into a colony.

Mold spores are found in virtually every indoor environment, as they are microscopic and can float through HVAC systems and vents that are connected to the outside. The good news is that mold spores don’t always become mold infestations! The conditions need to be right for mold to settle in and grow.

The perfect environment for mold requires:

Moisture
Food source
Oxygen
Warm temperature (between 40-100 degrees Fahrenheit)

This is why your home can quickly become a breeding ground for mold. Homes tend to be moisture-controlled environments with humidity levels between 30-50%. They also are warm and have a constant source of fresh air moving through each room and level.

Types of Mold Found in Homes

Did you know that there are over 100,000 types of mold? While that definitely can be overwhelming to think about, not every type of mold is commonly found in homes or commercial properties. Below are a few of the most common types that you may find on your own property.

Cladosporium

Cladosporium is a type of fungi that can grow in cool and warm environments. It is often brown, black or green and has a velvet-like appearance. It commonly grows on water-damaged materials like carpet, wallpaper and wood.

Stachybotrys Chartarum

Stachbotrys chartarum, also known as black mold, is found in warm, wet environments. This type of mold is most often associated with bathrooms, basements or anywhere in your home that is experiencing high humidity or moisture problems. It is greenish-black and can look slimy or powdery. This type of mold can cause significant health symptoms the longer it goes unaddressed.

Penicillium

Penicillium is a common indoor mold that appears green or blue and looks fluffy. It is often found on old or expired food as well as compromised materials like paper or wooden structures.

Is All Mold Toxic?

You never want to be dealing with a mold infestation in your home, but the good news is that not all mold is considered toxic. Most molds are considered nontoxic and can be cleaned up without too much worry.

The molds that are considered toxic are called toxigenic molds. Molds like Stachybotrys, or black mold, produce mycotoxins, which can cause mold sickness symptoms if the spores are continually inhaled. Of course, the larger the infestation, the greater the chance that your household will start to experience symptoms of mold toxicity.

If you notice these symptoms in yourself or your family members, it’s time to call a mold remediation team to investigate and address any mold problems that are found:

Runny nose or congestion
Itchy or watery eyes
Persistent sneezing and coughing
An unexplained sore throat
Lung irritation and wheezing
Headache

Anyone can experience symptoms of mold sickness, but it is more common for vulnerable populations like immunocompromised people, small children and anyone who already suffers from allergies or asthma. It is important to note that mold exposure is rarely fatal, but dealing with the infestation can drastically improve your indoor air quality and the quality of life for everyone under your roof.

Can Mold Cause Property Damage?

In addition to the adverse health effects of mold, mold infestations can also cause serious property damage. To start, mold needs moisture to grow, and any excess moisture in a home or property is a bad thing. Excessive humidity or water leaks that go unchecked can lead to property damage even without the presence of mold.

Once mold is introduced to this excess moisture, this damage will accelerate quickly. Mold will feed off of the moisture and the food source that it has found, which can lead to structural degradation of your walls, floors and ceiling. It will slowly eat away at your beams, carpet and drywall until they are no longer structurally sound.

Unfortunately, mold can grow silently and will often go undiscovered for a long period of time. Mold can grow from a couple of spores to an entire colony in as little as 24-48 hours, so you might be dealing with a mold problem right now and not even know it! However, the larger the infestation grows, it becomes more likely that your home will start to show you signs that something is amiss.

If you notice any of these signs, you might be dealing with a mold infestation in your home:

A stubborn, musty odor in your home
Visible discoloration on your walls or ceiling
Warped floorboards or drywall
Soft spots on your walls
Stained tiles or grout lines in your bathroom

Recovering From a Mold Infestation With Exit Mold

Call a professional mold remediation team right away so they can evaluate your property safely and make the right calls to clean it up without causing further harm to your family and home. A professional mold removal team is trained to secure the infested room while also preventing airborne particles from spreading.

The room is cleaned and sanitized, and the air is filtered to remove any lingering particles and spores. After that, your property will be repaired and restored if the mold caused any structural damage.

Don’t ignore signs of mold in your home! Call Exit Mold right away at (516) 512-7877 so we can handle your mold remediation from start to finish.