Top Common Types and Causes of Mold in Homes
Mold in the home can come from a variety of sources, and comes in a rainbow of different colors based on its type. In order to properly treat and get rid of the mold in your home, you will need to be able to identify its type and cause. This article lists the most common types of household mold, as well as what they are most often caused by and how you can identify each of them in your home.
Types of Mold
Aspergillus is a type of mold that is typically found on foods and in household air conditioning systems. It can cause mild to extreme allergic reactions and respiratory trouble. Cladosporium type of mold is typically black or green and “pepper like” in appearance. It can usually be found growing on the backs of toilets, painted surfaces, or in air ducts. It is largely harmless to humans, though it can aggravate some allergy symptoms like red or watery eyes, rashes, and sore throat. Molds that are orange or red in color are typically found outdoors, since it thrives on decaying plants. It can appear slimy, but is harmless, so need only be removed for aesthetic purposes. White mold is not an official type of mold, but it can be a sign that mold is in the early stages of developing. Catching it early can make treatment much easier.
Demolition & Concrete ContractorCommon Areas For Mold Growth
All types of mold love dark, damp, and warm areas. This is what makes places like basements, bathrooms, and the areas around heating and cooling appliances so popular. However, mold can also grow within your carpets, ventilation ducts, and inside crawlspaces or cellars. Wherever it starts, it can quickly spread to adjacent areas and soon be all over windowsills, floors, and walls.
Discouraging Mold Growth
To prevent health problems, rot, and structural damage to your home, it is important to prevent mold growth as much as possible. The most important step in this prevention plan is to regularly check plumbing and walls to make sure that there are no areas where moisture may be collecting, as prolonged moisture can almost always lead to mold growth. Also install and regularly use vents in the kitchen and bathroom during cooking or bathing to direct moisture out of the room rather than let it lay on surfaces and encourage mold to form. These fixtures should be vented to the exterior, or else you’re just moving your mold problem from one area to another. Bleach, ammonia, or vinegar based solutions may be applied to mold-prone areas once or twice a week to kill surviving mold and prevent its recurrence. A scrub with a mixture of borax and water can also do the same job.
Mold Removal
If your mold problem is too big for a bucket of bleach solution, it may be time to call in the professionals. It’s true that mold removal can often be quite costly, but it is absolutely vital to the health of your family and the safety of your home to have it cleaned up completely and have the source of the problem remedied so that it doesn’t come back again.