What is Black Mold?
No homeowner wants black mold, but do you know why? Also called Stachybotrys, black mold grows in moist places and is usually seen around condensation or where there’s been water damage. Spores come into your house via doors, small entrances and can also be brought in on personal items and coats. While most molds around your house aren’t dangerous, black mold leads to health issues if left untreated.
Risks Behind Black Mold Exposure
Black mold is a poisonous mold with airborne toxins. Symptoms include chronic coughing, irritation to the eyes, mucus membranes of the nose and throat and rashes. Other symptoms include chronic fatigue and persistent headaches. Nausea, vomiting and bleeding in the lungs and nose are seen in the most severe cases of long term exposure.
Information about Mold
Mold quickly spread across walls, floors and ceilings. Whenever your home suffers water damage, you should have a professional check the walls for mold infestations. They can go unnoticed for weeks, and then spring up virtually overnight.
Once mold creates colonies in your property, it immediately grows and releases toxins that make life difficult for inhabitants:
- Mold emanates a strong, mildewed scent that prevents rooms from smelling clean.
- Mold causes problems for allergy-sensitive people, as well as those with asthma, making symptoms flare up.
- Mold can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.
- Mold toxins can trigger chronic inflammation and ongoing cold-like symptoms.
- People with compromised immune systems can get systemic infections of the lungs, skin, or digestive tract.
- In rare cases, mold toxins can cause neurological concerns or even death.
- The more extended the exposure, the greater the danger.
Unusually humid homes and offices can be subject to mold invasions even if no water damage has occurred. If you see or smell something that could be mold, get an expert opinion immediately.
To get rid of mold, the setting where it thrives must first be eliminated. Water sources have to be dealt with, and any residual moisture must be efficiently dried out. Only then can mold removal and remediation start.
Whether a leaky roof, burst pipe, or other opening, it isn’t enough to close the tide. Moisture can soak out-of-sight areas of your home. Without proper cleanup processes, mold will keep coming back to these spots.
If you think your house may have black mold, reach out to Paul Davis now. Our team inspects for presence of black mold before removal. You can rely on our contractors to eliminate black mold effectively. Keep your family safe, schedule a black mold inspection now.
