The Types of Mold in Your Home and Their Health Impact

7/16/2019 (Permalink)

Photo by Michael Schiffer on Unsplash

Everyone has heard a mold story, telling a tale of how mold occurred in someone’s home and the difficulty they had in removing it successfully. Many people hear the stories and conclude that mold only strikes in older homes. The fact is mold can occur in any home, regardless of age, and is a result of mold spores. Of course, not all mold is harmful, at least not at first, but when left untreated, mold can be quite dangerous in your home.

Common Molds in Homes

While some homeowners will never have a mold problem, mold can be unavoidable. This is a list of the most common types of mold and the health risks they present when not treated quickly and effectively.

• Alternaria is a common mold that can be found inside and out in damp areas. Alternaria causes allergy symptoms and asthma attacks.
• Aspergillus is another common mold found inside homes which causes allergic reactions and respiratory infections.
• Cladosporium is the mold found in carpets, wood floors and cabinets, and aging fabrics. Cladosporium results in breathing difficulty and recurring respiratory issues.
• Penicillium often occurs after water damage to insulation, furniture, carpets, and more. It spreads quickly and easily and can cause sinus infections, allergy flare-ups, and inflammation of the lungs.
• Stachybotrys, also known as black or toxic mold, creates mycotoxins which cause asthma attacks, breathing issues, depression, fatigue, sinus infections, and more. It grows in damp areas and can be detected by its musty smell.

Mold Prevention & Treatment

The most successful treatment for mold is prevention. Since mold often results when water damage occurs or when surfaces regularly get wet and aren’t dried and cleaned properly. Preventing mold can be as simple as drying out areas which are damp, cleaning carpets, floors, and walls regularly, and fixing any leaks. When buying a home, it’s important to have a home inspection to ensure there is no mold growth.

Should you find mold is an issue in your home, call on the professionals, like the ones at SERVPRO to eradicate the problem. After the mold issue is taken care of, remember to keep damp areas clean and dry and consider adding a quality air purifier to your home to help remove mold spores and avoid future mold problems.