Like most fungi, mold, breaks down plant and animal matter in any environment. It can grow in places where there is moisture and organic matter, such as soil and in people’s houses. To reproduce, mold releases spores, which can spread through the air, water, or on animals. So, you might ask yourself what you can do to prevent mold growth in your home? Well, the key to preventing it is to know and control the moisture and any existing water problems. Spores that mold produces are everywhere, and they can grow on any surface that has enough moisture. Some of the most common sources of moisture are roof leaks, indoor plumbing leaks, outdoor drainage problems, steam from bathroom or kitchens, wet clothes that are drying inside the homes, and poor ventilation of heating and cooking appliances.
How do you know that you have a mold problem?
You can usually smell or see a mold problem. It can appear in a fuzzy, discolored patch that will increase in size when it grows. It commonly produces a musty odor that is one of the first indications of a problem. It can grow almost anywhere where there is enough moisture or a problem with the plumbing system. The best ways of looking for mold problems is to search for mold growth, water stains, or simply to follow your sense of smell to the source of the odor. It might require you to look underneath or behind surfaces like carpets, wallpapers, cabinets or even walls. Some areas that are necessary to pass your inspections are bathrooms (especially bathroom tiles, shower curtains, and stalls), window moldings, the door seal of your refrigerator and surfaces around or on your air conditioning.
Is mold testing necessary in order to see what kind of mold is growing in your home?
The answer to this is simple, no, it is not necessary. Mold testing is not recommended since there are no state or federal standards for having mold in your home. It can be quite expensive to have your home mold tested, and by simply cleaning or repairing water problems you will hinder the mold growth. Knowing what kind of mold is present in your home will not change anything. As stated before, it can be found anywhere and the levels of it might vary, mostly depending on the location, weather, and time of the day.
Should you hire someone to inspect your home and how to find them?
Although most people can identify and clean mold growth on their own, in some cases, hiring someone who is a professional to inspect your home might be necessary. By hiring someone to inspect and clean your house, you will make sure that all the mold that was growing is gone, as well as solve any plumbing problems you might have. It is quite easy to find a company that will provide this service to you. If you, for example, live in Miami, just type in mold inspection Miami and you will get a list of companies that will help you with your mold problem.
Can mold make your family and you sick?
By being exposed to mold, it might cause health problems in people. Mold spores are always present in the air we breathe, but by being exposed to these particles for a long time might cause serious health problems. It could produce allergic and respiratory problems, and people with respiratory conditions, such as allergies, asthma, or emphysema should be particularity cautions with mold exposure. Also, people that have a compromised immune system and illnesses such as AIDS, as well as people who have a transplanted organ and chemotherapy patients should be cautious to the amount of mold they have in their homes.
Conclusion
Being exposed to mold can cause serious health problems, as well as problems with your home’s structure and in order to prevent this from happening, it is better to stop the mold from spreading further than to experience these problems.
