The moment the weather turns cold, damp, and humid, alert yourself because that’s the ideal time when mold spores settle down on surfaces and start building colonies. The more you ignore, the bigger it gets, the harder it takes to get rid of it. It takes only 24 – 48 hours for the mold bacteria to start growing in dark, humid, and high moisture spaces. So, the moment you see the first signs of mold and mildew, open Google and look up the nearest professional mold removal expert and hire their services.
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Signs and Symptoms of Molds
Molds are different types of bacteria that grow indoors and outdoors. Mold spores are present in the air all the time and they can persist in all conditions. However, when the atmosphere turns moist and warm, the mold spores settle on damp and dark spots and start to grow.
Molds can expertly grow on any given surface, be it clothes, upholsteries, paper, iron, wood, plastic, glass, cement, and brick. Some molds are so powerful that they may even eat away the surface they grow on.
Since mold spores are tiny, airborne, and invisible to the naked eyes, they can enter your home through any opening. They can also attach to objects and transit, such as pets, shoes, vehicles, bags, etc.
They are not a problem during dry and sunny climate.
Common places where you can find mold are wallpaper, inside insulation material, underneath carpet, crawlspaces, loft, basement, tiles, around leaking pipes, cupboards, and wooden surfaces.
Once the mold starts growing, it becomes visible to the eyes.
The first signs of mold
- A musty odor that doesn’t go away and grows stronger in closed room.
- Black, flaky surface that can be mistaken for dirt.
- Rapid growth.
Impacts of Mold on Health
Don’t take the mold bacteria so lightly. As mold grows, other organic compounds can enter the atmosphere via air. Certain molds are particularly dangerous and can cause serious health problems, including allergies, irritation, respiratory problems, and mood swings. If you find mold in your house, and your family is experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to get on a mold detox diet like the one recommended by the highly respected detox doctor, Dr. Daniel Pompa.
Molds can be toxic to individuals with weakened immune systems, such as people suffering from asthma, people with lung infection, patients going through cancer treatment, pulmonary TB patients, and people suffering from eczema.
Common health effects of mold are:
- Breathing problem
- Itchy nose, throat, lungs, and eyes
- Watery eyes and nose
- Skin allergy
- Skin irritation
- Cough and cold symptoms
- Hay fever symptoms
- Sneezing
- Aspergillosis in serious cases
- Enhanced sinusitis
- Depression and mood swing
- Fever and fatigue
While these were health hazards of mold, the likelihood of having them depends upon your immune system and the amount of contamination.
How to Prevent and Fight Mold
If the mold growth has spread across a large space or the level of contamination is high, you should definitely call a mold removal expert that is licensed and whose technicians are accredited by the IICRC.
Only a professional company can identify the type of mold attack and strategize a solid remediation operation with minimal expenses. With the right tool, they will also prevent future attacks.
You can also remove mold by yourself with the help of store-bought mold removal solutions. The instructions will be printed below. Follow the process step-by-step with all the precautions mentioned to get rid of mold.
Apart from the above, other preventive measures, which you can employ include:
- Reduce humidity and moisture content inside the home. Humidity should be below 60%.
- Get a dehumidifier.
- Implement cross ventilation.
- Keep doors and windows open.
- Improve air circulation in crawlspaces.
- Address water damage as early as possible.
- Maintain pipes, drains, gutters, water filters, washing machines, purifiers, and heaters to reduce leaks.
