Keeping your home cozy and tidy is important so you can feel safe there. If you discover mold anywhere, it can feel like an invasion of privacy, not to mention an assault on your health and wellness.
Avoid feeling fearful when you check out these important facts about mold. You don’t have to worry when you’re well informed. Read on for a guide to what to expect when there’s mold in your home.
1. Four Ingredients
Mold needs four things to grow: food, moisture, darkness, and the right temperature. Otherwise, mold can’t grow. It only needs about one or two days to start growing, so make sure to clean up any spills or damp places before mold has a chance to get started.
The color of the mold usually tells you what the mold has fed on, not what type of mold it is. While lab tests can tell you the type of mold, you don’t really need to know what kind to know that it needs to get cleaned up.
2. Mold Can Increase Health Problems
The W.H.O. (World Health Organization) released a study about mold and the way it impacts our health. Clinical studies have shown that exposure to mold increases respiratory problems, like trouble breathing. It can also make allergies worse, and inhibit the immune system from functioning properly.
3. Doctor Facts About Mold
Doctors who treat mold illnesses are specialists. Ask your primary care practitioner for help finding someone with expertise in environmental illnesses. Mold illness and other biotoxin illnesses manifest differently in different people, so an expert is best to help you determine the problem and treat it.
4. Some Mold Isn’t Toxic
Mold spores are everywhere, but not every mold contains toxins. Poisonous mold is the type that causes mycosis, or fungal infections. They’re called mycotoxins, and a blood test can help determine the presence of these toxins in your body.
Remember, though, mold is everywhere, and it’s been around a long time. Even the book of Leviticus in the Bible mentions how to get rid of mold. Most types of molds are normal and in small batches aren’t harmful.
5. Lung Problems
If you’ve ever heard the term allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, you may worry that someone in your family will develop this health issue if you find mold at home. In truth, this serious condition usually happens because of the condition of your lungs, not the mold in your home.
6. Prevent Mold By Keeping Things Dry
You can keep your home safe by keeping things dry. Bathrooms and kitchens are usual places that mold grows because of the moisture, but basements are another. Here are some tips for basement waterproofing.
You can use fans and dehumidifiers to help get rid of moisture and use home improvement products like paint and drywall that are mold resistant.
Home Protection
These six facts about mold cover the basics. If you want more information about mold, including a professional opinion, contact us for help. Seitz Environmental, Inc. can let you know how often you need a mold inspection and what signs to look for.
