Is Living in a Home with Mold Dangerous?
In the wild, mold and fungus deteriorates dead organic material and deposits nutrients into the soil around it, but it can bring its share of significant health trouble when it starts spreading in your house. Thankfully, most types of mold are typically innocent, but a small spot can grow to large proportions. Mold reproduces using spores that are released into the air and causes sickness when breathed in by anyone with mold allergies or asthma. A few studies have also found a link between an early exposure to mold and the development of asthma in some younger children. For most, garden variety mold, mildew or fungi isn't harmful or even obvious. However, it can affect other folks who are sensitive or who have asthma. Typically, the concentration of mold and degree of someone's allergies has the most effect on their response. Sneezing, coughing, runny nose, red eyes, wheezing, headaches and typical flu-like reactions are most often seen with mold allergies, making it difficult to target the problem correctly. The most severe reactions include difficulty breathing. Anyone with asthma should be especially careful near large populations of mold because it may trigger asthma attacks. Other groups at risk include:- Babies and children
- The elderly
- Immune sensitive individuals
- People with chronic lung disease
Mold in the Home
Often found in damp places, mildew and mold does grow bigger over time. Your house can get a mold infestation through open doors, open windows, vents and air conditioning and heating systems. Mold doesn't only enter your house through open doors and windows. It can also latch onto your clothes, bags, pets and shoes and be moved your house. Mold growth doesn't only affect your family's physical well-being-- it can affect your possessions and the building itself. Mold typically grows in moist places, but it can be found in places you might not expect. These include:- Paper products
- Ceiling tiles
- Cardboard
- Wood products
- Paints
- Insulation
- Drywall
- Upholstery
How Can I Prevent Mold in the Home?
You can take precautions to make sure that mold won't grow in your house. We suggest doing the following:- Set up ventilation in bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchen
- Control the humidity levels
- In the case of flooding, clean and dry your house meticulously
- Immediately repair leaky roofs, windows or pipes
- Talk to professional mold damage repair specialists for affordable mold remediation