Why Mold Can be Dangerous and How to Prevent it in the Home
Why Mold Is Dangerous?
Mold is everywhere, including Elkhart county Indiana, and is an extremely common type of fungus that consists of small organisms often found in homes and buildings that can be dangerous to humans. While growing on surfaces, mold can release spores into the air which can be easily inhaled. Inhalation of mold can lead to various issues such as breathing problems, worsening of allergies, and other health complications.
Mold Can Cause Breathing Problems
Mold spores can enter the lungs via regular breathing and cause irritation of the lungs. If a person already has breathing problems, it can cause further complications such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and worsening asthma.
Can Cause and Worsen Allergies
According to the EPA, “Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed.” The CDC also directly states “For people with known allergies, molds can trigger asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, or cough. Irritation can also occur in non-allergenic (non-sensitized) people.”
How to Prevent Mold in the home
Preventing mold in the home requires basic preventive maintenance and care. Keeping in mind that mold grows on areas with heavy moisture such as leaks in roofs, windows, pipes, etc. we usually recommend stopping the water, and keeping the home clean and dry.
check your home
Individuals can usually either smell a mold problem or see either a slightly fuzzy, discolored, or slimy patch that increases in size as the mold grows. Most molds produce musty odors that are the first indication of a problem. The best way to find mold is to look for signs of mold growth, water staining, warping, or to follow your nose to the source of the odor. It may be necessary to look behind and underneath surfaces, such as carpets, wallpaper, cabinets, and walls.
Common sources for moisture can include: Roof leaks, indoor plumbing leaks, outdoor drainage problems, damp basements and crawl spaces, steam from the bathroom or kitchen, condensation on cool surfaces, humidifiers, wet clothes drying inside the home, a clothes dryer venting indoors, and poor or improper ventilation of heating and cooking appliances. These areas should be checked on a regular basis for signs of growth.
Fix any leaks
Mold and mildew can grow on surfaces in as little as 24 – 48 hours after becoming damp which is why it is paramount that any leaks are fixed as soon as possible. Growth will continue until the surface/area is dry and existing growth is killed via various disinfectants.
clean your home
There are some areas of the home that are always susceptible to mold growth and should be part of routine cleaning to control mold growth. These areas include: bathrooms; especially shower stalls, bathroom tiles, and shower curtains, window moldings, the seal on the refrigerator door, and surfaces on and around air conditioners.
Humidity control also plays an important role in the growth and development of mold. Try to keep interiors below 40% humidity as this can prevent most growth from forming.
We're Here to help!
In small amounts, mold can often be harmless however should always be remediated and avoided to prevent further growth and issue. Expert mold remediation techniques deal with the spores created through the removal and disturbance of mold. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call us at (574) 584-3640. Yoder Home Services is located in Goshen, Indiana and mainly services Elkhart County and the surrounding areas. We offer several different home repair services, such as waterproofing, foundation repair, and mold damage remediation. You can also schedule an appointment where we’d be happy to answer any and all questions.
