Mold is present everywhere in household and industrial dust as well as by leaky water sources.
Water and moisture is always the cause of mold and mildew, but the source may not always be able to be easily located.
Mold and mildew start off as spores and proliferate with moisture. Moisture can come in the form of leaky water sources or even humid air. Mold and mildew require nutrients, water, oxygen and favorable temperatures to grow. Nutrients for mold are present in dead organic material such as wood, paper or fabrics; mold can also derive nutrients from some synthetic products such as paints and adhesives.
Mold and mildew cause allergens that affect everyone differently.
- Mold related allergies – symptoms include runny nose, itchy eyes, wheezing, and skin rashes.
- Allergic fungal sinusitis
- Fungal infections
- Asthma
- Irritation of mucous membranes including eyes and respiratory system
- Volatile Compounds (VOCs) produced by mold causing headaches, dizziness, and attention deficit.
Toxic mold is mold that releases mycotoxins. Mycotoxins can cause neurological disorders or even death. Certain environmental factors produce mycotoxins.
First an assessment of mold must be done. If mold is present, then sampling is conducted to find the mold concentration. Remediation is performed next to determine and discontinue the water source that is feeding the mold. The mold removal process then begins and involves using proper safety equipment, the correct procedures and antimicrobial cleaners.
Preventing further mold involves fixing any leaky water sources.
Mold is on the rise due the construction techniques used in new home construction. Homes are usually built to control moisture through design features like overhangs, gutters and flashing. One of the causes is that houses today are designed and built with more corners, angles, hips, slopes, nooks, crannies, and other design features that place greater demands on proper detailing and workmanship to keep the weather and water out. Those demands are not always met. There are less skilled construction workers also. Modern energy codes may also be a contributing factor. By encouraging houses to be sealed tightly, these codes, experts point out, can exacerbate interior condensation problems, as well as indoor air quality concerns.
Your home is a financial investment. You want your home to increase in value rather than decrease. In order for your home to increase, it must be cared for to ensure there are no problems that would cause its resale value to decrease rather than increase. It’s important to fix any leaky water sources or damage done by environmental factors in a timely manner not to jeopardize the health of your entire home.
It is best to leave mold removal, remediation, and restoration up to a professional unless you have been in the business and know what you are doing. A misstep can further exacerbate your mold problem as well as not using the proper cleaners and following the proper steps using safety equipment.