Answering your Mold Questions!

3/2/2018 (Permalink)

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Mold is never any fun. The smell, the health issues that can arise, the structural home issues, no one wants to deal with it. Unfortunately, cleaning mold with soap and water and bleach does not remove the mold only masks it! What exactly is mold though? What causes it? And why is it so dangerous? Is there anyway to prevent it? Lets answer these questions shall we?

What is mold?

A mold is a type of fungus: a plant-like organism that does not use photosynthesis to produce food, but instead obtains it directly from its surroundings. Molds can display themselves in a variety of colors, such as the familiar green covering often seen on bread or fruit.

These fungi can grow on a variety of materials, including soil, decaying plant parts, food, fabrics, and damp walls. They reproduce by releasing huge numbers of tiny spores, which are very tough, and can withstand drying and freezing.

Cause

Moisture is the key factor in mold growth. Millions of mold spores are always in the air. They sometimes attach themselves to a surface and form a colony if environmental conditions are right. The colony is commonly known as mold. Unventilated areas of a house with moisture and stale air are breeding grounds for mold. Mold can form in cold temperatures, which is why it can be found in refrigerators. But it prefers temperatures between 40 to 100 degrees.

Health Concerns

Mold fumes are harmful to breathe and exposure can cause allergies and asthma. That is especially true for people susceptible to those ailments. Mold produces organisms called mycotoxins which can also cause irritation of the eyes, skin, nose throat and lungs. The symptoms can be immediate or appear later. The EPA reports that symptoms beyond these are not likely. Research is ongoing to determine if mold exposure causes other health problems.

Property Value

While mold may not always totally destroy a home's value, it can affect it. A house with a mold problem will probably not sell as quickly or for as much as one without mold. Some real estate agents have said mold could cause a 10-percent drop in the price of a house, according to the Wall Street Journal. Since mold can be removed, it's best to get rid of it before putting the house up for sale.

Preventing Mold

There is no way to prevent the amount of mold spores in the house. But it is possible to control the amount of moisture and lessen the chance of the spores forming colonies. Fix any water leaks and dry water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours. Keep the humidity level in the house between 30 and 50 percent. It is also important to keep gutters clean to prevent water from entering through the roof.