What? Mold in MY House?

Article by David Selter

Mold spores will almost always be found inside of homes, and most of those mold spores come from outside. Ordinary everyday cleaning keeps these mold spore counts at low levels. There is usually at least a moderate level of mold spores outside because of the warm humid climate found in gulf coast cities. Mold inspection companies can test the air in your home to make sure the spore counts inside your home are not higher than outside, which would be a cause for concern. They can also tell you if the types of mold in your house are the types commonly found outside, for example aspergillus, or are of the variety usually found where there has been a long term moisture problem in the home. These include cladosporium and the infamous stachybotrys, and they tend to pose a greater health risk because of the mycotoxins they produce.

Although you may only have visible mold damage in one area of the house because of an undetected leak or other water intrusion, there is a risk that it will or has spread undetected to other areas. Molds release thousands of airborne spores to reproduce. These spores are microscopic and easily travel on air currents to other areas of the house and even through small openings to areas behind the base of your walls. Wherever they alight and find the right conditions, they start growing. And what do they need to start growing? Food and moisture. The food can be any organic material such as the paper used in manufacturing drywall, wood, including your home’s framing and cabinets, cardboard, and common dirt including the light dust that accumulates undetected on and along your walls. So as it feeds, in addition the health risks, the structural materials in your home are also being damaged by mold. Removal of the infected materials and thorough cleaning and disinfecting are critical to preventing further damage.

So if you find high levels of common mold, or find mold usually associated with long term moisture issues, mold remediation is definitely called for. But even under normal conditions there is no practical way to remove all mold and mold spores from the indoor environment. But keeping your home clean and dry can prevent extensive mold growth and its related damage.

And to ensure your home is actually dry, make sure your air conditioning system is running properly. It needs to be removing enough moisture from the air to keep your humidity in the 30 to 50% range. You can purchase a hygrometer at your local hardware box store to periodically check the humidity levels in your home. This small investment could save you a lot in the long run.

Need more help? Contact DryMore Mold Removal today for your mold removal needs.