Do You Know Black Mold?

No homeowner wants black mold, but what is it? Also called Stachybotrys, black mold grows in wet spots and is most commonly seen in areas where condensation has collected or pools or standing water inside. These spores enter the house via doors, other openings or brought in on shoes and clothing. Although most molds in your house aren’t dangerous, black mold causes health problems if left untreated.

Black Mold Poisoning

The spores black mold produces are the major cause behind black mold poisoning. Typically symptoms include chronic sneezing, irritation to the eyes, mucus membranes of the nose and throat as well as skin rashes. In addition, chronic fatigue and persistent headaches can all be symptomatic of black mold exposure or black mold poisoning. Especially severe occurances of long-term contact to black mold can be more dangerous. Often compounded by allergic reaction to the black mold spores, these symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and bleeding in the lungs and nose.

About Mold

Mold doesn’t take long to permeate walls, floors and ceilings. Whenever your home experiences water damage, you should have a professional check the walls for mold infestations. They can go unseen for weeks, and then appear essentially overnight.

Once mold produces colonies in your living space, it immediately breeds and discharges toxins that make life miserable for occcupants:

  • Mold emits a strong, musty smell that stops rooms from smelling clean.
  • Mold causes serious problems for allergy-sensitive individuals, as well as those with asthma, making symptoms flare up.
  • A black mold infestation can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.
  • Mold toxins can activate chronic inflammation and ongoing cold-like symptoms.
  • People with weakened immune systems can get systemic infections of the lungs, skin, or digestive tract.
  • In rare cases, mold toxins can cause neurological concerns or even death.
  • The more prolonged the exposure, the greater the danger.

Unusually damp homes and offices can be vulnerable to mold infestations even if no water damage has happened. If you see or smell something that could be mold, get a skillful opinion immediately.

If you want to eradicate mold, the environment where it thrives must first be removed. Water sources have to be handled, and any remaining moisture must be thoroughly dried out. Only then can mold removal and remediation start.

Whether a dripping roof, burst pipe, or other opening, it isn’t enough to close the tide. Moisture can soak out-of-sight areas of your home. Without proper cleanup methods, mold will keep returning to these spots.

If you think your house may be growing black mold, speak with Paul Davis now. Our team analyzes for presence of black mold before remediation. Depend on our professionals to remove black mold effectively. Don’t risk your health, get a black mold inspection now.