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There’s a lot to be said about mold from homeowners, real estate agencies, mold remediation services, and even the CDC. We know that it is harmful to people’s health and difficult to remove. Mold growth in homes can affect vulnerable individuals, such as children, pets, or those with asthma or other respiratory conditions. When purchasing a home, people know it is important to have a mold inspection so that they get a fair price on their new home. But most people don’t understand the science of mold and how it grows. Here’s a little background of how mold, as we know it, comes to be. 

Mold exposure is a serious health concern especially for the more vulnerable, including the elderly and those with existing respiratory issues. When mold spores are inhaled they can result in coughing, wheezing, and even more severe respiratory symptoms. You don’t have to have allergies or asthma to suffer from the severe side effects that come from exposure to mycotoxins that can exist in the air if there are mold colonies growing in your home or business. 

Mold can be more than just an unsightly nuisance. Even if you’re not seeing it in your direct surroundings, but it’s in the building you live or work in, the spores can travel through the air and affect air quality. Mold exposure can cause serious health issues.

Water damage can become a huge expense and even cause damage extensive enough to result in a complete gutting of an existing home. If water damage occurs and isn’t addressed quickly it can also cause mold growth. Protect your property by addressing water damage immediately.

There is a lot of stress and many different costs when you’re closing on a home, and that overwhelming feeling is one of the reasons that mold in homes is forgotten. While it seems that on the surface, mold isn’t a big deal, it can add a significant cost to your home’s refurbishment. Mold problems can be small, and in that case, extremely easy to remove, or a mold problem can run deep, affecting your entire home – this is much more difficult and expensive. It’s a good idea to have a professional inspect and sign off on the mold situation in your new potential home, that way if there is a mold problem, you can figure out how that works into your closing costs and overall living situation in time. 

We share a world with mold, and most aren’t cause for alarm. Varieties of mold exist in our environments inside and outside. Avoiding long term exposure, especially in less ventilated areas, is key to avoiding health problems related to mold. Knowing what to look out for and knowing warning signs of potential exposure can help avoid major health issues resulting from the most toxic mold spores.

Even though mold can grow virtually anywhere, especially during certain weather, as it thrives in warm environments, there are some steps you can take for prevention. Some ways to prevent mold in the summer include:

Humidifiers are used in homes around the country for a variety of reasons. They can really help soothe conditions from dry air, like dry skin, cracked lips, and dry sinuses. Others use them for indoor plants or in rooms containing pet reptiles. Whether for health or for hobby, humidifiers are useful. But, like anything, they do come with a downside. The number one reason for mold in homes and businesses is humidity or moisture. Regions near water with high humidity are already prone to mold, but now homes in drier areas are also seeing more mold than ever – thanks to appliances like humidifiers. This doesn’t mean you should stop using your device, especially if it helps your health, but this does mean that you’ll have to take some preventative measures to keep mold at bay. 

Mold is made up of tiny spores that travel through the air until they find the perfect damp and dark place to live and reproduce. Mold can be found on food, in homes, buildings, construction sites, and even outside. You may be breathing in mold without even realizing it. Mold is a hidden danger because it usually grows in areas that people don’t check, like around pipes, inside vents, behind kitchen equipment, in bathrooms around tiles, and pretty much anywhere it can thrive. There are also thousands of species of mold out there, and they may have different health consequences. If you suspect you have a mold allergy, you should talk about your concerns with a doctor. Here’s what you need to know about mold and allergies.

Finding mold around windowsills is a common problem. A window serves as an entry point into your home and rarely cleaned, so it’s easy for mold spores to settle and grow in a windowsill. From general humidity to collecting water when it rains, a windowsill or the edges around the window quickly becomes the ultimate home for mold. It can also be ignored and confused for regular dirt or soot. Unfortunately, unlike dirt, mold spores can’t simply be wiped away. While cleaning the area will temporarily stop the problem, if you find that black spots are continuing to appear around your doors and windows, it may be time to call in professional help.