Call Paul Davis: What is Black Mold?
No homeowner wants black mold, but do you know what it is? Black mold (also known as Stachybotrys) grows in damp spots and is often seen in areas where condensation has collected or anywhere near untreated water damage. These spores enter the home by doors, small openings and can also be brought in on personal items and coats. While most fungus around your home are nothing to worry about, black mold leads to illness with long term exposure.
Risks Behind Black Mold Exposure
Black mold is a poisonous mold that releases spores. Symptoms include chronic sneezing, eye, nose and throat irritation and rashes. Other symptoms include chronic fatigue and persistent headaches. Particularly serious occasions of long-term contact to black mold can be more life threatening. Often compounded by an allergy 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 unnoticed for weeks, and then spring up virtually overnight.
Once mold produces colonies in your living space, it immediately grows and discharges toxins that make life miserable for residents:
- Mold releases a pungent, musty smell that stops rooms from smelling clean.
- Mold wreaks havoc on allergy-sensitive people, as well as those with asthma, causing a physical reaction.
- A black mold infestation can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.
- Mold toxins can cause chronic inflammation and continuous cold-like symptoms.
- Individuals with compromised immune systems can get systemic infections of the lungs, skin, or digestive tract.
- In rare cases, mold toxins can cause neurological problems or even death.
- The more extended the exposure, the more severe the danger.
Unusually humid homes and offices can be subject to mold infestations even if no water damage has happened. If you see or smell something that could be mold, get an expert opinion right away.
To get rid of mold, the setting where it flourishes must first be removed. Water sources have to be handled, and any remaining moisture must be thoroughly dried out. Only then can mold elimination and remediation start.
Whether a leaky roof, burst pipe, or other entry point, it isn’t enough to stem the tide. Moisture can saturate hidden areas of your home. Without proper cleanup processes, mold will keep coming back to these spots.
If you are worried that your home may be growing black mold, call Paul Davis today. Our team inspects for existence of black mold before remediation. Depend on our professionals to remove black mold effectively. Don’t risk your health, get an inspection for black mold today.
