Whether you’ve owned your home for years or have just recently purchased it, mold is one of the last things you want to find. This fungus can grow just about anywhere and can lead to a number of health issues, especially if a person is exposed for a long period of time. If you discover this pesky fungus in your house, unfortunately, you need to have its removed from your home quickly and safely. An online search should help you connect with a professional that will help get rid of the mold and prevent it from reappearing.
Here’s what you should know if mold is discovered in your home.
How Mold Appears in Your Home
Mold can grow almost anywhere, both indoors and out. It’s most likely to appear in damp places, like bathrooms, kitchens, basements, attics, laundry rooms, and any rooms you use a humidifier in.
Identifying the type of mold as soon as possible is critical. Some types are harmless and can be wiped away with a little bit of spray from your local hardware store. But others are more dangerous and require professional removal.
Additionally, not all molds are obviously visible. They may be located in areas of your house you don’t frequent or areas you don’t ever look in. Some other factors besides visible spores that may suggest the presence of mold in the house include:
- Smelly heating or cooling systems
- Dark grout between shower tiles
- Peeling wallpaper
- Someone in the house has persistent cold-like symptoms
- Dark or colored spots on your walls
- A musty odor in your home, even after cleaning
If you’re seeing of these signs in your house, it could mean you have mold. Start by looking at any obvious staining or discolouration, as well as anywhere that you know you’ve has water damage or flooding.
The Health Effects of Mold
More that simply being nasty, mold can have a significant impact on your health. Exposure to mold impacts people differently, with those having pre-existing allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues being more sensitive to the spores than others. Studies even show that early mold exposure is linked to the development of asthma in some children.
These symptoms may be caused by the presence of mold:
- Frequent headaches
- Lingering cold symptoms, like a stuffy nose
- Trouble breathing of other respiratory issues
- Worsened asthma
- Red or itchy eyes or skin
- Fever (severe cases)
- Shortness of breath (severe cases)
While these symptoms can also be unrelated to mold, it’s best to not rule it out without a thorough search in your home, especially if symptoms seem to have cropped up unexpectedly and without obvious cause.
What You Should Do If You Find Mold at Home
If you discover mold in your home, you really only have one option: remove it. Some types of this fungus can easily be wiped away with at-home remedies from a store. But ultimately the best way to get rid of mold and prevent it from coming back is by hiring a professional removal service.
To find a qualified professional, begin by searching online.There are a few important things you should find out before selecting and hiring someone. The company must have liability insurance for mold removal, provide you a copy of the cleanup protocol, and a written work guarantee of mold removal. You also want to be sure that the company is removing the mold, not “sealing” or “encapsulating” it, as those are just fancy terms for covering it up.
Finally, choose a business that is thorough in trying to understand your particular mold situation, identify the source, and tailor their service. Search online to find a great local company and take advantage of the free consultation that many offer.