Types of Mold in Your Home
Mold is defined as the microscopic fungi that grow in the form of multicellular structures and have a thread-like appearance. It mostly grows in damp places where it often forms patches and of different colors be it black, brown, greyish, white, or green.
A musty smell is an indication of the growth of mold in your home even when you don’t see any visible growth. When left unattended, mold contributes to poor indoor air quality.
The growth of mold requires the presence of moisture. The moisture could be coming from daily activities such as cooking, washing, air humidifiers, leaks, flooding, or condensation. Poor ventilation also contributes to high levels of moisture in the air, leading to the growth of mold
It is important to be able to spot mold, recognize the potential health effects, and come up with ways of tackling it without wasting time.
In many cases, mold growth becomes so rampant that it becomes so difficult for homeowners to control and eliminate it properly by themselves. This forces them to look for professional mold removing companies to do it for them.
In addition to destroying one's property, mold also has adverse effects on the health of people living in mold-infested homes. This is the reason why it is very important to identify and eliminate it as soon as it starts to develop.
Mold is highly toxic and has life-threatening effects on humans depending on the species and exposure conditions. Old people, pregnant women, and any other persons with weak immune systems are the most vulnerable when it comes to health effects caused by mold.
Different Types of Mold At Home
Let’s now look at the different types of mold that people come across at home. Knowing different species of mold helps you to quickly detect them when they attack your home and finding efficient ways of eliminating them.
Acremonium
This is a toxigenic type of mold that evolves in the way it looks over time. It starts from the small and moist mold that grows into a powder-like substance. Acremonium type of mold is mostly grey, orange, white, and sometimes pink. This mold mainly grows in household systems and areas which are poorly ventilated.
Being exposed to acrimonious is dangerous and can cause respiratory complications.
Alternaria
Alternaria is viewed as the most common type of allergic mold in most homes. The mold has a velvety texture with brown or dark green threadlike hairs. It grows on damp places in homes, for example in the showers, bathtubs, and under leaking sinks. It is worth noting that the mold species can also be found outdoors.
Since it is an allergen, prolonged exposure is known to cause asthma to people around so you should remediate it before it completely infests your home.
Aspergillus
Aspergillus is a common type of mold in most homes. The mold has long spores that are flask-shaped, and that forms thick layers or walls of the mold, creating long chains of mold growth on surfaces. Other than being allergic, Aspergillus is toxic and can lead to inspiratory inflammation, lung infections, and asthma attack.
Aureobasidium
Aureobasidium is a mold that is prone to cause allergic reactions to exposed individuals. It is found in such places as behind the wallpaper or wooden surfaces. The mold manifests itself in various colors like black, pink, or brown.
The primary health risks that come along with aureobasidium are nails, skin, and eye infections. The mold should never be touched with bare hands.
Chaetomium
This type of mold is mostly found in water-damaged homes. It has a cotton-like texture that can change color from white to grey, to brown, and finally black with time.
Chaetomium is usually found in damp, basements, leaking sinks, leaking roofs and you can recognize it by its musty odor.
Mucor
This is a rare type of mold that has forms a characteristic thick patch. It is white or greyish and takes a very short time to grow. The mold often grows in places with poor ventilation due to moisture and subsequent condensation.
Mucor causes a range of severe health problems affecting the respiratory system, causing difficulty in breathing and bringing flu-like symptoms.
Mold Control
Getting rid of mold is mostly viewed as a very complex task. However, you can simplify the process by using good dehumidifiers. These are devices that regulate moisture, therefore, improving the quality of indoor air.
The devices are designed to suck air from the room, filter out the moisture in it, and release it back into the room. The moisture collected is stored in a small tank that you have to empty yourself. Tired of stubborn mold? Get a dehumidifier and say goodbye to mold-related effects in your home.
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