No homeowner wants black mold, but what is it? Black mold (also known as Stachybotrys) grows in wet areas and is usually seen around condensation or where there’s been water damage. These spores enter the home by windows, small entrances and can also be tracked on personal items and clothing. While most fungus found in your home aren’t dangerous, this variety causes illness after long term exposure.
What are the Health Risks?
The spores black mold releases are the reason behind black mold poisoning. Symptoms include chronic coughing, irritation to the eyes, mucus membranes of the nose and throat as well as skin rashes. Other symptoms include chronic fatigue and persistent headaches. Nausea, vomiting and bleeding in the lungs and nose occur in the most severe cases of long term exposure.
Information about Mold
Mold quickly spread across walls, floors and ceilings. Whenever your home suffers water damage, you should have a Paul Davis technician check the walls for mold infestations. They can go unnoticed for weeks, and then appear virtually overnight.
Once mold produces colonies in your living space, it immediately breeds and releases toxins that make life difficult for occcupants:
- Mold releases a pungent, mildewed scent that prevents rooms from smelling fresh.
- Mold wreaks havoc on allergy-sensitive individuals, 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 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 more severe the danger.
Unusually damp 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 immediately.
To get rid of mold, the atmosphere where it flourishes must first be removed. Water sources have to be handled, and any remaining moisture must be efficiently dried out. Only then can mold removal and remediation start.
Whether a dripping roof, burst pipe, or other entry point, it isn’t enough to close the tide. Moisture can soak out-of-sight areas of your home. Without proper cleanup procedures, mold will keep returning to these spots.
Contact Paul Davis now if your home contains black mold. Our team analyzes for existence of black mold before starting treatment. You can depend on our professionals to eliminate black mold effectively. Don’t risk your health, schedule a black mold inspection now.
