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What are the effects of mold in your home?

What is mold?

Molds refer to different varieties of fungi that reproduce through spores.  In some cases, they are called “mildew”, specifically those that are gray or white in color and grow in bathrooms and showers.  They also grow outdoors and thrive in humid, damp, and warm areas.
Examples of common household mold types are the Aspergillus, Alternaria, Penicillium, and Cladosporium, which all grow indoors.

There is another type, called Stachybotrys chartarum, which is greenish-black in color that is less common than the ones first mentioned.  It thrives on surfaces that contain substantial cellulose, such as paper, fiberboard, wood, lint, and gypsum board.

There are also other types of mold like to live on carpets and foods.

The spores that molds produce are so tiny that they are invisible to the naked eye. They are very resistant to extreme conditions, even though those states are not conducive to mold growth.  They travel through air, whether indoors or outdoors, and immediately grow once they land on a moist surface.

Molds inside your homes are very serious health hazards, aside from being destructive to your property, so they have to be destroyed as soon as possible.

How can you prevent molds from growing in your household?

To avoid mold growths in your homes, Quality Mechanical advises that moisture indoors should be controlled. Getting rid of all mold spores around you is an impossible task to do, so the next best solution is to make sure there is not any surface in the house that is heavy with moisture.

Also, any plumbing leaks that cause moisture buildup have to be discovered and repaired at the soonest.

If there is water damage or leakage in your house, you have to have it cleaned immediately and dried within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Install an air dehumidifier instead of an air conditioner once the humid season kicks in. This can minimize the risk for any moisture buildup anywhere around the house.

If possible, do not use carpets in your bathroom or the humid rooms in the house.

Have a good ventilation system in the house to prevent dampness.

Use electric fans for better air circulation.

Add mold inhibitors to your household paints.

Maintain an indoor humidity level of about 30% to 50%.

When you shower, open the bathroom windows or turn on the bathroom fans.

There should be an appropriate ventilation scheme to the outdoors for your stoves, clothes dryers, and other moisture-producing appliances.

Should I test my house for molds?

The United States Environmental Protection Association encourages mold testing if the mold is not visible to the naked eye. Sampling should be conducted by a professional who will test the sample and determine what steps to take to completely eradicate the problem.

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