Types of Mold in Salisbury, Statesville and Mooresville, NC.
MOLDS FOUND IN HOMES
When we talk about mold in the home please be aware that mold is everywhere. There are actually 100’s of types of mold. Most are not harmful but that is no reason to ignore the fact that mold does not belong in your home. Here are the 5 most common mold found in the home and most importantly, several found in your crawl space that will pollute and degrade your indoor air quality to the point of respiratory and allergy problems.
5 Common Types Of Mold Often Found In Homes
Mold is everywhere and CCSS is dedicated to help you eliminate and prevent molds from growing in your crawlspace and basement. There are a great many different kinds of mold in this world. Each mold has its own unique characteristic, and some can even represent a danger to the health of humans and animals. It is worth noting that the world has more than 100 types of mold. Some of these molds have been known to cause serious illness. Another noteworthy fact is that the CDC does not have enough research to backup all of the many claims against mold. Some professionals in the medical feel strongly about the effects of mold, but in some cases there is little empirical evidence to back up those concerns. Regardless of whether a particular mold is harmful or not, it’s good to take precautions to prevent mold from growing in your home, and to remove it if it has already become established. Here are the top 5 molds often found in homes. Number 5 on the list is…
5) ASPERGILIUS
Aspergilius fungus is quite common in homes. It is possible and even likely that you are breathing some aspergilius right now without even being aware of it! Rest easy however, because in most cases the fungus is thought to be harmless to healthy individuals.On the other hand, individuals who suffer from weak immune systems can get sick from breathing aspergilius. Some of the maladies that can be caused by breathing the fungus are: sinus irritation, allergic reactions, and acute or chronic infections of the lungs. Aspergilius can be found in air conditioning systems, indoor air as well as outdoor air. The CDC has stated that it is impossible to avoid aspergilius and most people breath it without consequence. Unless you have tuberculosis or a weak immune system, you most likely have nothing to worry from aspergilius.
4) ALTERNARIA
Next up is a mold called alternaria. The Missouri School Of Medicine states that Alternaria is “..the most important allergenic molds found in the US.” In other words, alternaria can cause allergy problems for people. In fact, 70% of people who get allergies are effected by Alternaria! Alternaria usually resides in outdoor air. And it’s more common than you might think. You know the tiny black spots you sometimes see on the tomatoes you buy from the super market? More often than not it is alternaria. Symptoms of Alternaria allegergies are coughing, wheezing, sneezing, and other breathing problems.
3) CLADOSPORIUM
Now for the nasty mold: cladosporium — a much more potent fungus that can cause some serious health issues. Cladosporium can grow indoors or out. Here are some examples of places where you might find cladosporium mold growing besides your basement or crawlspace:
Clothing, Paper, Woody plants, Food, Soil, Painted walls, Painted wood, HVAC systems, Mattress dust. Cladosporium mold is known to cause coughing, sneezing, stuffy nose, sinus issues, allergic reactions, as well as serious breathing problems in people who have asthma.
2) PENICILLIUM
Think the name of this one sounds familiar? You’re probably thinking of penicillin — the famous anti-microbial treatment which has saved countless lives to date. Well this little fungus, penicillium actually played a big part in the development of the famed medicine! So not all molds are all bad, you see. Penicillium can be found in soil, decaying vegetation and spores can even be found in the air. The fungus can cause food to spoil however. Some strands of penicillium can release harmful toxins into the air — which may cause breathing problems in some individuals.
1) STACHYBOTRYS
Last but not least is Stachybotrys, also known as ‘black mold.’ Arguably this is one of the more toxic strands of mold known to man. The mycotoxins produced by black mold are particularly harmful and may have severe long-term health effects, especially in younger kids and individuals with weak immune systems. Drywall, carpet, insulation or sub-flooring that have been exposed to moisture are places where black mold can be found. Although in our industry it it common knowledge that black mold is potentially harmful to humans, unfortunately, not many every day people know about black mold. If you spot some mold in your home that is black in color, it might be any number of strands of mold so the important thing is to get it identified by a professional.
The best course of action if you see any mold in your crawlspace or basement is to call CCSS and let us evaluate your condition. Since high moisture triggers mold growth we need to identify and eliminate the moisture source to help resolve the problem and keep it from coming back.
Call us at (704) 989-8219.
