An Overview of Mold In Your Home: How Mold Gets In Your Home and How To Treat It

It invades the home silently, going unnoticed in the beginning. It hides in dark, damp corners or slinks beneath the floorboards. Sometimes it comes in through the roof and hangs around in the attic. It doesn’t need much to grow, spread, and wreak havoc on your household. What is this insidious being? Is it some creepy insect or small rodent? No, it’s mold!

Every homeowner knows what a headache mold can be, but just how much do we know about it? How dangerous is it and what can be done about? Read on to find out more this common problem called mold that we see on home inspections and mold tests.

Just what exactly is mold?

Mold is actually a fungus. Fungi are living organisms that grow “in the form of multicellular thread-like structures.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are tens of thousands or even more different fungus species. Mold is both indoors and outdoors. However, when a mold is indoors it can be more problematic due to the enclosed nature of a home. Outdoor mold is not inhaled as deeply into the lungs because it’s not contained like it is in a house.

How do you get mold in your home?

Since mold is basically everywhere, we all breathe in a little bit of it. According to medical experts, breathing in a small amount from the outdoors is usually harmless. However, once they get within a home and begin to multiply (grow), then a problem arises. Mold can come in through the doors, windows, air conditioning ducts, and even enter in on your clothing and shoes. Once it gets in your home if it finds a comfortable place to settle down, then it will grow and become a problem. Mold likes dampness and moisture. In fact, that is what it feeds off of. So, if it finds any dampness in your home, then it has what it needs to stick around and multiply.

What different types of mold are there? Are they all dangerous?

Not every mold is toxic, but most molds will cause some problem or another. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) found evidence in their research that indoor mold is linked to upper respiratory problems, allergy flare-ups, coughing, asthma, and wheezing. While there may be thousands of different types of mold or fungi species, there are a few types of mold that are more commonly found in homes. Here is a list of the most common:

• Alternaria
• Aspergillus
• Cladosporium
• Penicillium

The mold we often refer to as black mold is actually not as common as some of these other ones. One reason it doesn’t live in homes much is that it takes an abundant supply of moisture to thrive. This mold is called Stachybotrys and it can be more dangerous.

How does mold affect me?

All the molds listed above have the potential to affect your health. Not only could it trigger allergy symptoms, coughing, and breathing difficulties, studies show a link between early childhood exposure and later developing asthma in these children (Source: CDC). This indicates that mold may have long-term consequences.

How do I get rid of mold?

The first step in getting rid of mold is testing to see if you do have it in your home. After mold testing, you need to find out where it is, then take the appropriate steps to eliminate it. Cleaning up the mold is part of the process but remember, mold had to have moisture and dampness to survive and grow. So, this means you will need to discover where the moisture is coming from. Getting to the bottom of your mold issue and solving the root problem ensures mold won’t return. Some tips for reducing the chances of mold liking your home are:

• Keep moisture low with a dehumidifier.
• Repair leaky faucets, toilets, and tubs right away.
• Take steps to keep the outdoor mold out (seal up windows, use extra insulation in the attic, and so on).
• Check air conditioning pans and areas for water.
• Make sure the land near your home’s foundation is properly sloped. 

Don’t let mold take over your home. Take steps to prevent and eliminate this nasty pest. For more information about mold or what is covered in our home inspections, contact us at FXC Inspections in Red Deer, AB!