Black mold is a scary thing to find in your home, but the first thing you need to know is that not all black mold is toxic.
Toxic mold will usually be a more brownish color, however, it is sometimes hard to tell the difference the naked eye. Getting a professional opinion can be critical.
There are many different species of mold and it is important to differentiate between the different types. Knowing what black mold is, it is essential to know what type of mold you have in your home.
Mold is made up of tiny microscopic organisms that can either grow indoors or outdoors. Mold spores are spread by being blown in the air or disturbed from their surface in any other way. Mold spores are a lot smaller than pollen grains. This allows the spores to get into our lungs, which makes it a common cause of asthma attacks in people with asthma.
All fungus requires moisture to survive. The appearance will often be slimy and a dark-greenish black color. Mold can grow anywhere. However, it is most likely to appear in warm, humid areas. Mold can be found in your carpet, drywall, wood paneling, and drop-down ceiling tiles. These things can grow mold when they remain wet for a certain amount of time. It is important to clean up any spills, and any moisture problems need to be fixed.
The mold will often have a distinctive smell; usually like mildew with a musty kind of smell. Some people describe the smell as rotting wood or wet, dirty socks. Either way, mold is always referred to as having a musty smell. Occasionally when you have mold in your home, the smell is the only clue that you have. Don’t ignore the smell of mildew in your home. It’s important to find where the smell is coming from and in turn, find the mold.
Molds are decomposers of organic material such as wood, animals, and plants. Mold and their spores are found in high concentrations in places like piles of leaves, manure, and compost. Mold can enter your home through doorways, windows, ventilation, air conditioning vents, and your heating. It is often common for mold spores from the air to attach onto pets, your shoes, clothes, or bags. The mold spores will drop onto places of moisture where they will then continue to grow.
Mold likes to hide out in warm and wet environments. Finding black mold, or any type of mold, is scary. But if you do come across any, it is very important that you get it taken care of and removed. Mold has been known to cause people, especially those with asthma, to become very sick.
Just remember that when and if you find mold, it doesn’t always mean that you have toxic black mold in your home. There are many other different kinds of mold that may not be as dangerous or scary as the black mold. Morgan Basement Waterproofing is here to help you get a healthy home.
Give us a call at 877-401-4777 or submit a form below to schedule a free inspection to determine if we can help.