A mold problem in your home may not immediately announce itself clearly. Dormant microscopic mold spores exist almost everywhere, indoors and out. In that sense, most houses are already contaminated by the potential for mold. Potential becomes reality when particular conditions — primarily exposure to moisture — activates dormant spores, triggering active mold growth. Millions of reproductive spores released into the air spread the contamination and may even induce physical symptoms. Here are some specific warning signs that your house has a mold problem:
You Can Smell It
Airborne reproductive mold spores emit an odor that's hard to miss. It's an earthy, musty scent — hard to describe but you generally know it when you smell it. It's typically more pungent in areas close to the actual site of growing mold, such as a damp basement, and the smell may fluctuate, becoming more pervasive as relative humidity inside the house rises.
You May See It
Mold is shy. It tends to thrive in seldom-visited areas with low air circulation and little exposure to light. Nevertheless, it's not uncommon to come face-to-face with mold. It may appear as a fluffy growth, ranging in colors from yellow to blank with hues of green and red, as well. On porous building materials like drywall and wood, established mold growth frequently penetrates into the material; attempts to wipe it away like common mildew are ineffective against mold growth.
You Might Feel It
Physical symptoms produced by inhaling mold spores from certain species of mold are known to occur in individuals with specific susceptibilities. These can range from upper-respiratory symptoms to eye irritation to a wide spectrum of illnesses including chronic fatigue and even depression. Stachybotrys chartarum — generically known as “Black Mold” — is considered the most toxic variety and will likely cause symptoms in most people exposed to it, particularly in the high concentrations that can occur inside a typical, tightly sealed residence. All unexplained physical symptoms should of course be diagnosed by a qualified physician and not immediately attributed to mold growth.
For professional service to address a potential mold problem in your home, contact Rytech, Inc.
