Molds are a part of the natural environment and are fungi (mushrooms and yeast) that causes organic matter to decay. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead fallen leaves, wood, and other plant debris, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through the air. Mold may begin to grow indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without food and moisture.
Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce, just as some plants produce seeds. They appear as growth on surfaces, often seen in the form of discoloration. The discoloration is frequently green, gray, brown, or black but can also appear white and many other colors. Mold spores can be found in both indoor and outdoor air, and can settle on indoor and outdoor surfaces. When mold spores land on a damp spot, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive. Since molds gradually destroy the things they grow on, you can prevent damage to building materials and furnishings and save money by eliminating mold growth.
Why is mold a health concern?
Molds have the potential to cause health problems such as, allergic reactions. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause immediate, delayed or severe allergic reactions in individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. In addition, mild exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. When airborne mold spores are present in large numbers, they can cause allergic reactions, asthma episodes, infections, and other respiratory problems for people. Exposure to high spore levels can cause the development of an allergy to the mold. Mold can also cause structural damage to your home. Similarly, when wood goes through a period of wetting, then drying, it can eventually warp and cause walls to crack or become structurally weak.
Mold in basement drywall
Mold in bathroom
Where can mold be found?
Indoors mold can be found in a variety of locations, so the key to mold control is moisture control. Molds need both food and water to survive; since molds can digest most things, water is the factor that limits mold growth. Molds will often grow in damp or wet areas indoors. Common sites for indoor mold growth include bathroom tile, basement walls, areas around windows where moisture condenses, and near leaky water fountains or sinks. Common sources or causes of water or moisture problems include roof leaks, deferred maintenance, condensation associated with high humidity or cold spots in the building, localized flooding due to plumbing failures or heavy rains, slow leaks in plumbing fixtures, and malfunction or poor design of humidification systems. Uncontrolled humidity can also be a source of moisture leading to mold growth, particularly in hot, humid climates. The following are sources of indoor moisture that may cause problems:
flooding
backed-up sewers
leaky roofs
humidifiers
mud or ice dams
damp basements or crawl spaces
constant plumbing leaks
house plants (watering can generate large amounts of moisture)
steam from cooking
shower or bath steam and leaks
wet clothes on indoor drying lines
clothes dryers vented indoors
combustion appliances not exhausted to the outdoors
airconditioning
How do you prevent mold growth?
Locate and fix all plumbing and hose leaks.
When water leaks or spills occur indoors – Act quickly! If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.
Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation.
Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.
Keep indoor humidity low and increase air ventilation in humid places.
If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipes – ACT QUICKLY to dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/water source.
How do you remediate mold?
Depending on the size of the job mold remediation may be done by the homeowner or the homeowner may hire a professional. For a small area, less than 10 square feet, the homeowner can handle the cleanup using peronal protective equipment. For a large area, more than 10 square feet, it is advisable that an experienced professional contractor be used. If you decide to do the job yourself you must wear gloves, goggles and a protective face mask. The first step is to identify and eliminate the sources of moisture, then identify and assess the amount of mold and area covered. Next you may clean and dry the loldy areas, with diluted bleach and warm water, use about 1/2 a cup of bleach and dilute it in 1 gallon of warm water. DO NOT use straight bleach or mix bleach with ammonia, because toxic fumes will be released. Instead of bleach you may use 1/2 a cup of Borax and 1/2 a cup of white vinegar and dissolve in 1 quart of warm water. Make sure to remove and dispose of all materials that have moldy residues on them, such as drywall, furniture, carpet, filters, rags, paper, leaves, and debris.
Air Duct Systems Can Become Contaminated With Mold
Air duct systems can be constructed of bare sheet metal, sheet metal with exterior fibrous glass insulation, sheet metal with an internal fibrous glass liner, or made entirely of fibrous glass. If your home’s air duct system has had water damage, first identify the type of air duct construction that you have. Bare sheet metal systems or sheet metal with exterior fibrous glass insulation, can be cleaned and disinfected.
If your system has sheet metal with an internal fibrous glass liner or is made entirely of fibrous glass, the ductwork normally will need to be removed and discarded. Ductwork in difficult locations may have to be abandoned. If you have other questions, contact an air duct cleaning professional or licensed contractor.
