
Some Common Types of House Mold
Are you stressing over mold in your home? Well, maybe you should! We don’t want to alarm you. But there are several types of house mold, and if your house has any of them, it’s time to attend to them without wasting any time.
You may look around and say everything seems fine; we say, look again. At the onset, you may not be able to spot household mold, but once they spread, it will become more challenging to contain them. Look in dark and dingy areas of your house, like the basement or attic or places that can have water leakage. Dark and moist places are excellent breeding grounds for mildew. And, if you do find mold in your home, call mold removal services immediately.
Categories of Household Mold
Mold is basically a micro-organism that needs enough moisture to grow. It thrives at temperatures between 40 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, coastal regions like Florida are ideal for mildew to grow. These fungi can be of various textures, colors, and sizes. Their actual shape is too small to see with naked eyes, but what you can see are ugly dark spots or patches on your walls, windows, or ventilation systems. There are several types of house mold, and they can be broadly categorized into three. Knowing the type would make containing them easier.
- Allergenic Mold– This type of mildew can cause an allergic reaction, like asthma, in some people. However, these types of mold in homes are non-toxic.
- Pathogenic Mold: If there are people in your home who already suffer from an illness or have weak immune systems, this mold can aggravate their symptoms. However, like allergenic molds, pathogenic molds are also non-toxic.
- Toxigenic Mold: This mold can be quite dangerous due to its toxicity. Therefore, if you find any around you, you must handle it immediately.
Types of Mold in Homes
Not all molds are the same. They can vary in size, color, and textures. If you have dark, dingy, and humid areas in your home, expect mildew to grow easily. They can survive on food, dirt, dust, or even synthetic items like paint or adhesives. Let’s look at the varied kinds you can find in and around your surroundings.
- Penicillium– This is an allergenic mold, and they can grow practically anywhere they can find some moisture. Surprisingly, they were also the source of a lifesaving drug, but they do no good if they grow in your homes. This bluish-green mold can trigger asthma and cause inflammation in the heart, so they are best avoided.
- Mucor– This type is usually allergenic in nature; however, one particular species is toxigenic. Mucor can be found in areas with sufficient water, so the soil can be an ideal place for it to grow. But they can creep into your home too. So, look for areas that have suffered any water damage lately, especially wet carpets and mattresses.
- Aspergillus– These are pathogenic and one of the most commonly found household molds. Usually, they can be found in your HVAC systems, though they can grow well in any area where water is available to them. Even though they are pathogenic in nature, they can be lethal for those with weak immune systems. They can cause asthma and other such lung/respiratory diseases.
- Stachybotrys–Also is known as black mold, Stachybotrys is toxigenic mold and therefore must be treated as soon as they are found. Like all other types of household molds, they also thrive in damp sites and grow well in your ventilation systems. They form black patches on the surface where they grow and are responsible for poor air quality in your homes. They can cause harm to people who are exposed to them, and you must call professionals to handle this type of mold.
- Trichoderma–These are also toxigenic and grow in damp soil. But they can grow equally well in organic matter in your homes where they can find enough moisture. Under some particular conditions, Trichoderma can produce mycotoxins. Hence they are categorized as toxigenic mold.
- Ulocladium–This common household mold is allergenic and can find its way to your walls, bathrooms, and rugs. It would be best to regularly check your dishwashers, washing machines, and water dispensers for Ulocladium mold. These are also black and can cause allergic reactions like runny nose, headache, sinus congestion, watery eyes, etc.
- Serpula–This mildew is a rare one. Though it’s allergenic, it does not pose a major risk to people’s health. However, it can cause damage to the structure it grows on. Unlike other types of mold, Serpula grows on wood and does not require high moisture levels. But you must lookout for this type of mold as it can crumble your wooden frames.
Conclusion
While common types of house mold exist, you can find reliable fungicides in the market that can eliminate this problem. These solutions are safe and can help a great deal. However, time is a crucial factor when it comes to handling any mold situation. So, whenever you see the first signs, you must treat them pronto. Calling services providing mold remediation in Gainesville FL will be a good choice in such situations. They will not only clear out any mold in your home but also ensure you don’t reencounter the problem in the near future.