How Mold Spreads in Your Rochester, NY Home or Office.

 

Mold is a form of fungi that sprouts from microscopic spores that are everywhere in our environment. These spores are inactive, however, they will propagate once the humidity surpasses 70 percent. Temperature that is more than 65 degrees increases the chance of mold growth. Once the cluster of mold spores spread on surfaces, they begin to reproduce and become noticeable to the human eye. You may not be aware that there is mold in your home until you see it or smell a damp, musty, moldy odor. And when you notice your allergies and asthma tend to flare.

The Key Ingredients for Mold Growth

There are key ingredients needed for mold growth in homes which are the presence of mold spores, a surface for it to grow on, oxygen, warmth, and darkness. When the moisture is present into these ingredients whether from stagnant water, high level of humidity, or a water leak, the mold problems begin. The smaller mold spores that may look like soot or dirt could actually be mold in disguise. As such, people ignore it. If you visibly see mold growing, no matter how small, mold remediation technicians of Rochester, New York recommend taking action immediately. Determining where mold is commonly found in homes can help you prevent and treat it so you can keep your home mold-free and your body healthy.

How Mold Spreads Throughout Your House?

If you have mold in the basement or crawl space, its spores will rise throughout the house. This is called the “Stack Effect”. Because of the stack effect, the warm air rises in the home and exits through the upper levels and attic. When this occurs, a vacuum is created on the lower level which draws air upward from the crawl space and basement. Mold spores, dust mites, odors, and anything in the air will be drawn into the main area of the home that is where you breathe. A mold infestation can colonize within 1-14 days.

The Truth Behind House Mold

∙         Organic materials such as dust, wood, fabric, wallpaper, and paint provide more than enough nourishment to keep mold growing and healthy.

∙         Mold grows year-round in any home – regardless how clean.

∙         Allergens come from mold spores in the basement and crawl space.

∙         A typical mold spore will be about 0.0002 inches in size (10 microns) and can optimally grow anywhere where there is adequate humidity, food, and warmth in the air to absorb moisture.

∙         Mold can digest some synthetic materials including adhesives, pastes, and paints

∙         Even though mold cannot get nutrients from an inorganic material such as concrete metal and glass, it can grow on the dirt present on these surfaces.

∙         The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that all molds can cause health problems under the right conditions.

∙         There is evidence that mold exposure can cause flu-like symptoms such as headache dizziness, fatigue, diarrhea, and allergic reactions including irritation of eyes, nose, or throat.

What to Do If You Suspect Mold in Your Home

If you find mold, three things need to be done. First, you have to determine the source of moisture that is allowing the mold to grow and stop it. Second, you should eliminate and clean up the mold. When you have stopped the source of moisture, make certain that you dry everything out before you start cleaning. Utilizing dehumidifiers and fans will usually help speed the process. Yet, do not use fans if mold is visible as it can cause the mold spores to spread.  When things are dry, it is recommended to clean or dispose of any moldy materials. Ensure that you are wearing protective material when doing any mold clean up. Wearing rubber gloves, a long sleeve shirt, eye goggles, long pants, and medium or high-efficiency filter dust mask is advised. Remove your clothes and put them in a plastic bag to be laundered or discarded before leaving the contaminated areas. Else, you could spread mold spores through your home.

The only option for porous moldy items like plasterboard, plaster, insulation, ceiling tiles, paper products, and some woods is to dispose of them. You only have to throw away the items if mold is visible. Bag all items before being transported through the house. For the materials that are non-porous or semi-porous including hard plastic, metal, glass, and solid wood, you can clean them with a HEPA Vacuum (with a high-quality HEPA filter) to remove contamination.

If the mold infestation is in the attic, crawl space, basements or in areas wherein DIY is not suitable, the third action to take is to call trusted mold experts like the staff of Craftsman Home Remodeling. Their Indoor Air Quality Solutions make the air better. They perform a non-invasive mold remediation process. They use special plant-based solution to treat mold effectively, so they are able to avoid the use of harsh and potentially dangerous chemicals.

Don’t let the mold invade your home, rather live in a greener and healthier home.  Call for mold remediation services today!