You might not have ever thought of black mold as an intruder in your home, but it definitely is. It can move in when there has been enough water present on a viable surface for it to begin growing and thrive. The most popular places for it to hide are in sheetrock made with paper backing, wood, cardboard, paper, or jute-backed carpeting. Almost every home has these items and if they are wet and allowed to stay that way, you will usually get mold.
Sometimes black mold, which is the most toxic, can begin growing in a basement or attic where things are stored and get wet because of water leaking in from some where. When it is a slow leak, it can go for months undetected depending on how often you go into your attic or basement. This is one way many homes get mold started. You should always keep an eye out in these two places and make sure any items you have stored there are in waterproof containers with lids if possible. Keep them off the basement floor and check your attic insulation from dampness periodically.
Another place homes can get mold is in ductwork of their central heating and air units. When mold grows in the duct work it can spread mold spores throughout the home easily. This can lead to breathing problems for most people and even severe reactions for others. Installing a better quality filter that traps more allergens and dust is a smart idea and make sure the filters are changed as often as they should be. You can also call in a professional to clean your air ducts if you suspect mold is growing in them.
Home flooding can cause mold to grow in large areas of the home more than anything else. This is because the entire first floor might become wet or at least a portion of it. This could happen because of a bad plumbing break or a natural disaster. If the home is wet for several days and the temperature is right, mold can grow almost everywhere. It is essential that the home be dried out as soon as possible and cleaned with a mold killing solution.
Today mold can be a real deterrent when you try to sell your home. The chance of being able to sell a home that has slight or extensive mold damage is pretty slim. It can ultimately ruin the value of a home if it is not removed. If you know or believe there is mold in your home, it is better to call in a professional to get rid of it now rather than calling in a bulldozer to tear it down later. That is how bad mold infestation can get. |
