What is Black Mold?

No homeowner wants black mold, but do you know what it is? Black mold (also known as Stachybotrys) likes to grow in moist areas and is most commonly seen around condensation or pools or standing water inside. Spores come into your home via windows, small entrances or tracked on shoes and coats. Although most molds around your home are harmless, black mold causes illness with years of exposure.

What are the Health Risks?

Black mold is a toxic fungus with spores. Symptoms include chronic coughing, eye, nose and throat irritation and rashes. Other symptoms include chronic fatigue and persistent headaches. Nausea, vomiting and bleeding in the lungs and nose are seen in the most severe cases of long term exposure.

About Mold

Mold quickly spread across walls, floors and ceilings. Whenever your home experiences water damage, you should have a professional check the walls for mold infestations. They can go ignored for weeks, and then appear practically overnight. Once mold forms colonies in your property, it quickly breeds and discharges toxins that make life miserable for occcupants:

  • Mold releases a pungent, mildewed scent that stops rooms from smelling clean.
  • Mold wreaks havoc on allergy-sensitive people, as well as those with asthma, making symptoms flare up.
  • Mold can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.
  • Mold toxins can cause long-lasting inflammation and continuous cold-like symptoms.
  • Individuals with compromised immune systems can get systemic infections of the lungs, skin, or digestive tract.
  • In rare instances, mold toxins can cause neurological issues or even death.
  • The more lengthy the exposure, the more severe the danger.
Unusually humid homes and offices can be subject to mold invasions even if no water damage has happened. If you see or smell something that could be mold, get an expert opinion immediately. To get rid of mold, the environment where it prospers must first be eliminated. Water sources have to be handled, and any residual moisture must be carefully dried out. Only then can mold elimination and remediation start. Whether a leaky roof, burst pipe, or other opening, it isn't enough to stem the tide. Moisture can drench hidden sections of your home. Without proper cleanup processes, mold will keep coming back to these spots. If you suspect your home may be growing black mold, speak with Paul Davis now. Our team inspects for presence of black mold before starting treatment. You can depend on our contractors to remove black mold effectively. Keep your family safe, request a black mold inspection now.