Do You Know Black Mold?

No homeowner wants black mold, but do you know what it is? Also called Stachybotrys, black mold grows in damp areas and is usually seen around condensation or near untreated puddles inside. Spores come into your house via windows, small openings and can also be tracked on shoes and coats. While most molds found in your house aren’t dangerous, this variety causes illness if neglected.

Signs of Black Mold Exposure

Black mold is a poisonous mold that releases spores. The most common symptoms include chronic coughing, eye, nose and throat irritation as well as skin rashes. Other symptoms include chronic fatigue and persistent headaches. Especially serious cases of long-term exposure to black mold can be more life threatening. Often compounded by an allergy to the black mold spores, these symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and bleeding in the lungs and nose.

More about Mold

Mold doesn’t take long to permeate walls, floors and ceilings. Whenever your home experiences water damage, you should have a Paul Davis technician check the walls for mold infestations. They can go unnoticed for weeks, and then appear essentially overnight.

Once mold creates colonies in your property, it immediately breeds and releases toxins that make life miserable for inhabitants:

  • Mold emits a strong, mildewed odor that stops rooms from smelling fresh.
  • Mold causes problems for allergy-sensitive individuals, as well as those with asthma, making symptoms flare up.
  • A black mold infestation can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing.
  • Mold toxins can cause chronic inflammation and constant cold-like symptoms.
  • People with weakened immune systems can get systemic infections of the lungs, skin, or digestive tract.
  • In rare cases, mold toxins can cause neurological concerns or even death.
  • The more prolonged the exposure, the greater the danger.

Unusually damp 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 a skillful opinion right away.

To get rid of mold, the setting where it prospers must first be removed. Water sources have to be dealt with, and any residual moisture must be efficiently dried out. Only then can mold removal and remediation start.

Whether a leaky roof, burst pipe, or other opening, it isn’t enough to curtail the tide. Moisture can soak hidden portions of your home. Without proper cleanup procedures, mold will keep coming back to these areas.

Call Paul Davis today if your home is infested with black mold. We safely test and confirm the presence of black mold before remediation. You can rely on our specialists to remove black mold quickly. Don’t risk your health, request a black mold inspection today.