What is Black Mold?

No homeowner wants black mold, but what is it? Also called Stachybotrys, black mold grows in moist spots and is most commonly found in areas where condensation has collected or anywhere near neglected water damage. Spores enter the home through windows, small openings or tracked on shoes and coats. While most molds found in your home are harmless, this species can cause health problems if neglected.

What are the Health Risks?

Black mold is a toxic mold with 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 can all be symptomatic of black mold exposure or black mold poisoning. Particularly severe occurrences of long-term exposure to black mold can be more life threatening. Paired with an allergic reaction to the black mold spores, these symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and bleeding in the lungs and nose.

About Mold

Black mold grows quickly, so you should never delay calling a professional to inspect for mold infestation. They can go unseen for weeks, and then appear practically overnight.

Once mold produces colonies in your property, it immediately grows and releases toxins that make life unpleasant for inhabitants:

  • Mold emanates a strong, musty odor that prevents rooms from smelling fresh.
  • Mold causes serious problems for allergy-sensitive individuals, 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 ongoing cold-like symptoms.
  • Individuals with weakened immune systems can get systemic infections of the lungs, skin, or digestive tract.
  • In rare cases, mold toxins can cause neurological problems or even death.
  • The more prolonged the exposure, the more severe 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 an expert opinion right away.

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

Whether a leaky roof, burst pipe, or other entry point, it isn’t enough to close the tide. Moisture can saturate out-of-sight portions of your home. Without proper cleanup processes, mold will keep returning to these areas.

Call Paul Davis now if you think your home is infested with black mold. We safely test and confirm the existence of black mold before removal. Depend on our contractors to remove black mold effectively. Keep your family safe, call for a black mold inspection now.