Does Mold Die When It Dries Out?
Mildew, mold, and other types of fungi that invade your home or place of business are often related to ambient moisture. This could be from something like high humidity, a leaking pipe, a damp basement crawl space, or something as simple as failing to use the ventilation system in your bathroom and kitchen. There are also less conspicuous forms of moisture, such as condensation inside of walls around cold water pipes, or cracks in the foundation behind the walls of a finished basement. Even something as seemingly minor as a loose gutter or a roof leak that pools up in your attic can create a prime environment for mold to grow. If they are left unchecked [...]
What Is Cobweb Mold And How To Get Rid Of It?
It’s believed that there are thousands of types of naturally occurring mold in the world. Some can be beneficial while others can be harmful to your health. One type of mold that you might encounter in your home is commonly referred to as “Cobweb Mold.” In general, it isn’t just one species of mold. It is more like a closely related group of mold species that tend to cause cobweb disease in mushrooms. Each species of cobweb mold is so similar to its brethren that only careful genetic testing can tell them apart. Over the years they have been reclassified which has sparked debate between mycologists around the globe. The two species Dactylium and Dactylium Dendroides [...]
Is Ingesting Mold Dangerous? What Happens If I Eat Mold By Accident?
Mold is very prevalent in the natural world, which means it is also very likely to be present in your home. It tends to travel through the air in the form of microscopic pores released by a mature colony. Once the spores enter your home, they can take up residence on just about anything. This includes things like your coffee-maker, your garbage can, your bathroom, the closet in your carpet, and even on your mattress! Mold is particularly fond of the kitchen due to the presence of ambient moisture from cooking and washing as well as the high number of substances that can support it. This might be something as obvious as a kitchen sponge, or [...]
What Is A Mold Rash? Can Mold Exposure Cause An Allergic Reaction?
More and more people are becoming aware of the potential threat posed by the presence of mold in their home. Most of the cases talked about in the media related to molds ability to cause respiratory problems as well as sparking respiratory allergies. Individuals with asthma also seem more likely to experience an attack if they are in an indoor environment with a high mold spore density. While most of these stories are related to black or otherwise known as “Toxic Mold,” it is possible for other, seemingly less dangerous forms of mold to affect the human body. There are even some individuals with a genetic predisposition to mold reactions and chronic inflammatory conditions like Chronic [...]
What is toxic mold syndrome?
Mold spores are found all throughout nature. It’s estimated that there are nearly 300,000 different types of mold living free and in the wild. Mold is technically a type of fungus. While it has roots like a plant, it does not draw its energy from the sun. At the same time, it lacks an animal’s ability to seek out new food sources in its environment. Moisture and things like water damage in your home can create the perfect environment for wild mold spores to establish a pervasive presence. In ideal moist and warm conditions black toxic mold has the potential to establish itself in a little more than 24-hours! Once this happens fugitive mold spores start [...]
Can Mold Affect Property Value?
Buying a house, vacation property, or even investing in a timeshare typically comes with a little risk. Before making an offer, many potential property buyers will ask themselves a lot of questions. Will the property hold its value? Will it have a higher cost to maintain? Is the property turnkey, or will it need some immediate repairs and renovations? Are there any structural, exterior, or interior problems? Are there any insurance concerns? These days the media is quick to point out other questions that may be attached to the value of a property which includes health and safety issues such as the presence of mold? If you are a seller, you might also be asking yourself [...]
How To Deal With Mold In Large Commercial Buildings
Commercial properties have rules and regulations on safety that can come from the local, state, or even federal level. Maintaining compliance with these requirements is a key component of avoiding liability lawsuits as well as potential fees and fines. While things, like managing ice in winter, general safety, ADA compliance, electrical codes and making sure food service outlets meet specific standards, are certainly important. Yet there are a great many other things that can affect a commercial property’s liability. If you own, manage, or lease a commercial property, you need to stay on top of any and all liability issues. This includes a problem like the presence of toxic mold and the costly litigation that might [...]
Marijuana Mold. What To Look For And How To Deal With It
Chances are you have heard about things like black mold, toxic mold, or new stories about how mold in your home can make you sick. Indeed, these mold illnesses afflict large numbers of people every year. Yet mold is present in more than just musty old basements, crawl spaces, and behind leaky faucets. It can live in just about any porous substance and like a fungus, it has the ability to propagate into all kinds of things, including marijuana for legal, medical, or recreational use! It’s worth noting that the University of California Davis conducted a study in February of 2017 to test the microbial presence on marijuana. They collected 20 samples from various medical dispensaries. [...]
Snow Mold Lawn Fungus: What is it and how to treat it?
For some people winter is a thing to bemoan as they wrap up in sweaters and blankets, counting down the days until summer returns. For others, winter is a time to enjoy the snow, skiing, sledding, ice fishing, snowshoeing, and other cold-weather activities beckon. Of course, winter also has the ability to affect your home and yard in ways that might not be evident until the warmth of spring starts to melt the snow. While the cold might seem to prevent microbes from thriving, there are certain types of snow mold that can endure and even come to thrive once the warmth returns. This strange type of lawn fungus is opportunistic and makes a home for [...]
Buying A Home Near The Water? Is Mold In A Beach House An Issue?
Many people dream of a home or a vacation home on the water. Whether it's near the lake on a river vista or a classic beach house where you can hear the waves lap on the shore. For some simply having a place in a community near the water lets them quickly enjoy the waves, even if don’t live on the shore. Of course, these kinds of properties come with their own unique set of questions. How will you use the property? Is the home in good condition? How much will it cost to maintain it? All of these questions are important, and yet they are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Homes and outbuildings [...]
What Is Biotoxin Illness, Symptoms And Diagnosis
Water that infiltrates your home from a ruptured pipe, rainwater runoff, or localized flooding can do more than damage your property, it can also become the key catalyst for the development of potentially dangerous mold. Even if it isn’t a major incident that temporarily inundates your property with water, something as simple as poor ventilation in a bathroom, or an improperly insulated wet wall could eventually turn into a hotbed for mold development. While it’s more than just unsightly, the presence of mold in your home or other water damaged buildings can make you sit and even become life-threatening! To thoroughly understand the threat posed to your health, it helps to take a closer look at [...]
Why You Shouldn’t Use Chlorine Bleach To Clean Mold
Many American Households have some form of bleach as an all-purpose cleaner and surface disinfectant. Its chlorine component has a long-standing reputation for killing microbes on hard surfaces. Yet recently the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and other organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency are making a closer examination of bleach. This includes changing their recommendation to exclude bleach as an effective mold killing measure. To better understand their reasoning for the change, we need to take a closer look at what mold actually is and how it spreads. Taxonomically, mold is a type of fungus, making it more than a plant, yet less than an animal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note [...]
How To Spot Signs Of Black Mold On Your Air Vents
Mold is one of the most common household problems. It affects homes across geographical locations and has no regard for socioeconomic status. The heat of the summertime has people all over thankful for the air conditioner and air vents in their homes. So, take a moment of that appreciation and check out your air vents for mold. Not only will this keep your home operating at maximum efficiency, it will keep you and your family healthier as well. How Can Mold Grow In My Air Vents? Mold loves to live in places that are moist. Unfortunately, your air vents can be in the summertime. When cool air inside of them is circulated around your home and [...]
How Mold In Your Home’s Foundation Can Cause Problems
One of the places you may not think about mold growing in is your home’s foundation. In fact, there’s a good chance you don’t think about your home’s foundation at all. However, mold loves to grow in your foundation and it can cause some severe problems if not addressed. Here’s why you should pay attention to mold growth in your home’s foundation: Why Is A Home’s Foundation Ideal For Mold Growth? Your home’s foundation is concrete. Concrete itself is a porous material that absorbs some water and moisture. Since it is underground, it is exposed to moisture almost constantly, no matter where you live. Fortunately, foundation concrete is typically treated with a waterproofing material that keeps [...]
What Causes Mold In Your Toilet?
Chances are you don’t stare into your toilet bowl very often to inspect it. In fact, most people don’t even give it a second thought after doing their business. But, did you know that your toilet is an ideal habitat for mold growth? Sure, what you put into the toilet every day is decidedly grosser than some mold, but left unchecked, mold can cause health problems for you and your family. Not to mention, ugly mold in the toilet bowl will make guests shudder. Here’s why mold grows in your toilet and how you can get rid of it in a few easy steps: Why Does Mold Grow In My Toilet? It is pretty common knowledge [...]
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