Mold and Mildew Problems

Several types of molds and mildew exist and all of them have the potential to cause negative effects for both, your health and your property.

What are Mold and Mildew?

Mold and mildew are omnipresent microorganisms that thrive on moisture and reproduce by lightweight spores traveling through the air. Outdoors mold and mildew are an important part of nature, so people are constantly exposed to their spores. More than 1 000 types of mold are identified inside residential and commercial buildings in California, United States.

Exposure to low levels of mold and mildew is usually harmless to humans and animals but when their levels grow people sensitive to mold spores are at risk of severe health hazards like asthma, bronchitis, allergies, etc.

Mold and mildew can also bring about havoc on your property destroying walls, floors, furniture and all belongings.

Why Mold and Mildew Grow in Residential and Commercial Buildings?

Molds and mildew can live on any organic substance but what they need most to grow and reproduce is moisture, so damp spaces like bathrooms, laundry rooms, or basements are most likely to provide favorable environment for their establishment and growth. Poor ventilation, leaking roofs or pipes, air-conditioning duct joints leaks, lack of floor drain in damp spaces, freshly cut firewood, improperly installed windows, etc. are sources of great amounts of moisture indoors, which create favorable conditions for molds and mildew to thrive.

What Problems Can Molds and Mildew Cause?

Several types of molds and mildew exist and all of them have the potential to cause negative effects for both, your health and your property.

What Health Problems Can Molds and Mildew Cause?

Mold spores produce allergens that triggers serious allergic reactions like throat, eyes, skin, and nose irritation or even shortness of breath and asthma attacks. Currently, scientific research on the effects of mold exposures on human health are still ongoing, so there are no federal standards for airborne concentrations of molds and their spores. Therefore, all potential health hazards related to mold exposure are still unknown. However, several acute health conditions are correlated with exposure to high levels of mold spores.

Exposure to molds and their spores often lead to allergic reactions like runny nose, congested sinuses, skin rashes, etc. These allergic responses may be immediate or delayed.

Excessive exposure to molds may also cause mucosal infections especially in people with compromised immune system, liver diseases, uncontrolled diabetes, pregnant women, or patients with cancer chemotherapy.

Although molds and their spores do not cause asthma they often worsen the condition of those individuals who are allergic to mold inducing acute asthmatic attacks. Even non allergic to mold people may experience severe symptoms after abnormal exposure to molds and their spores. These symptoms include fever, suffocation, nasal infections, nosebleed, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, etc. Mold can cause serious lung infections to individuals with impaired immunity or chronic respiratory diseases.

In addition, exposure to high levels of mold can cause some neurological problems such as memory problems, disorientation, headache, etc. These problems are induced by mycotoxines produced by mold spores under certain environmental conditions.

Scientific research on possible negative health effects of exposure to molds and their spores are ongoing, so it is difficult to predict the degree and severity of health hazards caused by mold in residential and commercial buildings. However, exposure to high levels of molds and their spores is not healthy for anybody. There are no established EPA or government standards for normal mold levels but when the presence of molds is visible, cleanup process must be undertaken as soon as possible.

How Mold and Mildew Damage Your Property?

Mold and mildew are harmful not only to our health but also to our property. Walls, floors, furniture, and other belongings quickly degrade once contaminated by mold spores. Mold and mildew ruin painting and other wall coverings. They destroy floors, carpets and other upholstery. Plastic components wear out quickly under the negative impact of mold. Almost all our possessions might be destroyed once subjected to molds and their spores.

How to Address the Mold Problem?

First and foremost, you should remember that testing for mold is not recommended by EPA as a first step when you suspect the presence of a mold problem. Testing is recommended only when the extent of contamination must be determinate.

There are no established governmental standards for normal mold levels inside buildings, so you should use your eyes and nose to detect whether your property is contaminated by molds and mildew. If you see even negligible patches of discoloration on your walls or floors, apparently you have a mold problem. If you smell bad earthy odor, again you have a mold problem.

Quick response is critical to the efficient solution of mold problem. Certain steps should be undertaken to remedy the situation. These steps are as follows:

  • Identify the moisture source
  • Fix the moisture problem
  • Remove and dispose of all mold contaminated materials
  • Dry all wet materials
  • Cleanup all affected area
  • Disinfect all surfaces

To carry out properly the remediation procedure you need special equipment, cleaners, and disinfectors. Some mold and their spores pose high risk to human health, so cleaning up and remediation processes require wearing of protective suit, rubber gloves and boots.

Apparently, proper mold remediation is not a DIY job. Each mold problem is different and it requires a unique solution. Only a high trained and experienced team of professionals is able to assess the extent of damage and offer the right processes to bring the level of mold and mildew in your property back to normalcy.

Our team of knowledgeable experts applies scientific approach to mold problems. We do not offer to remove mold from your property. We are aware that molds cannot be totally removed because they are an integral part of nature, so we offer proper and fast remediation of your mold problem at affordable price.

If your home or business is contaminated by mold, contact us! Our licensed experts are at your disposal 24/7 to help you deal with your mold problem.