Mold is a kind of fungus that is found in homes and buildings and in the outdoors. Inside homes and buildings, they are found in dark and humid areas such as bathroom corners and basements. They also grow along wet damaged walls. If you want to know the symptoms of mold in walls, read on…
In the outdoors, they may be spotted in a pile of leaves that have been out there for some time. People often react to mold spores and it is identified as a sneezing now and then but could also be lung trouble. However, this isn’t all—the severity of mold illness symptoms varies depending on your exposure to the spores. Look out for listlessness, watery eyes, runny nose, sore eyes or nasal congestion—you could have an allergic reaction to mold. Perhaps, you only react in this way while you’re at home but not when you go out. This proves that you are reacting to mold growth in your own home.
Here are some common symptoms which could mean that you have mold growth in your home:
Pungent smell: The smell of mold is so pungent and unique that you know immediately that this unpleasant smell must come from mold deposits. Mold can be found inside walls or behind wallpaper. If you get some unusual smell in your home, put it down to mold.
Mold scum in bathtubs: When you shower or bathe, you can see mold scum just as you can see it in your cellar or basement. Mold lives in humid areas, so look for it in humid parts of your home.
No matter how small the mold growth in your home, you must have it out immediately. They can spread like the proverbial wild fire and if you don’t get rid of it now, you’ll have much more of it soon. Conventionally, mold comes across as black soot but it could also be thread-like, white in color or black, gray-green, gray-brown or white in color.
Water problems: Mold will grow in your home if you have had recent or long-term problems with moisture. These include water stains or discoloration on the ceiling, floor or walls. Other symptoms of mold include peeling, crackling or bubbling of wallpaper or paint. If you have bowed, warped or bulging walls, it means that moisture has entered them.
Water leaks: If you have a leaking ceiling or pipe, then be prepared to find mold growing in those areas where the leak is. However, this growth usually hides behind a surface or wall. In cases where the leak isn’t behind a surface, you could still find mold hidden behind a surface or wall from which water leaks through.
Mold is also seen in leaking roofs, cracks in walls and taps. When they let moisture enter, they become damp and mold finds a home there.
Leaking roof or attic: If your roof leaks or there’s water in your attic, it means mold could reside there. Cracks and splits in the roof are also proof of mold growth there. When beams get damp with moisture, they grow weak and begin to sag. Beware, there could be mold there too.
Humidity: If you live by the sea or lake, humidity levels could be high. You can counter this by using air conditioners and HVAC to reduce humidity levels indoors.
Humidity in the home leads to condensation and accumulation of water. This environment is the perfect breeding ground for mold that needs a humidity level of over 60% to grow. To deter mold infestation, reduce humidity levels to 30%.
Flooding in the past: If your home had been flooded in a calamity, mold perhaps began growing at the time. Floods cause mold to grow behind walls or below the floor.
Toxic black mold on wood: Toxic black mold doesn’t grow as other types of molds. For it to grow, the material should be very wet for at least a week and it takes about 8-12 days to colonize. Since wood can stay wet for that long a time, black mold finds a conducive environment to grow.
These are some of the parts of your home where mold is likely to breed. In humid environments, it is best to keep a watchful eye on mold growth and arrest it in time.
