Common Questions About Mold

5/1/2018 (Permalink)

Mold is a common subject of anxious inquiries after your home has experienced extensive water damage. If high humidity levels persist, any area that has experienced a leak is at risk for becoming prime real estate for mold. Here are brief and helpful answers to four frequently asked questions concerning mold growth.

1. What is mold? Mold is a fungus that grows in multicellular structures on moist organic materials. Mold spreads by pores that float through the air until they land on a surface that is conducive to growth. Mold may develop in a wide variety of colors, but every type of mold releases more spores into the air that can cause mold to spread throughout a structure.

2. What causes mold to grow? Mold feeds off of nutrients in carbon-rich organic matter and thrives and spreads when moisture is present. If either factor is absent, mold growth will be significantly less likely.

3. How do you identify mold? You can inspect visible mold and look up similar fungi online, but you are more likely to correctly identify mold if you contact an industrial hygienist, indoor air specialist, or a company that provides residential mold testing and remediation services.

4. How do you get rid of mold? Depending on the extent of growth, mold can be contained or physically removed and the surface on which it has grown may either be disposed of or cleaned and thoroughly dried. It is important to maintain dry, low-humidity conditions to prevent mold from returning.

If you spot visible mold in your home in Bountiful, UT, in the wake of water damage or smell a mildew odor, you should contact residential remediation and restoration specialists in your area. Experts can quickly identify and contain mold growth, point out environmental factors such as high humidity, and remove, clean, and disinfect the affected area of your home. 

Understanding Mold

Confusion and misunderstanding surround the topic of mold and mold remediation. Some restoration businesses even make claims to remove all mold from a building. This is a fallacy. Mold spores occur naturally almost everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. These microscopic spores float along in the air and can enter a home or business through windows and HVAC systems. Consider these facts:

• Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
• Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.
• Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
• Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
• Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent