Call Paul Davis: What is Black Mold?

No homeowner wants black mold, but do you know why? Black mold (also known as Stachybotrys) likes to grow in wet environments and is often seen around condensation or pools or stagnant water inside. Spores enter the home by windows, other openings or tracked on shoes and coats. Although most fungus found in your home are nothing to worry about, this species leads to health issues with years of exposure.

How Black Mold affects Health

The spores black mold releases are the reason behind black mold poisoning. Symptoms include chronic coughing, irritation to the eyes, mucus membranes of the nose and throat as well as skin rashes. Additionally, chronic fatigue and persistent headaches can all be symptomatic of black mold exposure or black mold poisoning. Nausea, vomiting and bleeding in the lungs and nose are seen in the most severe cases of long term exposure.

About Mold

Mold doesn't take long to permeate walls, floors and ceilings. Whenever your home suffers water damage, you should have a Paul Davis technician check the walls for mold infestations. They can go unseen for weeks, and then appear practically overnight. Once mold creates colonies in your property, it quickly breeds and releases toxins that make life unpleasant for occcupants:

  • Mold emits a strong, mildewed odor that stops rooms from smelling fresh.
  • Mold causes serious problems for allergy-sensitive people, as well as those with asthma, making symptoms flare up.
  • A black mold infestation can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.
  • Mold toxins can activate chronic inflammation and constant cold-like symptoms.
  • People with compromised immune systems can get systemic infections of the lungs, skin, or digestive tract.
  • In rare instances, 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 infestations even if no water damage has occurred. If you see or smell something that could be mold, get an expert opinion right away. If you want to eradicate mold, the atmosphere where it flourishes must first be eliminated. Water sources have to be dealt with, and any residual moisture must be efficiently dried out. Only then can mold removal and remediation start. Whether a dripping roof, burst pipe, or other entry point, it isn't enough to stem the tide. Moisture can soak out-of-sight sections of your home. Without proper cleanup procedures, mold will keep coming back to these areas. If you think your home may contain black mold, speak with Paul Davis now. Our team inspects for presence of black mold before removal. You can rely on our specialists to remove black mold quickly. Don't risk your health, get a black mold inspection now.