Mold is a kind of fungus that grows anywhere where there is moisture and organic matter it can break down. If allowed to thrive in a house or an apartment in San Diego, it can cause long-term mold damage, reduce the value of your property, and even pose a severe health hazard.
Keep reading to learn how mold spreads, how it can make you sick, and how to handle a mold infestation and perform effective cleanup and remediation.
What damage can mold cause?
A mold infestation can hurt both your health and your wallet. For example, carpet mold can ruin expensive floor coverings and even damage the floor beneath them. Moldy walls not only look gross, they can also cause you to experience various respiratory issues.
According to CDC, the 5 most common types of household mold are:
- Stachybotrys chartarum (black mold)
- Penicillium
- Alternaria
- Aspergillus
- Cladosporium
Mold infestations are an especially big deal on the real estate market. Home buyers should have any property they’re thinking of purchasing professionally checked for mold. Likewise, property sellers should make sure there isn’t a mold problem before listing the home on the real estate market in order to avoid losing potential buyers or having to renegotiate the price.
Can mold in your house make you sick?
Small amounts of mold shouldn’t be harmful to your health unless you’re highly allergic to it. However, if mold is allowed to thrive in your home to the point where it becomes an infestation, the large amount of airborne spores it releases can cause you and the other members of your household to suffer various unpleasant and even dangerous health problems.
Mold frequently aggravates existing respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergies. Furthermore, it can cause you to feel perpetually tired and even mess with your vision. Consuming food or beverages that contain mold can cause vomiting and nausea.
You may be dealing with a mold infestation if you have the following symptoms:
- Congestion of the sinuses and the nasal cavity
- Sore throat
- Skin rashes
- Frequent coughing
- Eye irritation
- Vision issues (blurred sight)
What should you do if your house has mold?
Unless you have a background in mold remediation, by far the most effective way to get rid of mold is to call in the professionals. Do-it-yourself removal methods almost invariably fail to eradicate all of the mold, or end up damaging the surrounding property in the process.
When it comes to dealing with indoor mold, prevention really is the way to go. You want to make it as difficult for mold to thrive inside your home as possible. This can be accomplished with a little foresight and some careful maintenance.
Here’s how to prevent a mold infestation:
- Maintain indoor humidity levels at 50% or less
- Leaky roofs, plumbing, and walls should be fixed ASAP
- Use mold-killing products when cleaning bathrooms and basements
- If soaked carpets or upholstery can’t be dried quickly, replace them
- Call in water damage remediation experts immediately after a flood
- Regularly air your home and make sure there’s good airflow
- Use mold-inhibiting paints and products when painting your house
Where can I find the top San Diego mold damage remediation experts?
Have you recently had a flood at your home, and now your place smells musty and you have a runny nose all the time? Or perhaps you’re thinking of purchasing a home in Marston Hills, and you want to make sure it doesn’t contain mold before you proceed with the deal?
Whatever your needs may be, don’t hesitate to call Risk Free Serv. As the premium provider of remediation services in San Diego County, we’re uniquely positioned to deal with all your mold, fire, water, and smoke damage-related problems. Contact us today.