Mold: Something to Watch For

Posted by Nick Niesen on November 8th, 2010

These days everyone is paying more attention to their health. So the question is: why not take the same care in selecting your living area? There are all kinds of health concerns in the home, some are easy to deal with, some are not so simple. One of the more controversial health hazards in the home is the presence of mold. Mold is a naturally occurring fungus that requires a dark, damp atmosphere in which to grow. Mold grows on organic materials such as wood. This means that there are quite a few spots in your home that mold could likely grow on. Now, if your home is watertight, as it should be, then mold will not be a huge concern. The presence of mold is usually an indication that there is a leak of some kind, somewhere in the home. Ideal places for mold to grow are in the attic and in the basement.

Another place that mold can find a foothold is in appliances such an indoor vented dryers or humidifiers. What you should look for is locations in your home that are moist on a regular basis. Mold is most likely to aggravate those who are allergy-prone or those with compromised immune system. The presence of Mold brings a host of allergy-like symptoms like itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose and sneezing. People who have existing respiratory conditions will likely to be sensitive to the growth of mold.

The real concern with mold is that it can easily take hold in a home after a flood. This is why it is critical to ensure that your home is dried properly if a flood does happen. A lot of the time, mold can grow in little corners and in areas that never get looked at and by the time it is noticed, its out of control. In cleaning up after a flood, there are some simple things to remember if you want to ensure that mold does not develop.Keep the temperature and humidity low. Mold thrives in a warmer moister atmosphere. If you find any objects or items that have mold on them, its a good idea to simply throw them away. If you cannot throw them away, freezing them will kill all the active mold spores. After this simply make sure the area is bone dry, if you keep the area dry, chances are that mold will not develop.