Understanding The Characteristics Of Mold?

There are over 60,000 species of mold present in our environment both indoor and outdoor. Common indoor molds include Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Aspergillus. While we don’t expect all Bakersfield homeowners to know the types of indoor mold, we at Alert Disaster encourage them to be aware of what mold is and why it is so important to have it cleaned and removed from indoor properties.

Characteristics Of Mold

Molds are fungi that thrive in damp, humid, and dark conditions. Mold grows and spreads through the production of spores. Mold spores are tiny microscopic particles that travel through the air and can survive harsh conditions that do not support the growth of mold. Because spores are so resilient and can be found virtually anywhere, if the right conditions present themselves in our homes (like a leaky or burst pipe, or any type of water damage), mold will most likely begin to grow within 48 hours. Porous materials, such as paper products, cardboard, drywall, wood, insulation, and upholstery are all great hosts to mold growth. When mold begins to grow on these types of materials, it can weaken the structure and in turn, the integrity of your home. If mold can destroy these types of materials, imagine what it can do to our bodies and health. 

Mold Can Be A Health Hazard

While our immune systems were created to battle mold, it is overwhelming to our bodies in large quantities and through prolonged exposure to it. Allergens and mycotoxins are produced by mold, and for people with asthma or any other respiratory diseases, these can be extremely harmful. People who are sensitive to allergies will often have increased symptoms if mold is present. Mold exposure can cause many symptoms including irritation to eyes, nose, lungs, throat, and skin, and can cause many respiratory problems including asthma, respiratory infections, sneezing, wheezing, and coughing. Certain types of mold can cause serious lung infections and scarring, which can make breathing become difficult. For individuals who are chronically sick, or who have weakened immune systems, mold can pose serious health threats. Since mold spores travel through the air, air quality throughout the entire living space, not just where mold is growing, is at risk. 

Act Fast After Finding Mold

Indoor mold growth and mold damage should not be ignored, and need to be handled as soon as possible. If you suspect mold growth in your Bakersfield home, some signs you can look for are: musty smells, dark spots on walls, ceilings, or baseboards, leaky pipes, bubbling in walls or ceilings, fuzzy-appearing growth on surfaces, humid conditions, or any signs of water damage because where water damage occurred mold is more likely to follow. If you notice any of these signs, have any suspect any mold growth in your home, or have sustained water damage in any form in your home, call our team right away. With the proper training, experience, and equipment, Alert’s mold cleanup technicians are able to identify the types of mold, contain mold growth and prevent the spread of mold spores to other areas of the home, and remove the mold in safe accordance to IICRC and AIQ standards. With the use of air filtration devices, we can improve the air quality and make it safe again by removing all airborne spores. Do not wait to get any mold problems taken care of. Call Alert Disaster for all mold cleanup needs in Bakersfield.