There are more than different strains of mold sometimes found in homes in the United States and they span the rainbow. Mold can develop in basements for many reasons, but the bottom line is that basements are often a bit damper than other areas of the home. If you don't use your basement often, mold can grow quite a bit before you notice it.
You can read more about basement mold. Below you can see some green mold. There are a number of different strains of mold that are green in color, including aspergillus , cladosporium and penicillum.
Mold in kitchens is fairly common. Cooking can make the room warm and moist, plus there are plenty of water pipes and appliances that use water, such as icemakers and dishwashers, that can leak. You can reduce the risk of mold in your kitchen by turning on an exhaust fan when cooking and by checking under the sink and around appliances for leaks on a regular basis. These pictures of mold after a home has been flooded show you how extensive mold can be after a flood.
If you have flood insurance, your homeowners insurance may cover the cost of mold remediation after a flood. Check with your insurance agent. If you have mold covering an area greater than 10 square feet, which you probably will after a flood, or if the water that flooded your home may have been contaminated with sewage or other potentially hazardous substances, the US Environmental Protection Agency EPA recommends hiring a mold remediation professional for the job.
Mold can develop in crawlspaces and grow there for a long time before you even notice it, since most people don't look in their crawlspaces very often. Below you can see some mold on walls and floors. Mold cannot be adequately removed from drywall so the drywall must be removed and replaced. Mold cannot be adequately removed from carpet, either, so that must be removed and replaced.
You can read more about moldy carpet here. You might be able to remove mold from vinyl flooring, but if there is mold underneath the vinyl, it will also need to be removed and replaced.
You can read more about mold under vinyl flooring. Below you can see more examples of white mold and yellow mold. Remember, it can be almost any color! We recommend scheduling a free consultation with a mold remediation professional in your home. An experienced professional will inspect your home for mold, advise you about the work that needs to be done, answer any questions, and provide you with a written estimate for the cost of job.
The consultation is free and there is no obligation on your part. To find qualified mold remediation professionals offering free consultations in your area, just follow the link. Privacy Policy Disclaimer Contact Us. Free Home Inspection by a Mold Expert. Have or Suspect Mold? Mold Exposure Symptoms. Preventing Mold in the Home.
Read More. Click On Pictures For Full Size image Mold in HVAC heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, like that shown below, is particularly problematic because homeowners often don't realize it's there.
AC unit. HVAC duct. Learn more about what black mold looks like and how to remove black mold. Leave mold to the pros. Get free, no-commitment estimates from licensed mold inspectors near you. Find a Pro. Still not sure you have mold? Get free, no-commitment estimates from licensed mold testing professionals near you. Find an Expert. Don't want to do it yourself? Professional mold inspection may be the answer. Get free, no-commitment estimates from licensed service providers near you.
Find local pros. More From Bob Vila. What Does Asbestos Look Like? Fusarium can produce toxins that are damaging to the nervous system and can potentially lead to hemorrhages and internal bleeding. Fusarium by nature will quickly spread from room to room. If you notice it in one area of your home, examine the rest of the home thoroughly for signs of it elsewhere. Mucor is an allergenic form of mold that usually grows in thick patches. It is often white or greyish in color and grows quickly. It most often grows near air conditioning, HVAC systems and ducting due to moisture from condensation.
Old, damp carpets can also grow mucor spores. Mucor causes a range of health problems particularly affecting the respiratory system. When exposed to mucor, it can cause asthma or worsen existing asthma conditions.
Mucor also causes difficulty breathing and flu-like symptoms including fever and malaise. In very severe and unfortunate cases, someone who faces prolonged exposure to mucor can develop mucormycosis. Mucormycosis is a fungal infection that can damage the sinuses, lungs and even the brain. It can also infect the eyes and nose and eventually become systemic in the blood, digestion or renal systems.
For this reason, it is vitally important to contact mold remediation professional to handle the removal of mucor. Never inhale or handle mucor spores without mold remediation equipment and safety gear. Penicillin is an allergenic form of mold. It is easily recognizable by its characteristic blue or green colored surface with a velvety texture.
Penicillin mold is often found in water-damaged homes and buildings. It is found in materials such as carpets, wallpapers, ducting and even in mattresses. It spreads quickly from one area of the home to the next. Unfortunately, though penicillin is responsible for important antibiotic production and food processing capabilities, it is also the cause of terrible respiratory conditions when it grows indoors.
Penicillin spores can easily become airborne and travel throughout the home and can be inhaled by occupants, including pets and children. Penicillin exposure can cause pulmonary inflammation and asthma. When exposed to it for a longer time it can lead to chronic sinusitis. Because penicillin mold growth is commonly associated with damp and moist areas, it is critical to remedy any household leaks or water damage as soon as possible to prevent penicillin from recurring and spreading throughout your home.
It is a toxigenic type of mold that can also cause allergic reactions. Stachybotrys mold is dark greenish or black in color and has a slimy texture. Stachybotrys thrives in damp, wet areas with high humidity levels that maintain these environmental conditions for weeks. It is known for growing on cellulose material such as woods, cardboard, paper, hay or wicker.
Stachybotrys exposure symptoms include difficulty breathing, sinusitis, fatigue and even depression. Dull aches and pains in the mucous membranes of the sinuses are common among sufferers of black mold exposure. Stachybotrys is linked to neurological problems in children and pulmonary bleeding in infants. If you have black mold in a home with children, it is important to remove children from the home and prevent their exposure to stachybotrys.
Contact a mold remediation professional immediately to restore your home back to safety. Trichoderma is an allergenic mold type with five different subspecies. Trichoderma mold colonies grow rapidly as wooly-textured clusters and then become more compact over time. It commonly grows in the home on wet surfaces including within wallpaper, carpet and other damp fabrics. It thrives in moist areas, and so you may also find it in air conditioning filters and HVAC system ducts where there is a buildup of condensation.
While most trichoderma molds are non-pathogenic, other types have been linked to pulmonary and even hepatic liver infections. When it produces mycotoxins, trichoderma acts similarly to stachybotrys. Trichoderma is also extremely damaging to building materials. It contains an enzyme that destroys wood and paper products as well as textiles. Cladosporium : This can grow in either cool or warm areas. It tends to appear on fabrics and wood surfaces.
Penicillium : This tends to grow on materials with water damage. It often has a blue or green appearance. Molds take a variety of forms and textures. They can be white, black, yellow, blue, or green and often look like discoloration or stain to a surface. They can also have a velvety, fuzzy, or rough appearance, depending on the type of mold and where it is growing.
Mold spores are everywhere, both indoors and outdoors, but they are not visible to the naked eye. Through the air : They can enter through open windows, doorways, and ventilation systems. Mold will only flourish if spores land somewhere that has the ideal conditions for growing, such as moisture and a supply of suitable nutrients.
If the environment is unsuitable for the spores, they do not usually develop or cause a problem. Mold growth is usually visible and often produces a musty odor. It can damage household items, and it can also have an impact on health. Mold can pose a health problem , especially for people with an allergy, an existing respiratory problem, or a weakened immune system.
As mold grows, spores, cells, fragments, and unstable organic compounds can enter the air. They can produce allergens, irritants, and mycotoxins. Some of these can be toxic, especially to individuals who have a sensitivity to them.
Also, dampness encourages materials to break down, increasing the volume of particles, or dust, in the air. These particles can irritate the lungs, nose, and throat, especially in a person who already has a breathing problem, asthma , or a chronic lung condition.
Mold allergies can produce similar symptoms to other allergies, such as hay fever , or seasonal allergy. In these, too, airborne substances can affect the upper respiratory tract. People with a mold allergy as well as asthma have a higher chance of having an asthma attack when there is mold in the environment. A higher volume of dust can increase the risk of dust mites, which can also trigger an allergic reaction in some people.
Some types of mold, such as Aspergillus , can cause a serious health problem, known as aspergillosis , in some people.
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