Molds are simple microscopic organisms that are found both indoors and outdoors. Molds are very common in buildings and homes. They could enter your home through vents, windows, and open doorways. These organisms grow in poorly lighted, damp, and misty places. They mostly exhibit an orange, green, black, brown, pink, or purple color and fuzzy appearance.
While some mold types can be harmless and useful to humans, most varieties are significant health hazards. Mold species and subspecies worldwide are countless, but they can be fewer within a specific geographic location. Some jurisdictions classify molds into classes: A, B, and C depending on their health risk to human beings.
Types of Molds That Grow in Houses
Here are the common mold types that thrive in Florida.
Cladosporium
Although you might not distinguish this household mold from other varieties, it usually has an olive green to blackish brown or brown color. Healthcare professionals have classified the Cladosporium mold variety as an allergen. It grows mainly in house areas like bathrooms, wallpapers, window frames, and window frames. Cladosporium causes health complications like nail fungus, asthma, skin lesions, and lung infections.
Aspergillus
Aspergillus tends to have a black surface, but it ranges from yellow to whitish underneath it. Microbiologists classify this mold type as a high hazard to health. You can find Aspergillus in building areas like kitchens, carpets, bathrooms, mattresses, basements, and flowerpots soil.
Penicillin
Penicillin is generally blue-green, though its various subspecies can exhibit color shades between brilliant turquoise and dark green with a bluish tinge. Scientists consider penicillin as an allergen. The mold variety generally grows in household items like carpets and mattresses. Penicillin as a household mold can be a health hazard, but it is an antibiotic and an additive in food processing in different contexts.
Stachybotrys
People commonly refer to this household mold as toxic mold or black mold. Stachybotrys is infamously known as the black mold due to its color ranges between black and greenish-black. Stachybotrys is an allergen as it causes skin and eye irritations upon consistent exposure. Stachybotrys generally thrive in locations that have a high cellulose content. Thus, you might find them growing in areas like gypsum boards and fiberboard that contain wood.
Effects of Household Mold
As discussed, mold can cause allergic reactions like itchy skin and eyes or nasal congestion. These organisms can also cause respiratory complications like asthma and lung infections. In more extreme cases, mold can lead to even worse outcomes such as neurological symptoms and death. People with preexisting medical conditions are more susceptible to extreme outcomes, as they have compromised immunity.
You should also note that household mold can destroy your property. If unchecked, mold can spread and infest large sections of your building. Thus, you might have to replace and repair building materials and household items with accumulated mold. A lot of expenses can arise in the process of restoring and repairing mold damage in your property.
You should strive to avoid mold to maintain the market value of your house, as mold infestation can devalue your property if you intend to sell it. Household mold generally indicates the presence of underlying issues such as burst pipes or leaky roofs in a house. Some jurisdictions require you to inform potential buyers of your property if it has previously had household mold infestation. If that happens, potential buyers might be turned off of purchasing the property.
Do you have a home or business in Florida? Do you need to inspect your property for mold or remove and remediate any mold damage? If your answer was yes to both questions, contact Ace Restoration Services, a professional company that will remove mold and prevent further damage to your property from occurring. Our initial inspection is always free.