Managing Mold

Categories: Basements

If there’s one thing that can make any homeowner start to panic, it’s the risk of finding mold. Especially when you don’t see it, potentially, for a long time, the facts can get a little scary. So, if you’ve noticed something that looks a little fuzzy, smells a little funky or just seems kind of funny, don’t waste time calling a remediation service.

What Is Mold?

Mold is a type of fungus that forms on damp or decaying surfaces. Although molds are needed in the environment to break down dead materials, it doesn’t mean you want them in your home. Mold can grow indoors when there is too much moisture and it spreads by producing spores that can carry through the air or water.

Why Is Mold A Big Deal?

Mold is almost always in the air around us and is usually harmless to breathe in, but it can make you sick when there are visible areas of mold growth in your home because you are being exposed to a larger number of mold spores. Immediate symptoms include coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, wheezing, difficulty breathing, runny nose and itching, but long-term exposure can be more serious.

According to the CDC, more than 75,000 people are hospitalized in the U.S. every year with fungal infections. At least 7,000 people died in 2021. About a fifth of those numbers are a result of a common household mold.

In fact, the harmful effects of exposure to mold can show up years later (after you’ve already moved away, or fixed the problem!) in the form of memory loss, poor mental health, constant fatigue and lung issues. In addition, children, elderly people and those with pre-existing health conditions are more likely to experience the symptoms related to mold exposure.

How To Spot It

Mold can look very different depending on the type of growth you have. It can look discolored, fuzzy, slimy or like a wet patch and will often have a musty smell. If you think you might smell mold but don’t see any, check in the crawlspace, behind drywall or inside air ducts.

How To Get Rid Of It

The first step in mold remediation is identifying the problem. If the cause is not properly identified, the remediation could be a temporary fix and the underlying mold issue could return. Once the cause is identified by the professional, the proper remediation steps can begin. This looks different depending on where in your house the mold is spreading from and the severity of the mold.

After identifying the root cause, your remediation specialist* will isolate the area by closing off vents and sealing doors, then will use a HEPA air scrubber to suction the spores to remove them from the space. Your remediation specialist will then scrub the affected area to ensure no spores are left to spread. An antifungal spray is applied to remove and kill any residual spores. If excess moisture in the crawlspace or basement is the root cause of your mold problems, proper barriers will be placed in your crawl space and dehumidifiers will be installed to prevent the mold growth from recurring.

(*Keep in mind your mold remediation specialist is wearing personal protective equipment to protect against breathing in the mold spores they are removing.)