Types of Dangerous Mold in the Home and How to Protect Against it

Some molds, like those that show up on your bread or food, are annoying but not always dangerous. There are molds, however, that can get into your home and put your health at risk, not to mention the structural integrity of your home.

You’ll want to do what you can to protect your home from the development of mold clusters. This can include circulating your air, cleaning your vents, and talking to contractors in your area about what waterproofing measures can help you lower the level of moisture in your home.

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What Kind Of Mold Can You Find In Your Home?

While there are several types of molds that can appear in your home, the most common include: 

• Cladosporium
• Penicillium
• Alternaria
• Stachybotrys chartarum 

Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Alternaria molds all impact the quality of the air in your home. Stachybotrys chartarum, or black mold, can not only reduce your home’s air quality, but it can also cause serious health problems in anyone living in the residence.

Removing Mold From Your Home

When mold appears in your home, you’ll need to work to get rid of it as quickly as possible. That said, there are some types of mold that you’ll want assistance getting rid of. Stachybotrys chartarum, for example, can put your health at risk if you try to remove it without the appropriate protective gear.

That said, if you notice mold on your walls or joints and it does not appear to be black mold, you can scrape it off and clean the space with soapy water or commercial cleaner.

Preventing The Growth Of Mold In Your Home

You can work to keep mold out of your home with a few behavioral changes and tools. The easiest ways to keep mold out of your home include: 

• Keep the air circulating throughout your home – Mold travels into your home via air currents, not the moisture in which it thrives. One of the best ways to keep mold out of your home in the hotter months of the year is to keep your HVAC system up to snuff. Make sure air is moving throughout your home and that there’s as little stagnation as possible.
• Clean your air vents regularly – Mold often flourishes when it manages to grow out of sight. One of the easiest ways to keep it from settling and spreading through your home is to clean your air vents at least once a month. Setting that schedule will help you stay on top of your home’s health.
• Eliminated moisture – As mentioned, mold loves moisture. The more water you have in your home, or the damper your home is, the more likely it is that mold will take root. When you use a dehumidifier or other waterproofing measures to keep moisture levels low, you limit mold’s opportunity to spread and flourish, meaning you can better protect your belongings, not to mention your home’s value.
• Respond quickly to leaks – If you do notice your bills rising for no reason or water gathering in your basement or crawl space, you’ll want to work with local contractors to see to the damage quickly. The faster you deal with the damage, the less likely it is that mold particles can settle and grow.
• Invest in home waterproofing measures – Finally, note that it’s never a bad idea to invest in home waterproofing measures. Waterproofing measures will spare the structural supports in your home and limit the amount of moisture mold particles may have access to. 

You’ll also want to try and limit the number of porous materials you have in unfinished locations in your home, including carpeting or unused wood. These materials are especially vulnerable to mold infestations and will need to be disposed of immediately if you find yourself suffering from mold growth in your home.

The foundation, basement, and crawl space contractors serving the Kansas City, Moberly, St. Louis and Springfield, MO, areas can help you take back your home if you’re dealing with a mold infestation. You can benefit from a home encapsulation, with the help of CrawlSeal™, or more personalized solutions. After a home inspection, the professionals at Foundation Recovery Systems can provide you with a free quote on the services that will best suit your needs.