Mold can be a serious threat to your health. It can even be deadly.
Many people have mold in the home without realizing it. Because mold favors dark, damp spaces it’s often not readily apparent. Its very nature means it’s probably growing someplace where it isn’t obvious, yet it will give off spores and negatively impact your health.
Health Issues
Mold gets into the airways and causes a variety of physical symptoms. Many of these get misinterpreted as “allergies.”
If you have persistent health issues that you are generically chalking up to “allergies” without a known and specific trigger, you likely have a mold issue in the home. Mold is more common than people think and people far too often chalk up respiratory problems to “allergies” without any real evidence this is the actual cause.
If you actually have allergies, you should be able to identify the trigger and you should be able to eliminate symptoms by avoiding the trigger. If you just constantly sniffle and sneeze for no apparent reason and cannot name the specific thing to which you are supposedly allergic, then the mold is a more likely explanation than allergies.
Here are some symptoms that people chalk up to allergies which are commonly caused by mold:
- Sneezing, sniffling, and coughing.
- Sinus drainage and congestion.
- Sore throat without being sick.
- Headaches.
- Respiratory distress.
- Itchy, watery eyes.
- Itchy skin.
- Insomnia.
Other Signs of Mold
Of course, you should learn to recognize what mold looks like. It may be white and thread-like or appear as groups of small black dots. It may be different colors, including gray-brown, gray-green, orange, pink, or even purple.
But well before you get to the point of having visible patches of mold on the walls or ceiling, you may notice some of the following issues:
Odor
Not all molds smell, but many do. Even if the mold itself doesn’t smell, they favor damp areas so a musty smell is something you should investigate.
This is especially true if anyone in the house is having health issues for which no specific cause has been identified. Sick Building Syndrome is far more common than people realize and mold is one cause of it.
Water Damage
If the home has ever been flooded, the odds are good there is a hidden mold problem somewhere. If there is a hidden leak somewhere in the house, the odds are good there is a hidden mold problem somewhere.
If you hear water running under the house when no water is on, this may indicate a busted pipe in the foundation. This can cause mold and other serious problems, such as damage to the foundation.
Paint or wallpaper that is bubbling, cracking or peeling can be an indication of water damage and mold. Water stains or discolored spots on walls, ceilings, or floors are other indicators.
If you need mold remediation, contact us for assistance.
