Signs Your Home Might Have Mold

Mold is great for the ecosystem but terrible for homes. It’s a fungus that grows in a dark, humid environment, and it can damage a building’s structure, ruin furniture, and cause a host of health problems. Fortunately, you can easily find signs of mold in your home.

Common Indoor Molds

While there are household molds that are considered hazardous—like black mold—they are rare and often develop after a long-term moisture problem hasn’t been addressed. The more common types of mold found in homes—including Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus—are less dangerous but can grow faster in less damp conditions. These molds can be found practically anywhere within a home. Cladosporium, for instance, can grow on the wallpaper and the carpet. Homeowners may spot Penicillium mold on leather furniture and on fabrics. And Aspergillus can be found in the insulation or in the air conditioning and heating ducts.

The Health Dangers of Mold in Your Home

Exposure to mold can lead to mild and more severe illnesses. Mold allergies occur when mold spores in the air are breathed into a person’s body. Some of the mild symptoms of mold allergies include:

• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Skin irritation
• A runny or stuffy nose

While these symptoms are not life-threatening, they can sometimes lead to more severe problems, like mold-induced asthma attacks and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which is when mold spores cause inflammation in the lungs. Check out our blog tomorrow for two tips on how to check your home for mold.