You can be a “fun guy,” but you don’t want fungi growing in your home. Mold is a fungus that commonly appears in homes in the midst of the rainiest time of the year. Mold grows anywhere under the right conditions. Sometimes it is possible to treat the mold yourself, but other times the mold gets out of control and professional backup needs to be called.
What is Mold?
Mold thrives in damp, dark places. The sun or ultraviolet rays inhibit mold growth. The mold spores lay dormant in dry conditions, but once moisture is added, the mold goes wild. Moisture is the key ingredient; mold won’t develop until there’s moisture. Moisture comes from humidity, condensation, or water intrusion from leaks, spills, or floods. Mold’s purpose is to break down and decay organic matter, so it eats what it grows on. This is why mold in the home is a problem; mold will degrade the surfaces it’s found on.
Where is Mold hiding?
Since mold likes damp, dark places, it makes sense that you will likely find it growing in the walls, ceiling, windows, floors, furniture, insulation, air ducts, clothes, food, and crawl spaces. Some unusual places that mold likes to grow include dehumidifiers, air conditioners, potted plants, and air filters. Mold is in the air everywhere, and when it meets a damp indoor spot with little or no UV light, it begins digesting and growing.
How do you know it’s there?
Those fuzzy dots you see in the corner of your home might actually be mold and not just your blurry vision. If your allergies start acting up, you notice a musty smell, or you can physically see mold, it is probably a good indicator that you have a mold issue. Needless to say, mold doesn’t have a positive effect on your health. Breathing in mold spores causes respiratory effects such as coughing, wheezing, the development of asthma, respiratory infections, and chest tightness. Other health effects include fatigue and headaches. It is best to seek advice from a health professional to accurately diagnose the cause of your symptoms.
Mold doesn’t disappear on its own
Some products that you can use to remove mold spots include borax, vinegar and baking soda, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, or detergent. You can use any of these products where you find only a little mold, but if you suspect large areas of mold under the carpet or in the walls, it is time to call in professional help. For professional mold removal and mold remediation in the St. Cloud area, call Royal Renovations to get the job done for you.
Here is a comprehensive list of services provided by Royal Renovations:
- Mold Containment
- Water Extraction
- Odor Control
- Content Pack-Out/In
- Demolition
- Sanitization
- 24/7 Claim Management
- Climate Controlled Storage
- Moisture Readings
- Complete Construction
- Post Testing
- Content Cleaning