Did you recently find mold in your home? If so, you can call the mold damage repair team at PNW Restoration for help.
However, you may have other questions about mold. How did it get there? Is it dangerous? What are some ways you can combat it?
Below, we take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions about mold, including the top 5 surprising things you probably didn’t know about this frustrating fungi.
1. There Are Many Species of It
Let’s start off this list strong. Did you know that there are countless species of mold?
It’s true. There are actually over 10,000 species of mold! However, only about 1,000 have been studied. Furthermore, only a handful of them are actually really dangerous.
In terms of the species that cause mold damage in your house, there are only a few you’re likely to come across. These include:
- Aspergillus
- Cladosporium
- Penicillium
2. Mold Doesn’t Like Processed Fast Food
This fact will either make you feel more confident about mold or make you disgusted about the kinds of food you’re putting in your body.
But without further ado, mold will not develop on processed food. So that hamburger or set of chicken nuggets? Yeah, mold won’t grow on it.
However, mold will grow on non-processed foods around your house, like bread, oranges, and cheese if let out for too long. Sure, these kinds of mold are unlikely to result in mold damage, but it’s a “fun” fact regardless.
3. Mold Damage Isn’t Always So Black and White
When we think of mold, we tend to think of mold as being one color: black. After all, a cluster of black spots is one of the common symptoms of mold damage within the home.
That being said, though, it’s far from the only shade. Mold comes in a variety of colors, including red, pink, white green, and gray.
Though most indoor molds will be a darker color like green, black, or gray, outdoor mold may be more vibrant shades of red and orange.
4. It Can Trigger Allergies and Other Physical Symptoms
One of the worst things about mold is that it can trigger allergies. Generally, these allergic reactions aren’t too severe. You may have a runny nose, watery eyes, or cough. However, sometimes, they can be more significant.
If left untreated, those dealing with long-term mold exposure may experience difficulty breathing, insomnia, and skin irritation. In other cases, they may suffer from consistent headaches, anxiety, and gastrointestinal issues.
Mold also exacerbates symptoms for those living with existing respiratory conditions.
Far too often, people mistakenly believe they’re suffering from a cold. However, unbeknownst to them, they’re actually suffering from a mold allergy. The easiest way to decipher between the two is to keep track of when your symptoms start.
Do they only begin when you enter the basement? Do they subside when you step outside? If they don’t subside from room to room, it’s likely a cold. If you find relief in certain areas, it’s likely the result of mold damage.
5. Mold Still Grows in a Clean House
A big misconception is that mold is something only found in unkempt homes. But that’s not true.
Mold doesn’t develop from dirt. Rather, it needs moisture and humidity to develop. As such, it’s not uncommon for mold to develop after a burst pipe or water damage of some kind.
This is why you should take great care to resolve water damage as soon as possible. Remember, mold grows as quickly as 24 hours after water exposure. The longer water sits, the more difficult it’ll be to clean because now you’ll also be dealing with the presence of mold.
Do I Need to Hire a Professional Mold Damage Company?
In most cases, yes, you will need to hire a professional mold damage company. Regular household cleaners only treat mold at the surface. So, even though it may look like you’ve gotten rid of it, it’ll grow back in a couple of days, weeks, or months.
A mold damage professional, however, treats mold at the source to kill it, so it doesn’t grow back. Furthermore, hiring a professional can treat mold in hard-to-reach areas like the insides of closets, crawlspaces, and attics.
Is Your Portland Home Suffering from Mold Damage? Call in the Professionals at PNW Restoration Today!
If you recently found mold inside your home, don’t deal with the damage alone. Call a professional mold damage remediation company instead.
At PNW Restoration, all of our mold damage repair services come highly rated. Call us today at (503) 352-5209 to schedule an appointment. We proudly service the greater Portland, OR area. This includes Aloha, Gresham, Hillsboro, and West Linn.
