Mold is not simply a blemish that defiles your grout or wallpaper. It is a biological pollutant which emits small spores into the air in your house. These spores are microscopic parasites, floating via HVAC systems and landing on furniture, carpets and clothes.
It is important to know about the connection between uncontrolled growth of molds and indoor air quality (IAQ) so as to have a healthy environment at home. The problem will not disappear by being ignored and it gives the issue time to grow to a larger magnitude, so what was a small cleaning exercise may turn into a serious health risk. This is why the earlier you can spot mold the more defensive it is to both your lungs and house.
The unseen effect on the air quality.
Environmental and property restoration agencies suggest that indoor air quality can be two or five times higher than the quality of outdoor air. Mold is a major cause of this statistic.
Colonies of molds multiply by spores when they develop. These spores cannot go somewhere because they are in a confined space such as a house or office. They get built up in the air so that every time you breathe you breathe in the particulate matter.
VOCs and the “Musty Smell”
The physical spores are not the only problematic ones. Mold does produce Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (mVOCs). It is the scent of chemicals emitted in the metabolic process that makes that musty or damp earth smell that is generally associated with old basements.
These gases have the ability to irritate the eyes and nose mucous membranes causing headache, dizziness and fatigue. Although some dust is ordinary, a chronic existence of chemicals due to biological growth makes a major difference in the quality of the air you are breathing.
Long-term exposure to health risks.
Human health is the first reason to address the issue of mold as soon as possible. Mold does not affect all persons in the same manner, however, it is generally detrimental to all persons when subjected to high levels of spores.
Allergic reactions
In case of people who are allergic to mold, spores are regarded by the immune system as foreigners. This causes a release of histamines and has the following symptoms:
- Sneezing and runny nose
- Red, itchy eyes
- Skin rashes (dermatitis)
Respiratory issues
The effects are worse upon people who have underlying conditions such as asthma. Mold spores may be a precipitating factor in asthma, which results in wheezing, tightness in the chest, and dyspnea. Chronic exposure to air pollutants in non-asthmatics may cause irritation of the throat and lungs and the resultant chronic cough which refuses to end.
Toxic mold syndrome
Whereas it is not as frequent, some types of molds (such as Stachybotrys chartarum, sometimes referred to as black mold) do synthesize mycotoxins. These toxic substances are capable of sticking to spores and dust. They may cause potentially more serious neurological and respiratory symptoms when inhaled or touched. Their colonies are destroyed early before they grow to be harmful and produce excessive amounts of toxins.
The way that the mold propagates in your HVAC system.
The implication of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is one of the greatest risks of procrastination or mold remediation.
When it develops around an intake vent or even within the ductwork, then your HVAC system is a superhighway to contamination. Whenever the fan is turned on, it sprays the spores in all the rooms of the house.
- Cross-contamination: The issue of a small mold in the basement may easily evolve into an issue of a mold in the bedroom of the second floor since both are linked together via the air system.
- Inaccessible cleaning: When mold can grow within the twists and turns of ductwork it is much harder and more costly to remove it professionally.
Controlling mold by removing it at the first onset will stop its penetration into these systems ensuring that the contamination is minimal and manageable.
Delay cost compounding cost.
Other than health and air quality, there is the practical financial reason for early removal. Mold is a life-form that feeds off on organic matter. It lives off of drywall, wood, paper backing, and fabrics.
Structural integrity
Mold may also destroy wood and undermine the strength of walls and floors in the long run. A cleaning job that begins as a simple cleaning exercise may end up being a renovation project whereby the worker has to replace the drywall and insulation.
Remediation costs
The cost to repair the mold of professionals increases exponentially with the occupied area. The cost of removing a square foot of surface mold is small. Correction of a house-wide infestation that has leaked into the subfloor and air ducting would entail containment areas, negative air pressure equipment and massive labour work.
Monitor humidity levels
Mold thrives in moisture. Maintain indoor humidity at 30-50 percent. To check on these levels, cheap hygrometers can be installed in the various rooms. In case you see a spike, that is, dry the air with dehumidifiers or air conditioners.
Inspection routines
It is important to look at high-risk areas frequently:
- Under sinks: Determine whether there are slow leaks in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Around windows: Check sill and dark spots, whether there is any condensation.
- Attics and basements: These spaces are usually not ventilated, and they are the most viable spaces to have molds.
- Ceilings: Discoloration is likely to be a leak in the roof or plumbing problem in the floor above.