How to Determine if Mold is Toxic

How to Determine if Mold is Toxic

Mold can be a challenging issue for any homeowner to deal with, and it is not usually a sign of poor hygiene but an issue caused by excess moisture in your home. Since mold is not always easy to spot, you may wonder what toxic mold looks like, and that is why you should seek professional help.

At Steamatic of Central Florida, our highly trained professional technicians can safely remove toxic mold in your home. Our certified technicians will work hard to ensure the mold does not spread and your house is safe.

Black mold on the wall behind a scrub brush, gloves and a spray bottle

DO YOU HAVE TOXIC MOLD IN YOUR HOME?

The following are all signs of how toxic mold looks in your home. If you see a couple of these signs in your house, it may be time to call an expert.

    1. Nasty Odor: A musty odor, similar to decaying dirt or rotting leaves, is the most prevalent indication that you are dealing with toxic mold. Mold grows in dark, damp, humid places, so if you notice a strange odor, follow the smell to confined spaces in your house.
    2. Check for visible growth: Toxic mold commonly grows in your walls, crawlspace, or attic, but it can also grow in plain sight. You may observe black rings or dots on the ceiling in such instances.
    3. Stains are consistently returning: It is not recommended to remove mold by yourself. However, if you cleaned and wiped down a moldy spot and continue to observe wall stains, it is likely time to schedule an inspection.
    4. Pay attention to color & consistency: Greenish-black is the most common toxic mold color. However, it’s not the only toxic mold color that should concern you. Some toxic molds are gray and may have a slimy or damp surface. You may also notice colorful patches, particularly those with orange or brown ones. Colorful patches signify highly toxic mold, so do not get close, but seek professional help.
    5. Experiencing health issues: If you or a member of your household struggles with shortness of breath or a persistent cough, it may be due to toxic mold. Identifying and eliminating this mold is of the utmost importance, as the harmful health effects will only intensify with time.

IS ALL MOLD TOXIC?

Different molds have various toxicity levels. Stachybotrys chartarum, a black or dark green-colored mold, is the most prevalent toxic mold species. It may cause damage to the respiratory system when inhaled over extended periods. Unfortunately, Stachybotrys chartarum is not the sole black mold, making identification challenging.

HOW TO REMOVE MOLD FROM YOUR HOME

The first step to removing mold in your home is to hire professionals for mold remediation. There are unique ways to eliminate toxic mold, and at Steamatic of Central Florida, we have these processes to help you. We determine how dire the situation is after we inspect your home. If we find toxic mold in your house, we eliminate it and treat the affected area using cutting-edge technology that includes HEPA filtration.

GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR MOLD PROBLEM

Excess moisture is the root cause of mold infestation in your house. Managing excess moisture in your house will prevent toxic mold from growing. Cleaning activities that use a lot of water, like carpet shampooing, can create the perfect moist environment for mold to grow. Floods and heavy rain can also create damp areas in your home, conducive to developing toxic mold. You should hire a professional water damage restoration company to help you clean the house and manage the excess moisture to prevent the development of toxic mold.

Black,Mold,On,The,White,Wall,In,The,Bathroom,,Health

PROFESSIONAL MOLD REMEDIATION AND WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION SERVICES IN ORLANDO

Toxic mold can cause serious health issues, including breathing problems, sinusitis, fatigue, and depression. Most homeowners are not equipped to handle toxic mold, so you should hire professionals to help. Steamatic of Central Florida offers mold remediation and water damage restoration services to ensure your problem is taken care of immediately. Contact us today to schedule an inspection and remediation service.

Image Source: GaViAl / Burdun Iliya / Afanasiev Andrii / Shutterstock

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