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Mold in My Home? What is It?
Fri 31 Jul 2009 - 10:09
Mold in My Home? What is It?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ken_Compton]Ken Compton
If you smell something musty and notice discolored surfaces there is a good chance you have a mold problem.
Even as far back as Leviticus in the Pentateuch or Old Testament (Moses' time), mold has been an issue. You have to take it seriously. Mold is a growing, living thing. Actually there are over a hundred thousand different varieties of mold. But only thirteen to fifteen species are found in the average American home after a water leak or moisture seepage.
Mold is a microscopic organism that is present everywhere, indoors and outdoors. For mold to grow it needs only a food source of any organic material, such as leaves, wood, paper, or dirt and moisture.
Because mold grows by digesting organic material, it gradually destroys whatever it grows on. Mold growth on surfaces and can be seen as a discoloration, frequently green, gray, brown, or black but also white and other colors.
Mold releases countless tiny, lightweight spores, which travel through the air.
Everyone is exposed to some mold on a daily basis without evident harm. It is common to find mold spores in the air inside homes, and most of the airborne spores found indoors come from outdoor sources.
Is there a difference between mold and mildew? Technically-not really. Fungus, mold and mildew are pretty much interchangeable words. Most people call the black stuff that gets in their bathroom grout mildew. It is a fungal surface mold. Some molds appear pink, others green or greenish blue. Once it becomes invasive, it is hard to get rid of. Even if you kill the spores, they are still dangerous to your health. Their cells walls are still intact, so they can still release toxins into the air around them.
Mold is dynamic. It invades, it grows, it multiplies and even though no longer alive, it releases harmful toxins. It has been around since the dawn of man. So why all the media attention in the last ten years? Partially because of lawsuits brought by homeowners. But also, inspectors are becoming more aware of what mold is and how it behaves. Also, the building materials we use attract the mold. We are more and more living in closed in air conditioned and heated environments. That can be a breeding ground for mold.
Mold spores can cause health problems when they are present in large numbers and people inhale large amounts of them. This occurs when there is active mold growth within the home, office or school where people live or work. People can also be exposed to mold by touching contaminated materials and by eating contaminated foods.
Molds will grow and multiply whenever a sufficient amount of moisture and organic material is available.
Moisture sources include roof leaks, plumbing leaks, basement leaks, wet crawlspaces, flooding, sprinkler spray hitting the house, overflow from sinks or sewers, steam from showers or cooking, humidifiers, and clothes dryers exhausting into the interior of the home.
Warping floors and discoloration of walls and ceilings can be indications of moisture problems. Condensation on windows or walls also indicates a problem.
If left unchecked, mold can affect you and your family's health, damage your furnishings and clothes, cause allergies to increase in intensity, and cause serious damage to the structural components of you home.
So the next time your wife starts nagging about that musty smell, check it out. Then call a professional. The sooner you address the problem the less it's going to cost to remediate it.
Ken Compton is the President of Southern Home Inspection Services in Atlanta, GA. Southern Home Inspection Services has conducted over 26,788 home inspections. He is also a certified home inspector and has personally conducted over 1,200 home inspections. Ken frequently speaks to consumer groups on a variety of home inspection topics including "The Importance of Getting Your Home Inspected Before The Buyers Show Up!" He is also the host of a show on Blog Talk Radio where he interviews leading experts about topics that will help homeowners maintain and improve their property. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Southern-Home-Insp
Resource: For tips on how to git rid of mold go to: http://weinspect4u.com/atlanta-home-inspector-finds-mold-in-my-home-how-do-i-get-rid-of-it/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Compton http://EzineArticles.com/?Mold-in-My-Home?-What-is-It?&id=2646875
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