subject: Nyc Mold Inspection Companies Report Increase In Mold Inspection Cases [print this page] Every year, thousands of people develop severe allergies and even respiratory infections because of house mold. Some types of mold can even be deadly and can cause cancerous tumors in your body. Other variations of mold, like Strachybotrys (or black mold) and Penicillium can even cause hearing and memory loss. The battle against house mold is a continuous one, especially for those who live in warm climates, and the first step to win this battle is to determine which places in your house can be a breeding ground for house mold.
1. The bathroom. Mold, even black mold, thrives in a dark environment with high humidity that is constantly moist or wet. Since the bathroom is where you take a bath, brush your teeth and do other things that require water, this is the perfect setting for mold to grow. Check the corner of bathtubs, the edges of shower curtains, the sides of faucets and corners of your bathroom (where water can pool) for toxic mold. You should also check your bathroom rugs for household mold as well.
2. The basement. The basement is another place that is a good breeding ground for house mold, since little or no sunlight goes inside the basement and the place is not well ventilated. High humidity levels in basements also contribute to mold growth. To prevent toxic mold from taking over your basement, make sure that you repair all leaking pipes and that your basement walls and floors are properly waterproofed and treated.
3. Closets. Have you ever taken out your winter coat from your closet after months of storage only to find out that it smelled funny? Blame house mold for that. Closets are dark, highly humid environments that can start a mold garden of sorts. Although black mold or toxic mold is highly unlikely to grow on your clothes, other house mold that you may find on your clothes may cause severe allergies. Store a humidifier in your closets and make sure to air out coats and other seasonal clothes regularly to prevent house mold.
4. Furnaces or Air conditioning units. The heat from furnaces or the machines of air conditioning units can produce house mold if there is any standing water near or in your furnaces or air conditioning units. Condensation also occurs in areas with high heat or cold and this can also lead to mold growth, including toxic mold or black mold. Be sure to clean your furnaces or air conditioning units regularly and clear surrounding areas from standing water.
5. Underneath floorboards or in between walls. Although you can probably see house mold growing in your bathroom or on items, mold that is underneath your floor or behind your walls is almost impossible to detect. There are different handy kits, though, that can be purchased to help you test for mold growth in your home, including black mold. The only way to visibly check if there is toxic mold growing underneath your floorboards is to take the boards out or to strip your walls down. This can be a good breeding place for mold because there can be moisture trapped in between walls and underneath your floor.
6. Inside your refrigerator. The refrigerator is another dark, moist place where house mold can grow fast. Water condensation from the fridge's low temperatures can also help the growth of mold. Clean your refrigerator regularly and make sure there is no standing water in the automatic defrost pans of your refrigerator.
Although there are some house molds that are harmless and can cause little or no damage, other types of mold such as black mold and toxic mold can cause allergies, asthma, stomach upsets and can even be deadly for babies, the elderly and the sickly. Make sure that your house is free from black mold and other dangerous types of molds by having your house tested for molds, cleaning your home regularly and making sure enough fresh air circulates through your home always.
