Mold 

Mold is the root of all sorts of health issues. Animals, people with allergies, older adults, and young children are among the most affected by mold. Mold exposure can cause or irritate breathing issues such as asthma. Other symptoms include coughing, ongoing headaches, and a rash. If anyone in your home is experiencing these symptoms, mold could be the culprit.  

How Mold Grows

Mold spores are the principal means of mold reproduction. Most mold spores transport in the air to find new sites for colonization. Spores may carry toxins capable of disposing of previous colonizing organisms. Penicillium mold, for example, may poison bacteria in the neighborhood with penicillin. Stachybotrys spores may contain toxins such as trichothecenes to wipe out the local indigenous bacteria or more superficial fungi.

All organisms digest food; mold does its digestion outside the organism itself. It excretes enzymes capable of breaking down long-chain hydrocarbons. Those enzymes need to travel by diffusion in a thin water film to the food molecules, breaking down into simpler sugars and starches. These water-soluble simpler compounds then diffuse outward from the site where created, and some of them migrate back to the hungry mold organism. Mold relies significantly on having a thin film of water several molecules thick that can transport the enzymes outward, but not too far, and transport the broken-down compounds back to the organism. Of course, the film is nothing like a flat membrane because the surface of materials at the microscopic level is mountainous and cavernous. The mold organism grows hyphae, which are thin strands, the tips of conducting the same reactions where they touch the upholstery (or other cellulose-based surfaces) on which the organism resides. The strands of hyphae form a mat called a mycelium. The mycelium creates a buffer that helps to regulate the wetness of the surface. It retards evaporation of the surface, helping to guarantee a stable moisture film necessary for digestion. Mold needs an edible substrate, air, and a multi-molecular film at the surface.

The conditions for initial mold growth on a surface may differ from the conditions under which growth continues or under which growth recurs on affected but scrubbed surfaces. Generally, initial development requires higher levels of moisture than is necessary for continued growth. Mold continues to grow on surfaces:

►Where the moisture content of the substrate provides a dependable water source.

►Where the air humidity is high. This ensures that the water film is thick enough to permit the diffusion of enzymes

   outward and simple hydrocarbons back to the organism.

►Where there is no water flow on the surface.

►Where there is available food

►No significant inhibiting chemicals or treatments.

Different (mold) organisms require different thicknesses of films. The phylloplane (leaf-inhabiting) fungi, such as Penicillium and Cladosporium, get by with relatively thin films. They can thrive where the relative humidity in the air is 80% or greater. Stachybotrys require more water and a thicker film; they need a surface relative humidity of around 95% or more excellent.

1. Airborne mold spores are everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. Resident and employee health are at serious risk if elevated levels of mold spores indoors compared to an outdoor mold control test.

2. The most dangerous indoor molds are Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys. Mold testing and mold laboratory analysis are required to identify specific mold species. See mold pictures and detailed information on the most dangerous mold species.

3. Molds spores can cause serious health problems even if the spores are dead or dormant (inactive while waiting for more moisture to resume growth). Even the smell of dead or dormant mold can make some mold-sensitive persons ill.

 4. It is impossible to get rid of all mold spores indoors. Some mold spores will always be present in house dust and floating in the air.

5. The mold spores will not grow into mold colonies if there is insufficient moisture. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If organic materials are wet for more than 24 hours, mold growth can begin.

6. Mold grows by eating and destroying organic building materials and other cellulose-based materials such as carpeting, upholstery, and clothing. The longer that mold grows, the more mold damage to the building.

7. Cellulose is the primary substance in the cell walls of plants (and thus of wood). Utilized in the manufacture of many organic building materials such as drywall, plasterboard, plywood substitutes, and ceiling tiles.

8. Mold can grow hidden and undetected inside wall and ceiling cavities; beneath wallpaper, paneling, and carpeting, and inside heating and cooling equipment and ducts, attics, crawl spaces, and basements.

9. Mold growth is often the result of a structural or construction defect or maintenance neglect that allows moisture to enter the building.

10. The owner or employer must first fix the water problem (roof leak, plumbing leak, high indoor humidity) that enables the mold to grow. Effective mold remediation requires killing the mold with a mold home remedy, removing it, and treating the cleaned area with an EPA-registered preventive mold home remedy.

How to Test for Mold 

There are many ways to test for mold, depending on how involved you want to get, how bad you believe the problem to be as well as how large of an area it is that you need to test. There are mold removal companies that can confirm that it is indeed black mold, though you can also buy kits for yourself. However, these tests are not reliable.

You must first determine if you can see the black mold or not. If you can, it is typically a lot easier because you can confirm simply by looking at the color and determining if it looks like a fungus or not. It will also probably be deteriorating whatever it is sitting on – regardless of whether it’s a piece of wood, a ceiling tile, or something else.

If you cannot see the black mold, there are air tests available using films that can be used. These will help to determine if the mold is present in the atmosphere. The films can be brought into different rooms to confirm which has the highest concentration of mold spores. The room with the highest is most likely the source of the mold.

Once the mold is confirmed, it must be located. It is always best to have a professional do this as they are prepared for what they will come in contact with and have the proper tools. If you are stubborn and want to look for it yourself first, make sure to have a face mask on so that you do not breathe in any close concentrations of the mold more than you may have already done in the past few weeks or months.

The mold can be virtually anywhere within a house or other building. It is caused because of water leaks, poor drainage, and moisture issues in general. In order for the mold to be removed and stay removed, the moisture issues must be corrected so that the mold doesn’t return.

Black mold could be a health hazard for residents of the house if left untreated. It can deteriorate floors, ceilings, walls, and other infrastructures of a building. More importantly, the black mold produced what is known as Volatile Organic Compounds. These can enter the air and make a person extremely unhealthy.

Many of the symptoms appear to be allergy-related at first. Many start with a cough, a headache, or irritation to the sinuses. This is because the spores are already working into a person’s respiratory and nervous system. The more exposure for extended periods of time, the more it can lead to more serious problems.

The first step should be testing for the black mold and getting it treated so that the threat is removed. A person can then go to the doctor to see if there is any long-term damage as a result of the black mold.

If caught early enough, black mold doesn’t have to be the end of the world. It can be cleaned up, disposed of, and never to be talked about again. 

How Do You Remove Black Mold?

Black mold in your Rosenberg home can be the worst thing for the building’s structure and your health. You want to ensure that you remove all of the black molds effectively to come back. Optimally, you want to get rid of the black mold before it starts to cause health problems, though it may already be too late for that.

You have several options for removing black mold. Depending on how large an area is involved and how long it has been allowed to grow will determine which course of action will be the best one for your home.

Hiring a mold removal company is one of the best options because experienced with black mold, you guarantee that it will be gone once they leave. If you choose this route, the company will come in and test the indoor air quality for the source of the black mold (unless it is self-evident). They will then begin working at removing the mold from the area. It is ensuring that the moisture that caused the problem.

Whenever there is a moisture problem in a house – either due to a leaky pipe, something not being appropriately dried,to begin with, rainwater issues, or anything else, the potential for black mold lurks beneath the surface.

The moisture problem is eliminated in its entirety before the black mold problem is going to go away – and stay away. Whether it is fixing a pipe, replacing an appliance, or something else, the moisture must be dried up and the problem solved. You can remove the humidity by using fans, dehumidifiers, and much more.

Once the moisture is no longer a problem, the mold removal company (or you) can begin removing the mold. The proper equipment is a need, including heavy-duty gloves, so your hands do not come in contact with the spores. It would be best if you also sealed off the area as best as possible not to contaminate other areas of the house. Purchase a mask for your face, too, so you aren’t breathing in any of the black mold spores to not cause yourself more health risks than you may have already exposed.

Parts of the wall, ceiling, or floor may need removal to remove the black mold threat entirely because the mold often “eats” its way into certain items and causes a lot of destruction. If this is the case, you may require a building contractor to assist with the building integrity.

All of the black molds will be removed, bagged (using heavy-duty bags), and properly disposed of. Once the physical mold areas are removed, there are sprays that you can buy (or the company will spray) so that you remove any remaining residue so that you have a brand new start inside of your home. 

Mold removal companies are ready and waiting for you to contact them to clean up your mold problem. However, hiring one of these companies shouldn’t be done before trying other, less costly options. Calling a mold removal company shouldn’t be the first thing you do if you discover a mold problem in your home. Do some investigation first as to the seriousness of the problem.  

Mold Removal Companies 

Mold Remediation

The best way to tell if mold is the problem or not is to have the affected people leave home. If their problems clear up, then most likely there’s a mold problem in your home. You don’t have to see the mold for it to be there. It could be hiding under floorboards or walls. Getting a professional inspection of your home can uncover the problem.

On the other hand, the mold may be easily visible. If you discover a small mold or mildew problem in your bathroom or on your basement wall possible, you can remove it yourself. As long as it’s not too big of a problem, it should be simple to clean it up.

The way to do this is to take a spray bottle and mix water and distilled vinegar. Be sure to wear plastic or rubber gloves while you’re cleaning. Spray the affected area thoroughly and allow the mixture to sit for 3 to 4 minutes. Use a sponge or cloth to wipe it clean. This should take care of a small mold problem.

The most often affected rooms are bathrooms, basements, and kitchens. There are dark and damp areas in these rooms that are perfect conditions for the growth of mold. Suppose Growths with a furry or cottony look that are white, gray, or green means that you’ve found the mold. Toxic mold is usually a black color. If you find large areas of this, it’s time to contact a mold removal company immediately.

Research any company before you hire them. Mold removal companies are among the bigger scam artists in existence. If you’ve got a serious mold issue, you need more than a simple cleaning. The company you hire may need to look under your floorboards or inside your walls. So make sure you get a reputable company.

Make sure that the business you hire has been in business for at least 2-3 years. You can find online reviews of companies as well as check with the Better Business Bureau. Ask for referrals from people you know and trust.

Get an estimate of the cost for your mold removal before committing to a contract. Don’t hire the first company you contact. Only make your decision after getting several estimates and researching. 

Moisture Control for Mold 

Moisture is the best friend of mold, creating the ideal conditions for its growth and sustenance. Even a surface that would seemingly be unable to support plant life can become a prime breeding ground for mold infestation. It is damp, and the surrounding temperature is ideal. Consequently, preventing mold from becoming a frequent visitor in your home is mainly a matter of keeping the moisture under control. Not often any easy task, due to a large number of entry points for water in the average home. There is typically water running at least several times a day in the bathroom and in the kitchen. Water can seep up from your basement floor. Poor waterproofing or leaks can introduce water into your walls or through your ceilings. The situation becomes worse in warm climates, where humidity rises, and the air is heavy with moisture.

The first course of action is to repair leaks and defects in your house’s structure that permit the entry of water. Keeping water away from home could be a simple matter of providing flow channels from your house, so the water does not collect underneath or around. It may also involve extensive waterproofing of your roof and walls and resurfacing of the landscape so that the ground slopes away from the house. Leaky pipes should be found and sealed right away, as even a constant drip in any location will soon give rise to a thriving mold colony. 

Houses with crawlspaces would benefit from the plastic covering over the dirt to prevent moisture from coming up through the ground. Ventilation is essential in this area, which is prone to collecting mold particles and retaining the heat and humidity that help them grow. Ventilating the rest of your home isn’t a bad idea, either, and it may be worth it to attach exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen so that both moisture and hot air are expelled from the house. Make sure the exhaust travels out of the house and not upwards to the attic or above the ceiling tiles. 

Carpeting is a frequent breeding ground for mold, trapping dirt particles and moisture in its fiber threads. It would be prudent to use area rugs instead of wall-to-wall installed carpeting, so you can wash the carpet periodically. It may be necessary to place plastic sheeting between a rug and a concrete floor, along with some form of insulation, to avoid moisture accumulating.

Appliances like humidifiers and kerosene heaters can be a source of sufficient moisture to instigate mold contamination. If you notice moisture condensing on surfaces, like windows, it’s a sign that you should turn off these objects. In fact, humidifiers are significant contributors to moisture buildup, so they should not be used in buildings with suitable vapor barriers. Speaking of moisture on windows, it is a good indicator of whether you are engaged in some habit that produces excessive humidity. Several such practices are boiling and steaming when cooking, keeping too many plants in the house, taking long showers, or drying clothes indoors. See what you can do to reduce or change these practices to lessen your indoor moisture. 

IAQ Environmental 

IAQ Environmental located in the City of Rosenberg. Our service areas include Houston and the surrounding suburbs. We specialize in indoor air quality consulting in addition to mold. Our mold services include: 

• Mold Inspection and Testing
• Viable Mold Air Sampling 
• Direct Fungi Surface Sampling 
• Bulk Item Testing (e.g., articles of clothing, a cutout of drywall)
• Mold Protocol for Remediation
• Mold Clearance “No Mold” Certification 

We also offer complete indoor air quality testing. We measure for indoor air pollution, which includes:

• Total VOCs 
• Particulate Matter
• Formaldehyde 
• Carbon Monoxide 
• Carbon Dioxide 
• Hydrogen Sulfide 
• Ozone  

Give us a call if you have any questions (713) 931-8378. We offer free phone consultation.