Mold growth and the widespread damage it can cause are both inconvenient to property owners. Not only can mold lead to aesthetic damage in the areas it affects, but it can also compromise wood building materials and contribute to poor indoor air quality.
Any type of water damage (a flood, pipe burst, or leakage) can promote mold growth in as little as 24 to 48 hours. For all we know, mold cleanup always leaves most of us blank on how to start. It may be hard to know what causes the mold’s existence in your specific situation without the help of a specialist.
The good news is that companies like ServiceMaster Remediation Services exist to provide a helping hand with your mold damage and remediation. Learn about the importance of mold remediation professionals after a water damage event.
How Does Mold Grow?
- Moisture or excess humidity in the air
- Moderate temperature, especially between 20 to 30 °C
- Stagnant, stale, and non-ventilated air
Where Does Mold Grow?
Mold comes in a variety of colors, commonly appearing as brown, black, green, or gray. Mold can be fuzzy, flat, or slimy and can develop on grout, tile, and other surfaces in moist areas, humid spaces, and those with inadequate ventilation indoors.
Mold commonly develops in:
- Basements
- Bathrooms (on the bathtub, grout, sinks, showers, and tiles)
- Ceiling
- Inside HVACs
- Kitchens
- Outside areas like decks or fences
Unlike mildew, mold penetrates the surfaces it grows on. This necessitates immediate mold removal by professionals, as it can be a difficult task. Exposure to mold and its spores could trigger allergies and asthma and aggravate existing respiratory conditions.
Types of Mold Found Indoors
- Acremonium - is considered a toxigenic mold. It changes its appearance over time, from a tiny, moist mold into a powdery substance.
- Cladosporium - is an allergenic mold type that grows both in warm and cold settings. It commonly thrives in carpets, fabrics, and upholstery, as well as inside cupboards and under floorboards.
- Trichoderma - is an allergenic mold that is white-colored with green patches. Its common habitat is wet areas such as carpets, wallpaper, and other damp fabric.
- Aspergillus - commonly sprouting around certain properties, Aspergillus can cause severe reactions. Some of its adverse effects are respiratory infections, allergic reactions, and inflamed lungs. In case this mold type won’t be eradicated in any area at home, it could surely impose inconvenience.
- Aureobasidium - this mold is black and pink in color, and is typically found on wooden furniture, surfaces, painted walls, and wallpaper. According to certain studies, this type of mold is the worst because of its extreme effects on homeowners by intensive allergic reactions.
- Alternaria - usually found in the sink, shower, and dark areas at home, Alternaria threatens homeowners with asthma attacks and allergic reactions. It could be commonly found both indoors and outdoors around the property.
Important Mold Statistics
Here is a list of some of the most important mold statistics, as compiled by Real Time Laboratories:
- Each year, 7 million people die as a result of indoor and outdoor air pollution. (World Health Organization, 2014)
- Of the 21.8 million persons who have been diagnosed with asthma in the United States, it is estimated that roughly 4.6 million cases are linked to moisture and mold exposure in the house. (EPA and Berkeley National Laboratory, 2007)
- Infants exposed to mold in their homes have a roughly threefold increased chance of developing asthma compared to those who did not have severe mold exposure during their first year of life. (Michael Pinto, 2018)
- Mold is responsible for 93 percent of persistent sinus infections. (Mayo Clinic, 1999)
- Professional mold cleanup costs between $500 and $6,000 on average, but can reach tens of thousands if the condition is serious. (Houselogic, 2009)
- Mold destroys more wood each year than all fires and termites combined. (Luke Armstrong, 2016)
- Around 40% of asthma attacks are triggered by the presence of mold, dust mites, or rats in the home. (Center For American Progress, 2016)
- [Mycotoxins] can spread and have a detrimental effect on the immune system. This can contribute to a variety of health problems, including allergies, hypersensitivity, respiratory difficulties (asthma, wheezing, coughing), and some more serious ones, such as memory loss, depression, anxiety, and reproductive disorders, to name a few. (Rujuta Borkar, 2018)
Why is Professional Mold Removal Important?
While gradually producing unseen damage, mold brought about by water leaks and heavy rains can eventually affect your family’s health in various ways. Not only will properties deteriorate, but building occupants can also experience headaches, breathing difficulties, skin irritation, allergic reactions, and the aggravation of asthma symptoms.
- Mold remediation and removal are very important for affected areas especially after water damage, like heavy rains or leaks, to prevent the occurrence of even more destructive results.
- Most of the time, mold would damage and multiply into the foundation, roof, AC system, drywall, gutters, and furnishings. Letting water sit is dangerously time-sensitive and triggers mold growth, creating a chance for expansion of areas to release spores later on.
For issues like this, the best approach is to inform your team of expert professionals at ServiceMaster Remediation Services. They will be the ones to assess and evaluate the extent of the problem and the suitable and long-term solution, giving you a clearer and positive outlook after a storm hits your area.
Schedule a Mold Remediation Appointment in Pompano Beach, Florida
ServiceMaster Remediation Services is prepared and ready to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (954) 969-5906.
- Independently owned business in Pompano Beach, Florida
- Certified General Contractor in the state of Florida (CGC1522819)
- Licensed Mold Remediators in Florida (MRSR97)
We service residential and commercial properties in:
To schedule an appointment, call ServiceMaster at (954) 969-5906 or connect with us online today. We are located at 933 NW 31st Ave, Pompano Beach, Florida 33069.
