Is mold lurking in your home? Are you avoiding calling a mold specialist because you’re afraid of what you might discover? Sometimes the first step to conquering a fear is demystifying it. What is mold anyway? And who should you call for mold removal in San Diego if you decide you need help? Read on.
What is Mold?
Mold is a plant-like organism that plays a beneficial role in nature. It’s a type of fungus, like mushrooms or yeast.
What Does It Look Like?
It’s so small we usually don’t notice it. When it reproduces it makes millions of tiny spores that float through the air and land on things. If the conditions are right they begin to grow and we see something that looks furry or slimy. There are over 100,000 types of mold in the world, with over 1000 species in the US. It exists in a variety of colors — white, black, green, orange. Though sometimes you cannot see it yet, you can usually smell it. It smells musty or earthy.
Is It Bad?
Not per se. It plays an important role in breaking down dead and decaying matter such as trees and leaves. Also, we have learned to use it in medicine (antibiotics) and in food (cheese and soy sauce for instance). But since mold is a very resistant organism it can survive in many places where we don’t necessarily want it, for instance in our homes.
How Does It Get Into Our Homes?
Its spores float in the air, land in a welcoming environment, and grow.
Why Is It Bad to Have in Our Homes?
Mold is plant-like but cannot produce its own food via photosynthesis as plants do. It excretes an enzyme which breaks down the surrounding matter and feeds on the bi-products of this reaction. When that surrounding matter is our carpet, our furniture, our walls, our studs… you get the picture. Mold literally eats our stuff!
Also because mold spores are so tiny, they can enter into our lungs or interact with our skin. This sometimes causes (more or less severe) reactions, including rashes and breathing difficulties. Studies suggest that infants raised in homes with mold are three times as likely to develop asthma! Some forms of mold are considered deadly if left unchecked.
What Does Mold Need to Survive?
Mold needs oxygen, water, a relatively warm temperature, and a food source (ie fabric, drywall, wood, paper etc.) It’s no surprise then that mold often grows in bathrooms, kitchens, attics, walls, and other places where moisture can accumulate and there is ample material to provide fuel for the hungry mold. Flooding and water leaks also provide excellent water sources necessary to develop mold.
What Should I Do If I Find Or Suspect Mold?
Removing mold and preventing it from coming back are best handled by trained professionals who can find the source of the mold, identify its type, assess the risks it may pose, and provide the necessary tools and skills to eradicate the mold from your environment.
Clean Earth Restorations are certified experts in mold removal and remediation and have been in business in San Diego for over 16 years. If you suspect you have a mold problem, call us today and we will provide you with a free estimate of our services. There is no need to live in fear of mold. We are here to help you identify and understand it, and take the necessary steps to remove it forever.