Mildew and mold can easily creep into an individual’s home or place of work and wreak havoc on the health of anyone that is regularly in proximity. Sometimes mold is difficult to detect because it may be hiding behind the wall, underneath the carpet, or in unique places you never thought to look. A moldy situation can be caused by a slow leak, a burst pipe, humid and damp conditions, or a flood. Basically any area with water damage that has been sitting for around 24 hours can start growing mold; and that mold can have damaging effects to not only what you own, but to your overall health.
According to the CDC, mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, and pets can and be carried indoors.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to mold can be similar to a reaction to other things. Of course, if you are aware that you have a mold problem and begin to exhibit a reaction, then it is fair to say that you need to A) get the mold cleaned up and fix the problem and B) possibly see a doctor about the reaction if it does not go away. You may even need to stay somewhere else or work in a different space until the mold is cleaned and the area restored.
Common Symptoms of a Mold Reaction
Mold spores are too tiny to be seen by the naked eye, and these are what grow and multiply—then spread around—from water damage or continuously damp spaces. Before you know it, they are in your nose, on your skin, and in your lungs, taking you as their host.
The experts at the Mayo Clinic explain the non-life threatening signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction to mold:
Sneezing
Runny or stuffy nose
Cough and postnasal drip
Itchy eyes, nose and throat
Watery eyes
Dry, scaly skin
As stated above, mold spores can get into the lungs of individuals and cause a different type of allergic reaction:
Coughing
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness
Unfortunately, some people have more serious side effects to encountering mold. Mold toxicity is a very serious condition that occurs in about 25% of cases in those who are exposed to mold. According to Psychology Today, “Mold allergies and mold toxicity are not the same illness. Mold allergies are due to mold spores that are inhaled and cause hay fever like symptoms. This is different than toxic mold, which is due to the volatile toxic vapors produced by mold that can cause a chronic inflammatory response, (CIRS), an auto-immune reaction caused by poor clearance of biotoxins in vulnerable individuals.”
Symptoms of mold toxicity include:
Fatigue
Weakness
Aches
Muscle Cramps
Unusual Pain
Ice Pick Pain
Headache
Light Sensitivity
Red Eyes
Blurred Vision
Tearing
Sinus Problems
Cough
Shortness of Breath
Abdominal Pain
Diarrhea
Joint Pain
Morning Stiffness
Depression
Anxiety
Attentional problems
Brain fog
Insomnia
Regardless of the type of reaction, it would be best for individuals to contact their doctor as soon as possible as well as get a professional to the home or workplace in order to assess the mold situation.
Has your home recently suffered from water damage or an infestation of mold due to excess moisture? Do you need help from a restoration specialist to determine if you have a mold problem? Don’t worry—Restoration Certified Specialists, Inc. will take care of you! They have been proudly serving the Santa Rosa and North Bay areas since 1975.
If your home has high humidity, you have recently had water damage, or you have excess moisture in any area of your home, you may have mildew and mold problems, which can ultimately lead to health problems if not dealt with. Within 24 hours of any moisture accumulating onto an area (and not evaporating), such as from a leaky pipe or a hot and humid basement, mold spores begin to grow and can easily migrate onto other surfaces as well as float in the air, causing health issues in humans and animals.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions) and irritants. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash.
Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing.
Unfortunately mold isn’t the only consequence of a damp area. The experts at the National Capital Poison Center (NCPC) list other things homeowners need to watch out for when things get wet:
bacteria
dust mites
break-down products of bacteria and molds, such as proteins, cell-wall particles (glucans) and volatile organic compounds (the actual cause of the musty odor associated with mold)
airborne chemicals, gasses, and particulate matter caused by destruction of materials by growing molds
And let’s not forget about Sassy and Fido! There are health repercussions for them as well. A doctor with PetMD lists the following signs that your pet has been poisoned by mold:
According to Coates, problems with mold in pets fall into three categories: inhalation, ingestion, and allergic reactions.
Inhaling mold can cause respiratory distress (breathing that takes more effort or occurs more rapidly than normal), nasal discharge, coughing, wheezing, sneezing, lethargy, and sometimes bleeding from the mouth and/or nose.
According to Dr. Mahaney, the ingestion of mold can lead to gastric symptoms such as decreased appetite, vomiting, and stool changes.
Signs of an allergy to mold might include excessive scratching, chewing, or licking, which sometimes progresses to the point of fur loss and the development of sores.
Whether you are prone to allergies, asthma, or have a compromised system (and even if you don’t), you won’t want to risk your health. If you suspect there to be a mold problem in your home, call professionals immediately to come out and test the area. In this situation it is definitely better to be safe than sorry.
Has your home recently suffered from water damage or an infestation of mold due to excess moisture? Do you need help from a restoration specialist to determine if you have a mold problem? Don’t worry—Restoration Certified Specialists, Inc. will take care of you! They have been proudly serving the Santa Rosa and North Bay areas since 1975.
Just about every homeowner eventually will go through some sort of “disaster,” whether that be getting an infestation of termites, having an electrical problem, having a pipe burst, or accumulating roof damage due to a severe storm. Something is bound to happen—disaster is the inevitable “joy” of being a homeowner.
You can definitely take steps to try to prevent certain things from happening and can ameliorate the consequences when they do. Being knowledgeable about the “what-ifs” and “what-to-dos” will be beneficial when a mini or huge disaster strikes your home.
One unfortunate example of something many homeowners have experienced is water damage and mold growth; this may occur due to a burst pipe, a flood, or environmental factors, such as too much humidity in that area.
Of course, one technique you can try when you are in a water damage situation is to air everything out and place a large fan in proximity to the moisture; but typically you will need to do more than just that to ensure the water is cleaned up sufficiently and to avoid mildew or mold growth.
The following options are considered advanced drying techniques that either you can do (by renting or purchasing the equipment), or you can call a professional to assist you.
Low-Grain Refrigerant (LGR) Dehumidifier
These are much more efficient than a standard dehumidifier as they have a “double cooling” capacity.
How do they work?
LGR dehumidifiers use three different types of precooling systems:
A heat pipe system collects hot air, cools it, then heats and evaporates it once more. This process is repeated over and over with the aim of removing moisture from the air.
A thermal siphon system uses a stacked hot and cold coil to perform the same type of repeated cycle as the heat pipe system.
Finally, an air-to-air heat exchanger uses air to transfer heat rather than liquid refrigerants.
Depending on the amount of water damage in your home, this could be an option to look into.
Desiccant Dehumidifier:
The word desiccant means moistureless, or very dry. That’s what you want to achieve when you have water damage.
Instead of using condensation (on cold evaporator coils) to remove humidity from air, desiccant dehumidifiers use a chemical (called a desiccant) to do so.
Click HERE to learn more about the various types of desiccant dehumidifiers as well as a detailed description on how they work.
Intra-Wall Drying
This is a specific type of water damage restoration that does not require any removal. During the process, small holes are drilled near the base to allow for the circulation of air for drying the water inside the drywalls.
This VIDEO is a simple example of how this is accomplished.
Realistically, if you are not familiar with the water removal process, it would be beneficial to hire a professional to at least get an idea of how bad the damage is and what the treatment options are.
Has your home recently suffered from water damage or an infestation of mold due to excess moisture? Do you need help from a restoration specialist? Don’t worry—Restoration Certified Specialists, Inc. will take care of you! They have been proudly serving Sonoma County and the North Bay areas since 1975.
