Is there a fungus among us

6/28/2018 (Permalink)

Have you ever heard that silly phrase, "There's a fungus among us?"  Well, when it's actually true it's really not silly. In one of our other blogs we discussed mold types, counts and air quality. But where does it live? What conditions does mold like or better yet hate?  Most of us don't realize it but mold is around us all of the time.  It's common and travels easily so it really isn't possible to completely eliminate it from our environment. There are many different varieties of mold.  Sometimes it becomes a problem and something needs to be done about it.  Most health issues occur when there are high concentrations of mold in the house.  Unfortunately mold spores are invisible and can be transported in various ways:  through heating and air ducts, open doors and windows, on pets and even on our shoes. 

To prevent mold from showing up uninvited to your house, make sure you properly ventilate those warm, damp, and humid environments.    

• Where does mold lurk? 

 Mold thrives in warm, damp, humid places like bathrooms, basements, roofs, pipes, windows and anywhere flooding has occurred.  It likes some of the same environments we humans like.  Mold needs three things to thrive. Some kind of nutrient (like cellulose), cardboard is steroid for mold. Water, to help break down or decay the nutrients. Last mold needs time to be left alone and feed and grow. Can potted plants be a source for mold?  Yes, they add oxygen to our air but also, you guessed it, mold.  The "yuck factor" is mold can grow in all kinds of environments:  wood, wood products, paper, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, drywall, cardboard, carpets, upholstery, paint, insulation and even dust!  Yeah, pretty much everything in your home! The main thing is that if you have a mold issue you probably have or had a water damage issue also.

• How do you find it?  Usually either smelling its musty odor or finding spots of any color can find mold.  An air quality test can also determine if you have a safe environment in your home or office. Once mold can be identified by sight, smell, or an air quality test its concentration may be high enough to present a health hazard.  That's when something needs to be done.  It's called mold remediation and it's something SERVPRO of West Forsyth County specializes in.  For more information on our mold services call us 336-946-1131 or read more on our website. 
  
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