What do I do if I think I have mold in my building?
First, do not try to remove it yourself. Call a professional to inspect the mold to check if it should be removed and whether it is harmful. You should never touch mold or moldy items with your bare hands. Trying to remove the mold yourself can make matters worse by circulating the mold through the air.
How can you tell if you have a mold problem?
Mold can be present without the appearance of visible mold. It requires moisture to survive, so it is often found in areas with water damage or excessive humidity. Musty odors are an indication of a mold problem. If you think that you might have a hidden mold problem, you can hire a professional for testing or sampling.
- You have an existing moisture problem in your house.
- Building materials have been wet more than 48 hours.
- Hidden sources of water too high, high enough to cause condensa tion.
- Building occupants reporting musty or moldy odors.
- Building occupants are reporting health problems.
- Building materials or furnishings are visibly damaged.
- Maintenance has been delayed or the maintenance plan altered?
- Has the building been remodeled recently or has the building changed?
Is mold dangerous to humans?
Molds produce allergens, which can cause reactions in people who are allergic to mold such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. For people who also have asthma, molds can also cause asthma attacks. Some molds produce mycotoxins. These are poisonous substances that can cause health effects in humans.
How can you prevent mold from spreading?
To take care of a mold problem, you must remove the mold and mold spores. You must also fix the water problem. When removing mold, it is important to prevent spores from spreading to unaffected areas. To do this, the remediator will block vents, doors, and any other openings through which spores could reach clean areas. Negative pressurization is established in the sealed area. The remediator creates low air pressure inside so that spores cannot leave.
How quickly does mold grow?
Mold requires several conditions to grow. It needs food, moisture, and the right temperature. Once these are met, spores may germinate after 12 hours and can start to grow within 24 to 48 hours. How quickly molds colonize depends on what kind of mold it is, but it can occur after 1 to 12 days. This is why it is essential to act immediately in the event of water damage.