Does Mold pose a Risk to your Home?

A disturbing number of things can present a health risk in a home, from a faulty gas boiler to a contaminated water supply. One often overlooked health hazard is mold. If you have a mold problem in your home then you should not just be concerned about how bad it looks. Mold is a big problem, which can have serious effects. There are links between indoor exposure to mold and upper respiratory tract problems, according to a report by the Institution of Medicine. Exacerbation of existing illnesses was a big theme of the report’s findings. For example, some evidence from the report linked indoor mold to the worsening symptoms among people already suffering from allergies. Such symptoms included irritated skin, eyes and throats, nasal blockages and coughing. The study also found that mold triggered asthma symptoms for people already suffering from asthma, and it can also trigger symptoms among people susceptible to hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a condition whereby exposure to dust causes inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs. Limited evidence from the study also suggested that mold can induce illness in healthy people. For example, indoor mold could cause healthy children to start suffering from respiratory health problems. More generally, it could cause shortage of breath and eventually even asthma among otherwise healthy people.

Moreover, according to a study cited in the WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould, if someone is subject to a damp internal environment they could be more likely to develop a respiratory health condition, and dampness could even increase the likelihood of a person developing asthma by 50 percent. Another investigation has pointed to limited evidence which may suggest that 21% of asthma cases could be caused by dampness in homes. There also may be some links between dampness and allergic rhinitis as well as bronchitis.

The fight against mold

There are a number of ways to prevent mold growth. Firstly, you can target areas and objects where mold growth is problematic. For example, you can add mold inhibitors to paints before use or consider throwing away paints you no longer have serious use for. You should also quickly deal with any leaks in your plumbing if they develop as the moisture can quickly exacerbate mold problems. Similarly, you ought to endeavour to act quickly if your home is flooded and dry it out within 48 hours to prevent mold from taking hold. Damp or wet carpets are a big offender when it comes to sources of mold so in a home they are a no-no. If your home is in a location prone to flooding, you might want to consider an alternative to carpet as a preventative measure. More generally, you can control the humidity of your home to prevent mold. As it seems that mold thrives on humidity levels above 50 percent, one way to prevent mold is to to ensure humidity levels in your home do not exceed 50 percent at any time. You can lower humidity by installing an air conditioner or dehumidifier. You should also take care to ensure that your bathroom, laundry area and kitchen are dry and well ventilated as these are rooms where there is an elevated risk of mold growing. Before committing to take out a loan to buy the property of your dreams, whether in the US or the UK or anywhere else in the world for that matter, you should inspect the property which you are interested in buying for signs of mold, either yourself or you could hire a professional if you feel unsure of what to look for.

One report suggests that as many as half of American homes could be affected by mold or dampness. Often the source of the mold problem is outside. It can enter your home in a variety of ways, for example through open windows and doors and even via air conditioners or heaters. Mold can also be carried inside from a simple an action as a person walking into a house with contaminated shoes or a contaminated item of clothing. Mold need not enter from inside, however. If a home has been recently flooded or is chronically damp there is a higher likelihood of mold developing. It  can also develop for example in paint, or damp carpets and soft furniture.

Detecting mold in your home is relatively straightforward. The mold can resemble green, black or multi-colored specks of varying sizes on the wall, which smell damp. It is not advisable to carry out home sampling but instead call in a professional. If the mold covers a relatively small area you could consider trying to remove it yourself with bleach (a cup of bleach to a gallon of water) or a mixture of soap and water. If the mold problem is advanced, however, it is recommended that you consult a professional. An added advantage of calling in a professional is that they will be able to inspect your home thoroughly and identify the exact reason for the spread of mold. It is essential to find out the origins of a mold problem as simply removing mold will not be effective; unless the route of the problem is addressed it is likely to return and continue to spread.

BONSAI Inspection Company would like to thank Melissa Grace for authoring this article.