“There's never been a mold test that we've done that didn't have any mold,” said Rob Hopkin of Poolesville-based ProTec Inspection Services. “Every house, every environment has mold spores.” It becomes an issue when the concentration of mold spores in a home is greater than what is found outside.
Mold spores are everywhere, including your home, and they can grow on any surface that has sufficient moisture. Common sources of moisture are: Roof leaks. Indoor plumbing leaks.
A 2022 report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that around 47% of all homes in the United States have some mold or dampness. Seeing mold is a clear sign, but sometimes you can smell mold.
It's not at all uncommon to find mold in your home, especially if you live in a humid climate. Mold can grow anywhere there's moisture, so it's important to be vigilant about checking for it and cleaning it up as soon as you spot it.
Knowing the difference between a mold colony and a mold spore helps better understand the answer to the original question. Your home can be free of significant mold growth such as visible mold colonies growing on different surfaces, but it would be nearly impossible to be completely free from mold spores.
Buying a house with mold can be a risky move. Mold can significantly reduce your property's value and fill your home's indoor air with health-devastating mold spores. This can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.
Reduce the humidity (see preceding page) Increase ventilation or air movement by opening doors and/or windows, when practical. Use fans as needed. Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with insulation.
Adults who live in moldy homes are up to 50 percent more likely to develop asthma. Children are even more likely to develop health issues like asthma and rhinitis. Mold exposure has also been associated with other upper respiratory infections, with symptoms that can range from sinus infections to sore throats.
Mould thrives in damp areas such as windows, where there is dust, dirt or organic material, that's why the number one way to reduce mould is to open your windows regularly. By opening the windows at least once a day, this allows the mould spores to escape and lets patches of moisture dry out.
Florida is the state most at risk of mold, averaging high temperatures of 73°F throughout the year. 47% of US homes have shown signs of some form of mold, which can reduce Home resale value 20-37%. Mississippi ranks second, followed by Louisiana in third, with an average humidity of around 72.5% and 74%, respectively.
These spores are normally present in the everyday air around us, even inside your home. According to Medical News Today, “all indoor environments have some mold spores in them, but this does not affect most people.”
Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or impossible to remove completely.
If you have a mold allergy, your immune system overreacts when you breathe in mold spores. A mold allergy can cause coughing, itchy eyes and other symptoms that make you miserable. In some people, a mold allergy is linked to asthma and exposure causes restricted breathing and other airway symptoms.
Some lenders, including those offering FHA loans, might not approve your request for a mortgage if the home you're buying has serious mold issues. You might have to shop around for a lender if the home you're buying has significant mold issues.
Remember mold spores are everywhere so you cannot completely keep them out of your house. Since our houses are built with wood products and paper faced drywall, food for mold is always present. Mold can also thrive on dust, cockroach and dust mite feces, skin flakes and food particles.
Reports say that around 70% of U.S. homes contain a certain level of mold. Mold damages your home structurally and threatens the health of everyone living in the home. Here are 12 important statistics about mold and air pollution caused by mold.
Spray the Mould Blocker Spray onto the affected area, then leave to dry. The surface will now block mould from regrowing for up to six months, depending on the severity of the cause of mould. For severe mould problems, reapply the Mould Blocker Spray once a month.
To sum up the blog post, we recommend that you do not sleep with mould in your room. It can be dangerous to your health, and is not worth the risk!
Mold is an obvious health risk in any home, but investing in an air purifier can help limit your exposure. The best among them will ideally offer HEPA-level filtration, with this level of filtration being able to trap up to 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.3 microns in diameter.
Achieving a mold-free home requires ongoing efforts to keep humidity levels low, fix leaks quickly, and improve ventilation. Here's how: Manage humidity: Use dehumidifiers to keep levels below 50%, especially in humid areas like basements.
Hydrogen peroxide, commonly used to disinfect wounds, is active against a wide variety of micro-organisms including mold. It acts by releasing oxygen at a rapid rate, which kills mold by oxidizing the surface and breaking down proteins and DNA.