Do you need professional mold inspection? It’s a question that not enough people ask themselves, even those who have experienced flooding in their homes. They often believe that just because they can’t see the mold that it’s not the cause of their problems. Unfortunately, that can lead to even more difficulties down the line.
There are over 100,000 identified species of mold in the world, and not all of them cause sickness in humans. But black mold, aka toxic mold or Stachybotrys chartarum, is one of the bad ones. When it’s in a contained environment such as an apartment, office, or home, black mold can cause numerous health problems for those who are allergic to it. Typical symptoms include coughing, sneezing, rashes, wheezing, and watery eyes, and many people believe that they simply have seasonal allergies. Black mold can even affect the brain, leading to dizziness, memory loss, confusion, and depression.
With toxic mold causing so many problems, especially in people who already have breathing difficulties, you should never put off black mold testing.
How Does Black Mold Get Started?
When black mold is outside, it’s fairly harmless because it’s not contained in an enclosed environment. But when a spore is brought inside by air currents or comes in with floodwaters, it can start to grow.
Black mold needs water and food to thrive, and it prefers a cool, dark environment. Its food is cellulose, which in the wild is dead plant matter. As it turns out, many of the buildings we construct also contain quite a bit of dead plant matter, namely the wood frames and drywall backing. Both of these provide the perfect food source for hungry mold.
Black mold forms greenish-black spots when it’s visible, but all too often it ends up hiding behind walls. That’s why a professional mold test is necessary to verify the problem.
Contact Your Grand Prairie Mold Inspection Experts!
If for any reason you suspect that you might have a mold problem, it’s important to get mold testing done as soon as possible. Culley Enviro is ready to help, so contact us today!