There’s no other way to say this: mold is an awful thing to deal with. Mold has a lot of causes; however, the most common is the result of water damage. Here in the Pacific Northwest, storms and floods are common. This puts Portland residents at risk of mold pretty much all year. Mold damage can cause problems with your home and health. Find out how below.
1. It Affects Your Health
We all know mold can damage your house. But did you know it can also affect your health? Even mild mold exposure can cause the following symptoms:
- Coughing/wheezing
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Skin irritation
- Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
- Fever
Large-scale mold exposure, such as that caused by floods or extensive water damage, can cause the following symptoms:
- Insomnia
- Anxiety and depression
- The development of asthma in infants and young children
- Worsening of respiratory conditions
- Ongoing cognitive impairment
Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg. If you notice a sudden onset of these symptoms after experiencing water damage, it’s likely a sign of mold.
2. It Causes Your Home to Smell
There’s nothing worse than walking through the door and having a foul odor smack you in the face. Over time, we get used to the odors in our homes. Dog owners can all probably attest to this! However, when it comes to mold, the odor is a bit more pungent and off-putting.
Mold usually smells stale and musty. Imagine walking into a house that’s been left abandoned for twenty years. The home would probably smell musty and stuffy due to not receiving sufficient ventilation. This scenario describes the kind of odor you’d smell if you had mold.
Unfortunately, since we get accustomed to odors, homeowners may not realize they have mold until a neighbor or friend points it out to them. Or they leave their home for a little bit and then return. In many cases, mold grows in basements and attics. Because these aren’t rooms homeowners visit routinely, these odors are usually noticeable the first time you enter the room. If left untreated, this odor will only get worse.
3. It Can Cause Your Ceiling to Collapse
Mold can cause rot and eat away at your wooden studs and ceiling tiles. This puts them at risk of collapsing, which can cause extensive damage and can cost a lot of money to repair. However, it’s not just ceilings that are at risk of collapse. Your floorboards can cave in and your walls can fall down, too.
This is why conducting a routine check for mold is so paramount. Even though it may not look like you have a lot of mold, there could be damage you don’t see. The best rule of thumb is: when you see mold, call a mold damage repair company as soon as possible.
4. Your Dog May be Affected
Just like humans, pets are susceptible to mold damage. Our pets’ immune systems aren’t as strong as ours, so they’re more likely to develop an infection from mold. Furthermore, some dog breeds may develop allergies.
If your dog or cat is living in a home with severe mold exposure, they may experience nasal discharge, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Furthermore, if they accidentally eat something that had mold spores on it, they could experience decreased appetite or changes in their bathroom habits.
5. Say Goodbye to Your Belongings
One major consequence of mold damage is the fact that it can ruin your personal belongings. An unfortunate fact about mold is that it can eat away at your wooden furniture and chip your paint. So if you have painted walls or furniture, expect them to get damaged once mold starts to spread.
A surprising tidbit about mold is that it can feed off dust, so if your wooden or metal furniture is dusty, it can actually spur on mold growth. Furthermore, mold can permanently damage your clothes after the spores mix with the fibers. The only way to salvage them is to dye your clothes (and who has time for that, right?).
Does Your Portland Home Have Mold? Don’t Face It Alone. PNW Restoration Has Experts at Treating Mold Damage!
While these major consequences of mold are severe, they’re by no means the only problems you can face. If you discover mold inside your home, call PNW Restoration. The sooner mold is treated, the safer your home and your health will be.
Our team can recognize different species of mold, so you can trust that whatever kind you have, we can treat it. Treating mold damage doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Call us today at 971-247-3470 to schedule an appointment.
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