Have you seen tell-tale black spots on your home’s walls? Caught sight of green fluff growing on your skirting boards? Noticed a damp smell in the air?
If so, you’ve likely realized that mold has found its way into your home. But what you might not know is that researchers have identified more than 100,000 different types of mold.
Since many types can be toxigenic, it’s often a big mistake to attempt to get rid of the mold yourself. Not least because common DIY mold removal methods like bleach are ineffective against many strains. As such, leaving it to the professionals and calling a mold removal service is always the best solution.
But what types of house mold should you keep a lookout for? And what is the most dangerous mold found in homes? Keep reading to find out more.
Acremonium
Acremonium refers to almost 100 different strains of toxigenic mold found in homes. It often lurks in wet condensation lines and the drainage pans of AC units. But, acremonium mold is difficult to identify due to its range of colors, including white and pink.
Acremonium exposure can result in breathing problems, pneumonia, fungal infections, and arthritis. If anyone in your household experiences these symptoms, call a mold remediation expert to remove any acremonium mold.
Alternaria
Alternaria is an allergenic type of mold. This means it can trigger allergies and asthma attacks in allergy sufferers and mild allergic symptoms in others.
This kind of mold is often found under sinks and along shower bases. It tends to have a soft velvet-like appearance and grows in hair-like strips. Since it’s not toxic and can spread fast, if you’re sure it’s alternaria mold, use a cleaner designed to fight mold and mildew to stop this mold in its tracks.
Aspergillus
Aspergillus is one of the most common types of mold found in homes. But, since there are more than 180 different strains, all coming in a variety of colors, it’s difficult to identify which strain is in your home.
Most strains of this allergenic mold are harmless, but a few can cause aspergillosis in those with weak immune systems or asthma. If you notice symptoms such as wheezing or fever in members of your household, call a mold removal expert. This is the best way to identify and eradicate all signs of this type of mold.
Aureobasidium Pullulans
Another allergenic mold, aureobasidium can cause watery eyes, sneezing, and skin irritation. It first appears as a soft pink or gray powdery substance and then darkens as it matures.
Aureobasidium tends to grow on bare wood, painted surfaces, and underneath wallpaper. Although, like many types of house mold, it also grows in humid areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Chaetomium
Chaetomium tends to develop following water damage, thriving on a combination of humidity and darkness. As such, it often starts growing in wall interiors and might not be noticeable until it spreads to the exterior of the wall’s surface. But by then it will have taken over large parts of the wall, calling for the expert services of a mold remediation team.
As an allergenic mold, chaetomium often triggers sneezing and watery eyes in healthy people and more serious respiratory issues in people with weakened immune systems.
Cladosporium
Another allergenic mold, cladosporium thrives in textiles such as upholstered furniture and carpets, although it can also grow beneath sinks and inside cabinets. Like many types of house mold, it comes in a variety of colors including green and brown, and is soft in appearance.
Inhaling cladosporium spores can cause symptoms such as irritated sinuses, runny eyes, and an itchy throat in both humans and pets. And, although regular cleaning with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter-fitted vacuum can help remove cladosporium spores, expert mold removal is the most effective solution.
Fusarium
The fusarium mold includes a range of allergenic strains, although some can be toxic, leading to internal bleeding and nervous system disorders. Fusarium presents a common risk to garden plants but, like cladosporium, it also grows in textiles such as carpets, drapes, and upholstery, often appearing as rust-like pink and reddish spots.
Stachybotrys Chartarum
Also known as black mold, the toxic spores of stachybotrys chartarum can lurk in common household materials such as carpet, drywall, and insulation. Inhaling these spores can lead to black mold poisoning, with symptoms including coughing, sneezing, eye irritation, rashes, headaches, and chronic fatigue. In more severe cases, black mold exposure can cause nausea, vomiting, and even bleeding in the lungs and nose.
Although not all black-colored mold is stachybotrys, if you see black mold forming in your home you should always call a mold remediation expert. They can then test the mold and determine the best mold removal method.
Trichoderma
This type of allergenic mold thrives in wet spots such as leaky windows or shower bases, appearing as fluffy white or green patches. Coughing and sneezing are common symptoms of inhaling trichoderma spores.
But, some strains of this mold can cause bronchial infections, lung infections, nervous system problems, liver and kidney disorders, and even cancers. If your home shows signs of trichoderma mold, you’ll need urgent professional mold remediation for a safe and efficient solution.
Ulocladium
Although this mold is black, it’s allergenic rather than toxic like stachybotrys chartarum. That said, ulocladium is not without its risks, as inhaling the spores can cause serious respiratory problems in anyone with asthma or allergies.
Since the two molds look so similar, professional mold remediation is the best course of action if you notice any kind of black mold in your home. Because, even if you suspect that it’s ulocladium, there’s a chance it could be the more dangerous stachybotrys mold.
Your Guide to the Different Types of Mold in Houses
With so many different types of mold out there, it’s difficult to know exactly what’s growing in your home. You might even have several different kinds of mold lurking in your home at the same time.
As soon as you notice mold or the mold exposure symptoms listed here, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. After all, what you thought was harmless mold could actually be highly toxic. In which case, expert mold remediation could make all the difference to your family’s health and well-being.
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
Leave A Comment