We all know what mold is. Most of us have come in contact with it at least once in our lives, but do you know what indoor mold symptoms to look for when it comes to your home and your health?
Indoor Mold Symptoms
Warm, moist areas in your home such as basements, crawlspaces, bathrooms, and attics provide a perfect environment for mold to grow. Add a food source like drywall, wood, carpet, tile, insulation or fabric and the mold has everything it needs to flourish. Mold will appear as a small spot on a porous surface such as wood or drywall. As there are many different types of mold, it can be many different colors but will most likely start out small but left untreated, it will grow and spread. There may also be a persistent musty smell. An unnoticed mold infestation will damage the surfaces it grows on, sometimes badly enough that, with traditional remediation, the infected materials need to be replaced.
Trying to sell a home with an untreated mold infestation is no easy feat! You will most likely have to settle for much less than your asking price because of the mold. A routine home inspection will most likely reveal a problem and the majority of homebuyers do not want to have to deal with remediation or with the possible health issues that could effect the health of their family.
Common Indoor Mold Symptoms
No doubt you have heard that mold is bad for your health but do you know the symptoms to look for? Mold can be the cause of an array of health issues that range from highly common to very serious. First, the most common indoor mold symptoms:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose
- Cough
- Itchy eyes, nose or throat
- Watery eyes
- Dry, scaly skin
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
These symptoms can be identical to those associated with allergies, asthma and the common cold. There can be, though, more serious indoor mold symptoms that can have an extremely adverse effect on the health of some people.
Not So Common Indoor Mold Symptoms
More serious effects can be:
- Mold-induced asthma
- Allergic fungal sinusitis
- Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Infections of the skin and mucus membranes in people with impaired immune systems have also been attributed to mold exposure.
What should you do if you suspect mold in your home? If you have any of the symptoms listed above on a consistent basis, you should contact your healthcare provider. It is also a good idea to consult with a mold remediation professional as soon as possible to discuss your options. In addition, you will want to take steps to prevent further damage or a future infestation.