Many people feel it’s a shame to spend a lot of money on professional mold removal services when they are perfectly capable of doing a little heavy cleaning for themselves. However, mold removal is a little more involved than a little bit of heavy cleaning, especially if there is a lot of mold to be removed or if toxic mold is involved. Learn about mold and when to get mold testing from the experts of ServiceMaster by Wright.
Common Types of Mold Found Indoors
Acremonium, the fine powdery substance
- Acremonium is considered a toxigenic mold. It changes its appearance over time, from a tiny moist mold into a powdery substance. It can come in different colors: white, grey, pink or orange.
- Acremonium can commonly be found in window sealants, cooling coils, humidifiers, and drain pans. Aside from causing an unpleasant sight in a home, exposure to this kind of mold can cause serious diseases that affect the immune system, bone marrow and other internal organs.
- Acremonium is carcinogenic and may affect the human brain. Before any of its roots can penetrate your abode, prevent it by checking with mold removal services.
Cladosporium, the suede-like intruder
- Cladosporium is another mold that you should avoid. It is an allergenic mold type that grows both in warm and cold settings.
- Cladosporium commonly thrives in carpets, fabrics, and upholstery, as well as inside cupboards and under floorboards. You can easily identify it because of its brown or olive-green, suede-like appearance.
- Diseases associated with this type of mold are: allergic reactions to the nose, eyes, skin and throat. Severe effects are lesions, skin rash, sinusitis, asthma, and lung infections.
Trichoderma, the wooly-textured clusters
- Trichoderma is an allergenic mold that is white-colored with green patches. Its common habitat are wet areas such as carpets, wallpaper, and other damp fabric.
- Trichoderma grows in colonies with wooly textures at the beginning and later on becomes compact. Trichoderma can also be found in air conditioning filters.
- This mold has been linked to pulmonary and hepatic conditions, although some molds of its class are considered non-pathogenic. This mold is very destructive to building materials because it contains an enzyme that destroys paper, textile and wood; hence, Trichoderma infestation may result in the crumbling of building walls and structures.
Aspergillus, a common indoor and outdoor mold
- Aspergillus, a common mold sprouting around certain properties, can actually cause severe reactions.
- Some of its adverse effects are respiratory infections, allergic reactions, and inflamed lungs. In case this mold type is not eradicated in your home, a dangerous condition can develop.
Aureobasidium, the colorful fungus
- Typically found on wooden furniture, all surfaces, painted walls, and wallpaper, Aureobasidium can be easily noticed because of its black and pink color.
- According to studies, this type of mold is the worst type of household nuisance since it affects homeowners by causing intensive allergic reactions.
Alternaria, the common allergen
- Usually found in the sink, shower, and dark areas at home, the Alternaria mold threatens homeowners with asthma attacks and allergic reactions.
- This type of mold is commonly found both indoors and outdoors, so it must be eliminated immediately if not prevented.
Health Risks of Mold Exposure
Here are some allergic reactions that can be experienced when you are affected by mold spores:
- Coughing
- Itchy eyes
- Long-standing or frequent sinusitis
- Rash
- Redness of the eyes
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Wheezing/shortness of breath
When to Get Mold Testing
- If the mold problem in your home is small (that is, smaller than 10 square feet), then there is no reason to hire mold removal professionals.
- However, make sure that you don’t have a massive sensitivity to the mold in your home before you begin working very closely with it for the sake of your health.
- If, however, you have a major mold problem on your hands, then it’s probably best to go with a professional mold removal company to do the work for you. You should also hire professionals if the mold is hidden, hard to get to, or is toxic.
- Don’t just go through your phone book and find the one with the biggest advertisement or in bold letters. You should really talk to a few different contractors, get estimates, and ask for references.
- You can also ask friends and family for recommendations, too. Chances are that someone you know has had a mold problem in their home that required a professional company to work with.
- Another source to consider for a good idea on mold removal contractors is the city in which you live. You can also inquire at a local real estate office.
- Once you’ve selected the company you’re going to work with for the removal of mold from your home, make sure to ask if they offer any types of discounts. Many businesses have some available but only offer them upon request.
Schedule Your Mold Removal Appointment Today
Request emergency mold remediation services from ServiceMaster by Wright. We offer a 24-hour Emergency Response to cater to customers in Bonita Springs,Bradenton, Cape Coral, Captiva, Englewood, Estero, Fort Myers, Iona, LaBelle, Lehigh Acres, Longboat Key, Marco Island, Naples, North Port, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, San Carlos Park, Sanibel Island, Sarasota, Siesta Key, and Venice, Florida.
- We are on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
- Contact us at (239) 431-9947 or connect with us online to schedule an appointment.
- We offer a FREE quote for both residential and commercial properties.
- Our main office is located in 6451 Arc Way, Fort Myers, FL 33966, but you can check our website for the addresses of our other offices in Southwest Florida.
