Molds are a form of fungus which can grow in any season whether it is a cold, damp winter or a warm, humid summer, it can also grow both indoor and outdoor. Molds can be a concern for anyone. Mold can grow on walls, clothes, books, toys, and even CDs. It can turn prized possessions into musty relics that only look fit for the garbage. In some cases, mold in your home can make you sick, especially if you have allergies or asthma. It can also affect or irritate your eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs.

How common is mold in buildings?

Molds are very common in buildings and homes. Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. They can be black, white, orange, green, or purple. Molds thrive on moisture and reproduce by means of tiny, lightweight spores that travel through the air.

How do molds get in the indoor environment and how do they grow?

Molds are found both indoor and outdoor. Molds can enter through your windows, doors, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold reproduces via the production of small spores. These spores can be compared to the seeds of a plant, though they are much smaller than seeds or even pollen grains. They thrive on moisture and reproduce by means of tiny, lightweight spores that travel through the air. so you’re most likely to see mold in damp places such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, and crawl spaces.

How do molds affect people?

Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing.  Molds have the potential to cause health problems.  Molds produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances. Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions as Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people who are allergic to mold.  In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people.  Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing.

How do you keep mold out of buildings and homes?

Rainy fall weather and peak hurricane season make it an important time to ensure that a building can stand up to moisture intrusion that can lead to mold problems. there are several ways to prevent indoor mold from taking over you’re building.

• Leaks should be fixed as soon as they are found. People should check for leaky roofs, foundations, faucets, and pipes on a regular basis, so that extra moisture doesn’t accumulate in that area of your house or building.
• We should control the humidity of home and building by humidity meter. The ideal humidity for a building is between 30% and 50%.
• If a building has experienced flooding or other water damage then we should Remove wet materials as soon as possible.