What To Do If Your Home Has Black Mold
Black mold can be very dangerous to your health. In many cases, people find mold until they start experiencing symptoms. When black mold is caused by water damage, there are things to look out for. Taking the steps to prevent mold after water damage is the first thing you should look into after you experience water damage. This will help you prevent mold as much as possible. This doesn’t automatically mean you won’t get mold. It’s still important to look out for mold.
Causes of Black Mold
Black mold is similar to other molds in that it grows in damp areas with moisture. This can occur anytime your home has experienced water damage. Water damage can occur from water leaks, floods, hurricanes, or big spills of water.
How Is Black Mold Dangerous?
Black mold can be very bad for your health. It is a toxic mold and can cause many negative symptoms. It can cause a runny nose, coughing, sore throat, and itchy eyes and skin. Long term exposure can cause serious upper respiratory issues such as asthma and bronchitis.
Where to Find Black Mold
If you have water damage somewhere in your home, these are the first places you should look. Check under rugs, in between planks of hardwood floors, and ceilings. Even if you see a small spot, this can still be dangerous. Black mold will have a musty smell to it. Because mold is often hidden, this is a good indicator to find where it’s located.
How to Spot Black Mold
If you find mold, how do you know what kind it is? As previously stated, black mold can be identified by its smell. This isn’t just a good indicator of where it’s located, but also what type of mold it is. It can be identified by its color, which is of course black. Many other molds are green, white, or yellow. These can also be toxic, so don’t ignore them just because they are not black. The texture is slimy and wet. Most other molds will often be light and fuzzy.
How to Get Rid of Mold
After spotting mold in your home, you’re probably wondering what to do next. If the mold is only a small patch, less than 10 square feet total, it’s safe for you to remove yourself. Here’s what you should do:
Ventilation
The first thing you need to do is provide ventilation to your home. You can do this by opening windows and placing fans to create a cross breeze. It will also be helpful to turn on a dehumidifier to dry up the air.
Protection
Because of how toxic black mold can be, you’re better off to be safe and wear protection. We recommend gloves, protective eyewear, and a mask. This will reduce the amount of exposure you obtain from the mold.
Create your mixture
Mold can either be removed by commercial mold removers or you can use a mixture of water and bleach. Use a paper towel and soak it in the cleaner. Press it over the moldy spots to dampen it, then scrub away at the mold. Remember, it’s important to be wearing the proper gloves to do this. After you’re done scrubbing, dry the area as thoroughly as possible.
Call a professional
Is the black mold taking up a large area? Don’t try to take care of this yourself. It can be very dangerous if you aren’t experienced in mold removal. Call a professional to take care of the mold so you won’t have to worry about it any longer.
Final Thoughts
Have black mold in your home? Don’t worry, you’ve got this! Hopefully you’ll find it before it gets bad enough that you have to call for help. Take these precautions to ensure your safety, and you should be good to go! Watch out for mold growth, especially if you’ve experienced any water damage. Mold can be a serious issue for your home and your health.
Call 1-Tom-Plumber
Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need a water damage restoration service. 1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.
