Mold Removal CALGARY

Mold is a type of fungus that can grow anywhere indoors where a moisture problem exists. It feeds on materials containing cellulose and water, i.e., paper, drywall, carpeting, etc. Molds have been shown to cause health problems by causing allergic reactions and/or respiratory problems.

Mold exposure can cause an array of health problems. If mold is growing inside your home, you may be exposed to mold spores and other mold elements. The type of mold determines what kind of health effects you might have. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, toxins.

The mold species dictates what the health effects are likely to be. Allergic responses are common with mold exposure. Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). In people with mold allergies, symptoms tend to be mold-specific, meaning that people will have reactions only to the types of mold to which they are allergic. Some illnesses may be caused by mold toxins (mycotoxins).

These effects are not allergic in nature; rather, they are toxic. For example, Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) has been linked to pulmonary hemorrhage in infants, cognitive deficits in children, and toxic reactions in people with compromised immune systems. Exposure to mold toxins can result in neurotoxic effects including memory loss, brain fog, mental confusion, difficulty concentrating, slurred speech, or other neurocognitive deficits.

It is recommended that mold be removed by a mold removal company. The mold removal technicians are trained in the use of mold remediation techniques, including containment and air scrubbing. Most mold growth occurs hidden behind walls or above ceilings where it’s not easily visible to the naked eye. This makes it nearly impossible to diagnose the mold problem and to determine how moldy your house is.

There are mold kits available that allow you to swab a surface and then send in the mold samples in the included container. The lab tests the mold samples and sends back a mold analysis. This mold test is not guaranteed to be accurate because it takes many mold spores to become mold contamination.

There are millions of mold spores in a cubic meter of air. Also, mold can grow on both the surface and inside porous materials such as drywall and carpeting, so it is impossible to test for mold by swabbing the surface only.

The amount of mold needed for an allergic reaction is very small, i.e., approximately 0.25 cubic centimeters, which is about the size of an eraser on a pencil. The mold needed to make someone sick is very small, i.e., mold can be on your clothing and shoes and you won’t get mold poisoning from it unless you breathe the mold spores in and they find their way into your lungs where they can grow and release toxins. Symptoms of mold poisoning can include nausea, diarrhea, headaches, coughing, and eye irritation.

Mold releases spores into the air that can be breathed in and mold grows by degrading building materials and household items such as wood studs or paper. Some mold takes hold and continues to grow without any visible sign of mold. This mold can damage the building materials or household items that it is degrading

There are only two ways to be certain how moldy your house is… test the mold or remove all mold growth. The mold removal technicians are trained in the use of mold remediation techniques, including containment and air scrubbing. A mold inspection can’t tell you how moldy your house is. A mold inspection can only tell you if mold is present in a building and in many cases, mold can be hidden in walls and ceilings

Mold spores are not always visible to the naked eye. Spores live in mold colonies that continuously release thousands of mold spores into the indoor environment. The mold spores can be found floating in the air, on shelves, molding, and other mold-contaminated surfaces

Mold spores are basically a cell that enables mold to reproduce. In the mold life cycle, mold produces millions of mold spores from each mold colony. The mold spore is fully alive until it comes in contact with a surface where conditions are unfavorable for mold growth. Once the mold spore comes in contact with a favorable environment, which is moldy building material or household items, it can germinate and grow into a mold colony. Mold spores are everywhere indoors and outdoors

The presence of mold can’t be seen unless mold growth is large. You may suspect mold if you notice any of the following: mold odors, unexplained respiratory health problems, and/or persistent mold-related allergy symptoms such as allergies, asthma, or sinusitis. Other mold symptoms may include mold on surfaces, mold growth in appliances or items, and/or deteriorating building material

Water leakage from roofs, siding, or plumbing can cause mold to grow indoors. In addition, mold may be a problem in a house that has water leaks from the interior such as a kitchen or bathroom sink drain that is not venting properly to the exterior. The mold growth may be hidden behind drywall or molding

There are thousands of mold species worldwide and mold constantly evolves and mutates. In a mold colony, mold spores grow as filaments. The mold filament structure presents at least two mold types: mold spores and mold mycelium

Mold and mildew are both molds but they belong to different genera (i.e., mold and mildew are mold species). Mildew is not as harmful as mold. Mildew does not produce mycotoxins, which is one of the toxins that mold produces. In addition, mold has a fuzzy appearance and grows in colonies but mildew is singular and it doesn’t grow in colonies

The best mold prevention is to fix any water leakage problem. Other mold controls include the use of mold inhibitors. If mold spores are entering your house through windows or HVAC system, it may be necessary to have an air filtration system installed

The mold remediation technicians use mold cleaning products, mold removal products, and containment to remove mold growth. Mold remediators also use air scrubbers to capture mold spores. Finally, mold remediation professionals usually follow up with a post-remediation mold test to ensure mold growth has been eliminated