Why mould in house

It is not uncommon for people living in properties with major toxic black mould problems to suffer from dizziness, confusion, and even hallucinations if they ingest larger amounts of the spores. All moulds should be treated seriously, particularly in homes where residents have underlying lung conditions who can have chronic reactions and become severely ill.

If you discover mould in your home, it is important to treat it as quickly as possible — there are mould cleaning chemicals available on the market, although heavily diluted bleach is almost as effective. When cleaning mould, you should always wear eye protection, a mask, and gloves, and throw away any cloths that you use to prevent contamination of other areas of the house. If you have Stachybotrys Chartarum or toxic black mould in your home, it should be cleaned professionally to protect you from the mycotoxins it releases.

Cleaning mould is only a temporary measure. Mould grows in damp conditions and unless you take steps to remove the damp problem that allows the mould to thrive, it will return quickly.

As the most common cause of household damp is condensation , it is important to ensure that you have sufficient ventilation in your home to remove moist air before it has a chance to settle. If you are concerned about the possible effects of household mould on your family, it is important to protect them. Our local ventilation specialists can provide a free home survey where they will measure the amount of damp in your home and provide advice about the best solution — whether this is improvements to the extractor fans in your bathroom and kitchen, or a more advanced whole house ventilation system that draws fresh air in from outside the property to replace stale or moist air that contains mould spores.

One of our local experts will contact you to learn more about your problems, offer free expert advice and make recommendations for a permanent solution. Thank you for contacting us. A ventilation expert will be in contact with you shortly to discuss how we can help. Excess moisture indoors can also be caused by condensation. If you have mould or damp it's important to find out why you have excess moisture in your home.

When you know what's causing the damp, you can make sure your home is repaired or take steps to limit the moisture in the air. You may need to get a professional to remove mould for you, but if it's only a small amount you may be able to remove it yourself. Read more in How do I get rid of damp and mould?

No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk. Standards for judging what is an acceptable, tolerable or normal quantity of mold have not been established. Sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable quantity of mold have not been set.

The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth. If you do decide to pay for environmental sampling for molds, before the work starts, you should ask the consultants who will do the work to establish criteria for interpreting the test results.

They should tell you in advance what they will do or what recommendations they will make based on the sampling results. Hazards presented by molds that may produce mycotoxins should be considered the same as other common molds which can grow in your house. Not all fungi produce mycotoxins and even those that do will not do so under all surface or environmental conditions.

Mold growth, which often looks like spots, can be many different colors, and can smell musty. Color is not an indication of how dangerous a mold may be. Any mold should be removed and the moisture source that helped it grow should be removed.

There are very few reports that toxigenic molds found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss. These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxigenic mold and these conditions has not been proven. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Basic Facts about Mold and Dampness. Minus Related Pages. How common is mold in buildings?

How do molds get in the indoor environment and how do they grow? How do you know if you have a mold problem? Large mold infestations can usually be seen or smelled. How do molds affect people? Who is most at risk for health problems associated with exposure to mold? Some types of mold, such as Aspergillus , can cause a serious health problem, known as aspergillosis , in some people. Most people can breathe in the spores of this fungus without becoming sick, but people who have a weakened immune system or an existing lung disease can have a severe reaction.

There are different types of aspergillosis:. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis ABPA : This affects the lungs and can cause breathing problems. Allergic aspergillus sinusitis : This affects the nose and can involve a headache.

Aspergilloma, or fungus ball : This can cause a cough, which may produce blood, as well as breathing problems. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis : Symptoms include breathing problems, a cough, and weight loss. Mold can also trigger the production of microbes and bacteria.

Exposure to these bacteria may trigger an inflammatory response in some people, according to the World Health Organization WHO. The WHO also note that mold and the microbial agents it produces may increase the risk of bronchial and fungal infections. Some evidence from the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC suggests that people have experienced the following symptoms after spending time in an environment where mold is present:.

Mold can trigger bronchitis in some people. Which home remedies can help treat bronchitis? Controlling moisture is the key to preventing mold from growing indoors. It is also important to keep the home clean and well ventilated.

It is not always possible to prevent mold from growing, but regular cleaning and wiping can reduce the risk of it appearing or getting worse. Wipe hard surfaces with a suitable commercial product, soap and water, or a heavily diluted bleach solution.

Always dry the surfaces after use to prevent mold from reappearing. Wash or wipe porous surfaces and check regularly to see if mold has returned, as it can infiltrate these materials. If mold continues to reappear, consider disposing of these items. Ask at the local hardware store about antifungal paints and other products that can help prevent mold from developing.

However, people with a compromised immune system may have a higher risk of illness, and especially lung problems, if there are mold spores and mold in the environment. Others may experience allergic reactions. Keeping an indoor space clean, dry, and well ventilated is the best ways to prevent mold from developing.