Toxic Mold: A Danger to Your Home and to You
May 27, 2021What Is Toxic Mold and How Does It Get into Your Home?
Toxic mold (also known as black mold) can destroy your home, health, and overall well-being. It can sneak into your home without any visible warnings. However, there are signs that you may have toxic mold in your home.
As you notice the signs, you should develop a plan to rid your home of this deadly substance. The cost to remove toxic mold depends on how much of the substance is in your home and how hidden it may be in the walls and other areas.
Learn more about black mold and how it gets into and out of your home.
What Is Toxic Mold?
Black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum) is a type of common mold found in homes. Toxic mold is not actually toxic. Instead, it releases mycotoxins, which cause severe allergic reactions for many people.
Black mold is not truly toxic unless you have an allergic reaction to the mycotoxins it produces. However, many people do have allergic reactions to this strain of mold, making it difficult to remain healthy in a home filled with it.
How Does Black Mold Affect People?
Many people have negative reactions to black mold. Their allergic reactions may be deadly for people with other medical conditions.
Some of the most common reactions to toxic mold include:
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Body aches
- Wheezing
- Dry cough
- Skin rashes
- Mood swings
- Memory loss
- Nosebleeds
How Does Black Mold Enter Your Home?
All types of mold enter a home through spores. Mold spores can attach to a person entering a home or enter through windows and doorways (or any openings to your home). However, the mold spores cannot grow without moisture.
Mold spores are generally harmless unless they grow. Wherever water accumulates in the home, mold spores can grow, creating a risk of toxic mold.
When dealing with construction defects, water damage to a home can lead to black mold. The problem with black mold in construction is that the mold can hide behind walls throughout your entire home. There are tests you can do to detect black mold behind the walls of your home. If you see any signs of black mold, including chronic related health issues, you should call an inspector to test for it.
How Do You Get Rid of Black Mold?
You can easily remove small amounts of black mold with bleach and water. Simply wipe down the areas, and the black mold will come up. The area will also be clean and disinfected from any toxins.
However, black mold behind your walls and fixtures requires more than a simple wipe-down. You need to take down sections of your wall to get behind it and clean the black mold and its related toxins. The process can be costly. You must hire contractors to reconstruct your home in any areas where black mold is detected.
If you have black mold behind your walls, you may have a deeper issue known as a construction defect. There may be cracks in your home’s structure that can allow water to get inside. These cracks can also allow water to get between the walls.
If your home has black mold caused by a construction defect, you need an attorney to help you get the compensation to repair your home. The construction defect team at Horn Williamson can help. Call (215) 987-3800 to speak with a lawyer today!