Black Mold, also known as Stachybotrys Chartarum, is a greenish-black fungus that grows well in materials with a high cellulose content. In homes, that includes drywall, carpet, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, flooring and more. Water damage, flooding and a dark, moist environment can create the conditions that allow mold and fungus to grow.
The best offense against mold infestation is a good defense. It’s a lot easier to keep mold from growing in your home than it is to remediate the problem later. Mold spores can grow on just about anything, including carpet, wood, sheet rock and even paper products.
If you start to find a musty smell or actually see mold growth anywhere in your home, don’t wait. Get a mold inspection performed as soon as you can. Mold can be very harmful, particularly to occupants with asthma or allergies. The longer a mold problem goes untreated, the more harm it can do to both your home and the health of everyone living there.
Up in the Northeast, we’ve seen lots of rain these past few months. This has not been a good season for keeping our homes dry. Areas that already have problems, such as areas hit by Hurricane Sandy, are still suffering.
Mold spores are everywhere, including your home. To grown and thrive, mold spores need water, air, the right temperature, and food.
If you live in New York, New Jersey or anywhere in the Northeast, you know that this summer has been a bad season for allergy sufferers. Pollen counts have been through the roof.