Understanding the Truth About Mold

Just like any situation, when it comes to mold — how it affects your property and how you need to take care of it — knowledge is power.

However, there are a lot of worrisome myths to be found when it comes to indoor mold and what you need to do about it. In this article, we will tell you the truth behind 4 of these lies so that you can make the best decisions for your property.

Lie #1: Mold Testing is Essential to Ridding Your Property of Mold Once and for All

During mold testing, an inspector gathers air and surface samples to test for the presence of mold, the specific type of mold that is present, and how much mold there is in the air or on that surface.

THE TRUTH

The truth is that no matter what type of mold you find in your building, it needs to be removed. There are molds that have more toxicity, yes, but just about all mold can cause issues in a building. Therefore, it’s not essential to identify the type of mold. Additionally, there aren’t health-based safety standards when it comes to mold levels, so testing doesn’t necessarily give valuable information. Save your money, and get an inspection instead of a test.

Lie #2: Only “toxic” Molds Are Bad for You

There’s no doubt you’ve heard of toxic mold or the dreaded “black” mold as being things to keep vigilant about in your home. Yes, these molds are the worst of the worst. The reality is that they aren’t the only molds that can be bad for your health.

THE TRUTH

While some strains of mold are more toxic than others, there’s really no such thing as “good” mold unless you’re talking about cheese.

Mold in your property is automatically bad because it means you have a moisture problem. Moisture in your property means that mold growth can happen rapidly. This may leave your building in danger of rot and other structural issues.

Out of the more than 100,000 species of mold, 50 to 60 of them are linked to human health problems, especially for people with sensitive or suppressed immune systems. Therefore, indoor mold is bad for your property and everyone that spends time in it.

Lie #3: if You Can’t See Mold, Mold is Not a Problem

Since mold grows so rapidly, mold quickly becomes visible to the naked eye. Therefore, if you keep an eye out, you’re doing everything you can to prevent a mold problem on your property.

THE TRUTH

Sorry, but mold can be trickier than that. Mold can grow in isolation, which means it can grow in wall cavities, between floors and ceilings, and in countless tucked away spots in a building. Additionally, if the mold is hidden from the flow of air, you’re unlikely to even smell the mold.

The mold is still there, though. And while it’s present, it’s producing chemicals that can penetrate walls and become airborne anyway, making some people very sick without even realizing mold is to blame. That’s why if someone spends a lot of time in your building, is chronically ill, and feels better when away from the property, a professional mold inspection is a good idea.

Lie #4: a Little Bit of Bleach Will Kill the Mold

Bleach can kill virtually every species of indoor mold that it comes into contact with, along with its spores, leaving a surface sanitized and resistant to future mold growth.

THE TRUTH

The truth is a little more complicated than that. Sure, bleach can kill certain types of mold on non-porous surfaces. However, mold doesn’t just affect non-porous surfaces, does it?

If mold is affecting surfaces such as wood, carpeting, drywall, and any other surface that may be porous, bleach will only kill the mold on the surface and not the mold growing in the surface’s nooks and crannies.

Additionally, while you might be killing the surface mold with bleach, you are not solving the main problem, which is that you have a moisture problem on your property that is encouraging the mold to grow in the first place.

When it comes to completely solving your mold problem, you need the help of a professional mold remediation company such as Alpha Omega. We specialize in having the know-how and the tools to get your business or property cleaned up quickly so that you can avoid disrupting your business.

With over 15 years of experience serving the Billinngs, Billings West End, Billings Heights, Laurel, Red Lodge areas, Alpha Omega is the region’s go-to when disaster strikes and help is needed immediately.

Don’t let mold close down your business and destroy your property. Contact one of our professionals today to discuss how we can help you and your team stay healthy and mold-free.