What Causes Mold?

Those slimy black spots; fuzzy white patches; sticky orange film are nothing but formations of Mold that have by now spread in areas yet to discover. So what makes this problem so problematic? And, what are the causes? — topics, that we will be touching base within this article. Found in shower curtains, basement floors, kitchen drains, you name it! Excessive mold exposure can cause a lot of irritation to the eyes, skin, nose, throat and even the lungs. Even before we discuss the causes of the infectious mold, let’s understand what constitutes a mold — Mold is a type of fungus — It’s not a bacterium! It is micro-organisms that decompose already dead organic materials from — leaves, wood, and plants to name a few. How did we miss them, then? Well, molds cannot be seen without a microscope. It can vary in color black, blue and green, some of the colors mold can have. The color is largely affected by A) The type B) Influenced by the nutrient source it consumes & the surface on which it grows.

Mold: How It Grows & Spreads

Mold needs water! Water is the ultimate provider for a mold. Apart from water, there are several conditions that can help a mold grow such as — mold spores, mold food like wood, cotton, darkness, warm temperature, oxygen etc. Mold can grow under these circumstances within a period of 24-48 hours. Coming back to the earlier mention, Water — The moisture created by the water is what helps mold growth on several surfaces. Since keeping no water in the house is impossible, Mold is always going to be present in our homes. Keeping a tab on the moisture level is crucial. Solving the problem of a mold is far more difficult than it seems – Some mold type gets it’s moisture from the air.

So, exactly how is mold spreading in and around your house? And did you know each mold has tiny root hair? Yes, this is the exact characteristic of a mold that helps its expansion plans. This is exactly how mold can go on from being a small colony to large square feet’s of mold colonies. A mold is capable of producing spores – small seeds. These spores can travel in air and water and are helping the mold spread its wings. Spores are really small thus more than often they travel by air. It is not just the spores, but since mold are ubiquitous, they are present everywhere. This is the precise reason why extreme precautionary measures are taken in keeping surroundings clean such as schools, hospitals etc. The organic decayed material is another cause of mold spread. So while the mold is spreading, poor ventilation can just aggravate the problem. Poor ventilation creates stagnant moist air which helps in the multiplication of mold. It also means more wet surfaces, which again helps mold spread. Keeping the bathroom and kitchen area ventilated is pivotal. It is not just wetness that activates mold creation process, clothes, too especially the wet ones can foster mold.

Having a lot of mold around you can have adverse implications for you and your loved ones. Asthma, allergies, skin irritation are just some of the health effects of mold.

 

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other towns in New Jersey, such as West Orange, Cedar Grove and Livingston.