Image default
Featured

The Dangers of Mold in the Basement

A home is somewhere your family makes long-lasting memories that will be cherished forever. Finding mold in your basement areas can be frustrating. You need to act quickly to eradicate it before it causes harm to your family. You can decide to clean it up yourself or seek professional help.

If you don’t have any expertise, seek guidance. Going on your own and using the wrong cleaning materials can lead to serious medical harm. More harm than good is experienced in such scenarios. In the beginning, mold infiltrates from the basement and spreads through the entire house.

It usually begins in a cracked pipe that is leaking in the basement. The basement condition creates a conducive environment for mold growth. Mold spreads quickly through the entire basement and starts infiltrating the floorings.

Spores of mold can’t be easily spotted by the naked eye because they’re microscopic. Therefore, it’s hard for you to notice that it is spreading within the bedroom, kitchen, and living room. Symptoms of its presence begin to appear when your family members start experiencing health problems associated with mold. You think it is typical health problems not knowing mold has grown.

Since you don’t know what’s causing the medical complications, the symptoms are likely to increase. As the spores spread more within the house, so does the exposure. The difficulties will persist until the mold is eradicated in the homestead.

The Composition and Kinds of Mold

Different kinds of mold can grow in the basement, and all can cause harm. The most harmful mold is known as the black mold. It spreads all around the house, in particular, the basement. Most basements that are unfinished provide a conducive atmosphere for its fast growth.

The conditions for growth involve continuous access to moisture, darkroom, and poor ventilation. You need to be wise about what kind of floor to use in different rooms in the house. Because mold typically starts to form in the basement, determine what the best flooring for the basement is to prevent it from spreading to other rooms.

When you are building the basement, you should consider the type of wood to use. Mold feeds on objects that are made of a high concentration of cellulose and nitrogen. It thrives in the basement as this is the part of the house that is usually abandoned.

The Health Complications Associated with Mold Exposure

Mold can affect your family in different ways. Some won’t even be affected at all. Your family members can be exposed to health hazards which is niggling. The indicators of mold infections usually involve gasping, body irritations, breathing problems, and eye inflammation.

Buildings contaminated by mold can be categorized as:

  • Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) – unexplained health symptoms with no specific illnesses identified
  • Building-Related Illness (BRI) – a medically diagnosed sickness from being in a building

Black mold is considered the most dangerous form of mold in the world. Though all types contribute to health issues. Medical complications caused by mold within a homestead include:

Allergic Reactions

Mold spores can prompt your family members to have coughs, skin and eye irritation, a bad headache, and body irritations. Not all members of your family will experience the same symptoms, and others might be immune. Allergic reactions are uncomfortable to encounter in any scenario.

Asthma

Breathing problems can be experienced when mold spores are exposed. Complications involve asthma, a sinus infection, and a cold. People react differently when exposed to mold spores.

When you are in a mold-infested house, the likelihood of having breathing problems increases. It’s known to influence asthma attacks. Aggravated symptoms include increased tightness of the chest and persistent coughs.

If you have asthma, mold growth should worry you. It can cause extreme asthma attacks. Seek quick guidance when mold is spotted.

Fungal Infections

Mold has fungal characteristics. Therefore, you can quickly inhale or absorb it. When you are within its surroundings, the chances of getting infected are high. A weak immune system can get infected easily.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis is a serious condition. It is obtained when you get into contact with mold. Its symptoms involve lung inflammation and a running nose. It’s not common among people, though when you notice it, report to the nearest hospital for quick treatment.

Effects of Mold on Animals at Home

Mold has both negative impacts on people and pets at home. You usually assume pets are immune to mold effects. However, the danger posed to you is also extended to pets. The health of infants and pets can easily deteriorate because of mold.

The immune systems of infants and pets are not fully developed like that of an adult human being. Mold spores can easily affect them, leading to undesirable health conditions.

The signs and symptoms of animals being exposed to mold spores include:

  • Chewing the paws often
  • Runny eyes
  • Ear infections
  • Skin rashes
  • Scratching the body at extreme rates

When you spot these symptoms, take your pet for a veterinary checkup. Do not bring it home until the mold is cleaned up. Continuous exposure to mold can lead to the death of animals.

Medical complications are not the only harmful part of mold. They can also cause damage to buildings. Mold grows and feeds on wooden material at home, which results in weak house structures.

Mold is most dangerous to the following groups of people: infants and young children, pregnant women, elderly, and people living with pre-existing medical conditions—for example, those with breathing complications like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Individuals suffering from complicated immune systems such as those getting treatment for cancer and human immunodeficiency virus are also negatively affected by mold spores.

With all these dangers in mind, you should take all the necessary steps to clean up mold in the basement upon first sight, especially if your home is affected. Consider also doing renovations, if you think it’s necessary. Lots of thoughts should go to the type of flooring you choose for the basement.

If you are not experienced in mold cleaning, it is advisable to seek professional assistance for the best results. There is no need to expose yourself to danger knowingly. Prevention is better than cure, so take your time to decide the best flooring to use in the basement.