by Donna Hicks

Created on: December 16, 2011   Last Updated: December 18, 2011

Household mold can potentially be found just about anywhere in a home. There is a wealth of information about household mold available such as where and how it grows, potential for health risks and how to get rid of household mold. One issue, however, is that sometimes the information available seems to conflict with other information that is available. So it helps to have facts available regarding household mold.

The development of household mold

Mold is a fungus that can be found in many colors, not just the black-colored mold that most individuals may think of. Mold is found naturally in your environment, particularly where there is a moisture problem.

In homes, mold can grow and reproduce in a damp basement or bathroom or any part of the house where there may be a water problem or problem with excessive moisture. Mold can even be carried indoors from the outside. The National Association of Home Builders explains that mold spores, which are too small to be seen by the naked eye, can be carried indoors on people’s skin, shoes, or even through open windows. Once mold spores have entered into a home, they can settle into carpeting, or where there is dampness or wet spots inside. Then the mold spores start growing and reproducing.

How household mold grows

Mold particularly thrives in homes where there may be leaky faucets or drain pipes, such as the bathroom, kitchen or basement. But household mold can also grow inside the home close to where there have been problems with a leaky roof, bad gutters, windows, carpet, and wood floors or just about anywhere in the home where mold can find to thrive in a moist environment.

In addition to moist environment, the right temperatures help household mold to thrive. Mold prefers temperatures that range from 40 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  With the right amount of moisture, the right temperature and food source, household mold can become a serious problem. Not only can it cause damage inside the home, it can cause health problems.

Health issues that can be caused by household mold

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that household mold can cause numerous health issues. Symptoms such as irritation of the eyes, throat or lungs, skin rashes and allergic reactions which can be particularly dangerous to some people, as well as asthma attacks in individuals with asthma are just some of the symptoms that may be caused by household mold.  

In the article, “Household Mold Making

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