A Guide on the Different Types of Mold Found in Homes 

Did you know that more than 70% of all homes have mold? Even if you think that your home is mold-free, there are probably a few types of mold growing somewhere in your house. Mold loves to grow in dark, moist environments.

This is why mold tends to pop up wherever there is water damage or moisture accumulation. You might notice a few mold spores starting to take hold on your bathroom ceiling, on your carpet, or near your sinks. Whatever the case, it is important to be aware of the different signs of mold as well as the different types of mold to keep the waterproof ring doorbells safe.

While most types of mold are mostly harmless to human health, some types can cause various health concerns. Keep reading and learn more about the different types of mold you might find in your home.

Acremonium

The first thing you should know is that mold is not the same as fungi. In nature, there are certain types of mushrooms that are edible and non-toxic, but mold does not follow this same path. All mold is inedible and many types are toxic to the touch or produce toxic spores that can get into your lungs.

Mold naturally grows outside on trees, fallen branches, grass, and other objects, but it can easily infiltrate your home when you least expect it. Usually, mold spores will be brought into your home on your clothes or your pet, or the spores may blow inside from an open window or door. Whatever the case, if the mold finds a suitable place to survive, it will start to grow and create problems for both your health and your house.

Acremonium is a very common type of mold that you will typically find in water-damaged areas. Suppose that a flood damages some of the walls in your house.

Without any kind of mold remediation, that water-damaged wall will quickly get covered in acremonium mold growths. This type of mold is powdery in texture and it comes in different colors such as pink or gray.

Getting Rid of Acremonium Mold

If you spot this type of mold anywhere in your home, it is important to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Fortunately, mold removal for this type of mold is quite easy. All you need to do is spray some bleach on it and scrub it away to maintain the home decor.

However, if you plan on removing this mold yourself, you should take all the proper precautions. This is because acremonium is a toxic mold and it can cause eye and nail infections. For that reason, you should not touch the mold with your bare hands but instead, wear gloves.

Also, be sure to wear goggles and a mask to ensure that the spores don’t get into your eyes or lungs. If you don’t want to do this yourself, you can always call up professional mold removers. They have all the right tools and experience to make removing mold a breeze.

Alternaria

There is not just one type of Alternaria mold; there are several hundred types. However, these different types should not concern you since most types of Alternaria mold are more or less the same. This type of mold is more resistant to dry weather compared to other types.

This makes it very easy for Alternaria to spread. Its spores tend to float on the wind and land in the grass, trees, or, of course, in your home. You may even bring in spores on fresh produce.

If the spores manage to get inside your house, they tend to stick and grow in areas that are more secluded such as window sills or carpet fibers. These areas offer plenty of opportunities for the spores to grow into large mold growths. In some cases, Alternaria can grow inside air conditioning units where it will continue to spread its spores through your entire AC system and, ultimately, throughout your entire house.

This can be very dangerous since Alternaria can cause pulmonary distress and disease. It also tends to aggravate allergies and may even cause asthma attacks. Alternaria growths start out small and may be hard to spot at first.

Getting Rid of Alternaria 

They may occur in spots of water damage, however, if the spores end up in the AC ventilation system, they can end up growing all over your house. Alternaria mold is typically dark and patchy. You may find clumps of it on your carpet or walls.

If you suspect that there are growths of Alternaria in your home, it is important to treat the problem as soon as possible. It is recommended that you don’t treat the mold yourself but instead hire a professional. This is because Alternaria spreads very fast once it is introduced into a house.

If you try to remove all of it yourself, you will likely miss many of the spores and the mold will continue to grow and reproduce. To prevent this problem, be sure to call professional mold removers. They will be able to tell if the mold at hand really is Alternaria.

If so, then the professionals can start removing it from your entire house. That way, there will be no more spores left over to continue growing into a mold.

Aspergillus

As with Alternaria, there are many different types of Aspergillus mold. Depending on the type, this kind of mold may vary in color. Some types are yellow while others are blue or even green. The texture is unique in that it is fluffy and fuzzy.

As with the other molds previously discussed, Aspergillus loves to grow in damp, dark areas. If there are any spots of water damage on your walls, ceilings, or floors, this mold will likely start to grow there. This is actually a very common type of mold and it grows very quickly once it finds a suitable environment.

It is also a very noticeable type of mold since it tends to create thick blankets of mold on large, flat surfaces such as walls and ceilings. Despite being a common type of mold, Aspergillus is also quite a dangerous mold. This is because of the way it affects the respiratory system.

In particular, it can cause the disease Aspergillosis. This disease occurs after you inhale Aspergillus spores and it can be quite severe if left untreated. The symptoms include fever, coughing up blood, and symptoms of asthma. In less severe cases, Aspergillus may aggravate a person’s allergies.

Whatever the case, it is important to get rid of this mold once you find it. You will usually need a strong antifungal treatment to completely get rid of this mold.

Chaetomium

Chaetomium is quite a menacing type of mold as it typically grows in large, black patches. Young growths of this mold usually start out as white or gray in color. It only turns black once it ages.

Also, once it turns black, it tends to develop a strong, musty smell. This is one of the characteristics you can use to identify this mold and distinguish it from other types of mold. It also has a cotton-like texture.

It loves moist, warm areas such as water-damaged walls that have been left unrepaired. It may also grow in carpets or on other types of floors like hardwood.

Besides having a threatening appearance, this type of mold can also be a threat to human health. In particular, it can irritate your allergies and make it very difficult to live in your own house. Its spores spread very easily and very fast.

The Dangers of Chaetomium

It might start out on one wall and quickly move to several others throughout your house. This mold is unique and especially harmful because it contains mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are chemical products that many molds produce.

They are especially harmful because they may cause certain types of cancer and are said to be carcinogenic. Besides that, they produce more immediate health concerns as well. For example, Chaetomium spores tend to produce hay fever.

This condition causes symptoms that are similar to the flu. However, Chaeotomium may also cause severe allergic or asthmatic reactions. It is also important not to touch the mold growths as they could infect the skin and nails.

All About the Different Types of Mold

There are hundreds of different types of mold that exist out in nature, but sometimes, those growths can end up in your home. While some types of mold are harmless, most forms are in some way harmful to human health. For example, some may aggravate your allergies or asthma while others may cause serious lung, eye, or skin infections.

To learn more, don’t forget to check out the other blogs on our website.