Black mold is a dilemma that, when left untreated, does not go away. It grows, it spreads, and it creates an environment that is so toxic and unhealthy that people are forced to leave their homes. The remedies are costly and the price rises as the problem gets more serious. What can make black mold become an even greater challenge, holds clues as to how one can best keep things from getting out of hand.
Mold spores need breeding grounds and black mold, or stachybotrys chartarum as it is known in scientific texts, thrives and multiplies in the damp, moist areas of a building. These are spaces with high levels of humidity and perhaps small puddles of water up against the walls. It doesn’t take long for black mold to establish itself in opportune places. The basement is a common place for mold growth, but the same is true for crawl spaces and attic areas under a leaky roof.
Moisture is the breeding ground but the greatest reason why a black mold problem might get worse is neglect. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) candidly warns that any wet area in a building must be dried within 48 hours of being detected. The longer the delay, the better the chances of black mold generation. Leaky pipes have been known to be a cause of dampness, but too often this is a problem that goes unattended and leads to even greater complications. Ventilation keeps the humidity down and circulating air will help keep a place dry. That’s true if the ventilation system is adequately maintained. However, air ducts left unattended can collect small amounts of water and will effectively blow moisture all over the place and the droplets may include black mold spores.
Not noticing the all too obvious signs of black mold infestation enlarges the problem. An example is the musty odor that is simply tolerated and never investigated. The smell is a sign of mold developing. If this odor is noticed when the air conditioning is on, it may mean that there is mold buildup within the unit. That, in turn, suggests that the HVAC system may actually be spreading black mold spores. Warped wood is another sign of moisture building up inside the fibers. Left unattended, the wood becomes a base for black mold to not only develop, but also spread along the panels and planks to infest whole rooms. Small amounts of mold in plain sight may be signs of less visible and more extensive colonies. If the signs are ignored, the danger and its ultimate consequences grow ever larger.
Clearing up the problem once does not mean it goes away permanently. Black mold can be controlled and prevented with a little vigilance and routine inspections. Damp areas must be dried as quickly as practicable and HVAC systems should be checked for any signs of moisture buildup. Noticeable signs such as warping and musty odors must never be ignored. Some precautions may seem tedious or time consuming, but they can prevent black mold from getting out of hand. The last thing anyone needs is to have the problem fester to the point where the only solution is to have the infected building demolished.