Any type of moisture in your house can be a cause of deadly mold, including leaking pipes. If you find a leak in one of your pipes, call a mold expert immediately to check your house.
What Is Mold?
Mold is a fungus that grows by digesting organic matter. It is spread by releasing spores into the air in order to reproduce.
In nature, outside of the house, mold’s function is to decompose wood, leaves and other plant debris. It digests matter such as wood, and that causes the spread of mold throughout a building causing damage to the structure and also to the furniture. Mold will grow on almost any surface in your home – wood, carpet, walls, wallpaper, etc. In order to grow the mold needs an organic food source, spores, and moisture.
Therefore, keeping a house clean and dry helps prevent the spread of mold.
Keeping a house dry can be a problem because moisture comes from a number of sources, and not only from floods, as many people believe. Dampness can occur when a bathroom is unventilated, during the summer when there is high humidity in the house, from a flood, and also from leaks.
Mold and our health
Mold can have a hazardous effect on people’s health. It can cause different problems, such as respiratory problems, allergies, eye irritation, skin rash, nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, etc. There are also a few types of molds that produce mycotoxins. People who are exposed to a high level of mycotoxins can suffer from nausea, fatigue, eye irritation, lung irritation and headaches.
Leaking Pipes and Mold
Leaking pipes are one of the main causes of mold, even if the leak is small. Any moisture will cause mold to grow and spread and must be checked out even if you can’t see any signs of the mold immediately. A damp spot from your leaking pipe can cause mold to grow, if the conditions permit, in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
It is important to check your house regularly for leaks because it is not always easy to notice if you have one. You might even not notice it at all until you receive your water bill and notice that it is higher than usual for no apparent reason. If you do notice this, check your pipes for leaks and then have a professional come in and inspect your home for mold and mildew.
It is very important to have any mold you find in your home treated as quickly as possible before it spreads.