How do you know if your house has toxic mold?

Toxic mold can also have a grayish, soot-like texture, or a slimy, wet surface. In some cases, you may even notice furry orange or brown spots. If you find mold with any of these qualities in your home, don't get too close, and call a professional right away.

How do you know if mold in your house is making you sick?

Symptoms of mold exposure may include headache, sore throat, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes and fatigue. In those with asthma, asthma attacks can occur. In those with impaired immune systems, serious infection can occur.

How do you test for toxic mold in your home?

To test for mold and mildew and how to tell if your house has mold, simply dab a few drops of household bleach on the blackened area. If it lightens after one to two minutes, you have mildew. If the area remains dark, you probably have dirt.

What does mold toxicity feel like?

Each person's body is affected by mold toxicity in different ways. Some experience constant migraines and headaches, shortness of breath, brain fog, fatigue or even depression. Since symptoms differ from person to person, they may not be quickly associated with mold exposure.

What are the signs of mold toxicity?

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Can you be tested for mold exposure?

A blood test, sometimes called the radioallergosorbent test, can measure your immune system's response to mold by measuring the amount of certain antibodies in your bloodstream known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.

How do you get rid of mold toxicity?

Is there a mold detector?

Mold testing kits help you detect and identify growing spores in your home through samples collected via the air or from the surface in question. Some give you results right away, while others ask you to package the samples and send them back to a lab for a professional examination.

How long does it take to get sick from mold exposure?

These symptoms usually first appear 2 to 9 hours after exposure and last for 1 to 3 days. Other affected persons have progressive shortness of breath and cough, as well as weight loss. Work-relatedness may only become apparent over long holidays if symptoms resolve and then recur on return to work.

What does black mold smell like?

It's often described as musty and earthy, and may even smell like rotting vegetables or plants. You might notice a musty smell, but not be able to see any mold growing. In this case, you should look for areas that might be exposed to water.

Do air purifiers help with mold?

Do air purifiers help with mold? Air purifiers help capture mold spores from the air, preventing them from reproducing and spreading throughout your home. While air purifiers won't help treat active mold that's already present on surfaces, they are a great way to control the spread of airborne mold particles.

What does a mold headache feel like?

Sensitivity to light. Sensitivity to noise. Pulsing or throbbing pain (instead of, or alongside, a sensation of pressure or a dull ache) Head pain that worsens with physical activity.

Does mold toxicity go away?

Do I need to get medical treatment? In many cases, exposure to toxic mold doesn't require medical treatment. If you experience cold-like symptoms after exposure to potentially toxic mold, these symptoms will likely fade on their own with no long-term effects once you remove yourself from the environment with the mold.

What symptoms can black mold cause?

How can you tell if you have mold behind drywall?

Visible Signs of Mold

Mold can have different colors and textures, so be sure to recognize them. Mold can be black, green, gray, white, or brown. Mold can even appear orange, pink or purple when it grows behind vinyl wallpaper. Another sign of visible mold is discoloration of walls, even if it has been painted over.

What does mold smell like in a house?

Most people describe the smell of mold as musty, stale, and earthy — somewhat similar the odor of wet socks or decaying wood. Although mold smells can vary, here are some of the most common characteristics: Musty and Stale — like old socks or a stuffy attic that hasn't been aired out in months.

Is there a kit to test for mold?

A: The Mold Armor Do-It-Yourself Mold Test Kit lets you test for the presence of mold in just 48 hours. If you find mold present in your test dish you can register your mold sample online and $40 to receive a lab analysis to determine the mold type.

Will a dehumidifier help with mold?

Reduce Mold and Mildew

A dehumidifier is designed to reduce the moisture level in the air by extracting the excess water. By doing so, dehumidifiers can help prevent the growth of mold and mildew and improves the indoor air quality of your space.

Can mold cause sleep problems?

Mold and Your Sleep

In addition to the many health problems mold can cause, research suggests that mold exposure may also compromise sleep. In one large study, household molds were correlated with increased sleep problems⁶ like insomnia, snoring, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Does air doctor remove mold spores?

Air Doctor has also been tested by a third-party lab and proven to remove 99.99% of a range of tested bacteria and viruses and mold spores.

How can you tell the difference between black mold and regular mold?

While other types of mold may have a fuzzy, light texture, black mold will usually be slimy or wet. Some early forms of black mold have a powdery feel. Rub the mold with a paper towel to determine the texture, but be sure to wear gloves, a face mask, coveralls, and safety goggles when going near mold.

What is toxic mold syndrome?

Overview. If you have a mold allergy, your immune system overreacts when you breathe in mold spores. A mold allergy can cause coughing, itchy eyes and other symptoms that make you miserable. In some people, a mold allergy is linked to asthma and exposure causes restricted breathing and other airway symptoms.

How do you tell if you have black mold in your lungs?

What happens if you breathe in mold spores?

For people sensitive to mold, inhaling or touching mold spores can cause allergic reactions, including sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. People with serious mold allergies may have more severe reactions, including shortness of breath.

What type of air purifier kills mold?

HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) purifiers have a HEPA filter with a fine mesh that traps very small particles. The air purifier forces air through the filter to trap pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold spores.