5 min read
In 2008, Mold Awareness Month was declared by the National Indoor Mold Society to inform, educate, and raise awareness of the adverse effects of toxic indoor mold on everyone’s health. But now, September has gone, and October has come – but mold awareness is still more important than ever.
Inside commercial buildings, mold can reside in spaces with ample moisture and heat, such as in HVAC ducts and areas with poor ventilation. This October, it’s important to remain aware of the detrimental effects of mold and practice mold safety by answering the following questions:
- How does mold impact your property and health?
- Why does mold grow inside commercial buildings?
- What can you do to control microbial growth?
How Mold Impacts Your Property and Health
There are over 100,000 known species of mold worldwide, about 1,000 of which can be found in the United States. These microorganisms serve as nature’s decomposers, eating away at materials until they break down. This is a critical function as it transforms various materials into simpler, more usable forms of matter within the ecosystem.
Detrimental Effects on Your Property
While the deteriorative properties of mold may be beneficial to the ecosystem, it can be detrimental to your property. Because mold breaks down any material it attaches to, any surface with considerable microbial growth may degrade over time. Eventually, it can reach your property’s foundation, cause significant structural damage, and threaten your building’s integrity.
Adverse Effects on Health
Mold doesn’t just threaten your building’s integrity, but it also threatens the health of the people residing in it. Exposure to toxic mold can have various adverse effects, especially among those with compromised immune systems. In many cases, mycotoxins produced by toxic mold can cause more severe illnesses.
The following are some of the health problems caused by mold:
- Allergic reactions include watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, wheezing, and coughing
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Difficulty breathing
- Lung infections
- Neurological damage
- Autoimmune diseases
Many of these effects are due to poor indoor air quality caused by spores in the air, which can be solved by improving ventilation. However, commercial mold remediation may be necessary when dealing with a more significant mold problem. In this case, enlist a commercial mold remediation company to solve the problem immediately.
Why Mold Grows in Your Commercial Building
Despite the dry climate in Avondale, it’s not uncommon for mold to propagate in commercial buildings, and there are numerous reasons why. Microbial growth could be caused by the following:
Building Age Increases Susceptibility to Mold
As a building ages, the more susceptible it becomes to microbial growth, not because of its age but due to its continued exposure to elements that introduce wear and tear. For example, exposure to sun and rain regularly can eventually lead to leaks and other forms of damage, making it more susceptible to mold.
Lack of Ventilation Causes Moisture Levels to Rise
Indoor condensation occurs when inside air stagnates, causing a buildup of moisture in the air that can settle on various surfaces when the temperature drops. This can lead to a mold problem as the lack of ventilation continues. This is why commercial mold remediation experts underline ventilation as a way of preventing microbial growth.
Building Materials Used Readily Absorbs Moisture
Among other factors, nutrients and moisture influence microbial growth the most. For example, certain porous building materials such as wood can be a rich source of nutrients and moisture (when exposed to rain, leaks, or condensation), subsequently causing mold to grow.
What You Can Do About Microbial Growth
The key to controlling microbial growth inside commercial buildings is to control the factors that lead to its development. Here are some ways you can mitigate the risks of developing mold issues in your property:
Control Indoor Moisture Levels
Controlling moisture is crucial in preventing mold since nutrient sources are readily available across your commercial property. It’s important to remain aware by always looking for any signs of water ingress and making sure they are cleaned and dried immediately.
Improve Ventilation Inside Your Building
Improving ventilation is one of the best ways to prevent condensation from forming. This can be done by simply opening a window to introduce outside air. But when that is unavailable, using fans (stand fans, exhaust fans, or ceiling fans), air purifiers, and HVAC systems can also promote air circulation.
Subject Your Building to Regular Maintenance
Regular building maintenance can reduce wear and tear and help you detect any problem that may lead to microbial growth. Maintenance activities can range from simply cleaning up HVAC drip pans to comprehensive building inspections for signs of wear and tear.
Call For Professional Help
Lastly, if you’re faced with a significant mold problem, it’s best not to handle it on your own and instead call for professional help with mold remediation in Avondale. An expert commercial mold remediation company is always ready to respond to your commercial mold remediation needs and prevent further damage.
Professional Mold Remediation in Avondale
At Restoration 1, we know that mold should always be effectively remediated due to its harmful effects on human health. This is why we work hard to address any mold problem in our clients’ properties to keep you and your employees, tenants, customers, and family members safe. For all your mold remediation needs, call Restoration 1 of Avondale today.
