Pittsburgh’s extreme changes in climate, from subtropical heat to snowfall, can be stressful to many buildings and homes in the city. It’s no surprise, then, that you might have mold in your home. It may not sound like much of a problem, since if you see it, you can clean it up, right? Unfortunately, that’s just stopping the mold problem that you can see. Mold can and does grow in places that you can’t see or reach, and that makes a mold infestation of your house potentially dangerous for your health and your house’s structure.

What mold is

Mold is a type of fungi, and it looks like it has a thread-like network that also has a wispy, fuzzy mass to it. It can come in many colors, including black. While it doesn’t do well in direct sunlight because of its sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, it thrives very well in areas that have high moisture and humidity.

Mold is potentially harmful because of the following issues:

• Health – Molds use spores to propagate itself, and these spores can trigger allergic reactions. As with most allergic reactions, the symptoms can be anywhere from a runny nose or itchy eyes, to full-on asthma attacks and probably even skin reactions. Specific kinds of mold can and will seriously affect people with weaker immune systems, such as the young and the elderly, even if they aren’t normally affected by allergens. Some molds can even be poisonous, as they produce toxic substances that can cause serious medical conditions after long-term exposure. Molds can also be dangerous in that they can easily cause food to spoil, since their spores can germinate on the food itself.
• Construction – Mold can also weaken the structural components of the house. This is particularly true wood was a major component of your house structure, and even more dangerous if wood was used for key load-bearing components. The reason for this is that mold can and will break down the organic matter of wood to sustain itself.

Telltale signs of mold in the house

You should always observe for specific signs of mold infestation in your house, particularly if you’re coming into a more humid season, or if you’ve just experienced much rain.

Smell – Mold has a particular moist, organic smell. If you start smelling this in some parts of the house, then you should take note of where the smell seems to be coming from, if you can.

Sight – Once you see fuzzy growths on your furniture, walls, or inside closets, you should take note of them before you clean them or scrub them off. If it seems to be an isolated case, you should see first if family members, guests, or friends are developing allergic reactions.

Allergic reactions – As mentioned before, some people have allergic reactions to mold spores, and the chances are, even if you don’t see it or smell it, mold could already be proliferating in your house. Do take note of people who feel like they are having a hay fever attack or any sort of allergic reaction while in your house. If it is becoming a patter, then it’s time to call Pittsburgh Mold Inspection experts (pittsburghmoldinspections.com).

What can Pittsburgh mold inspection experts do for you?

Mold inspection experts can help you by doing a more thorough search or mold in your house. They can also more accurately identify which parts of your house are probably the most infested. They can also take samples of the different kinds of mold they find, and send it to a laboratory to see what kind of mold you have growing in your house. This is particularly important if people have had adverse reactions to the mold in your house, or have had continuing medical issues after exposure.

Once they’ve properly gathered data and mapped where in the house the mold colonies are, they can then give you a through report on the state of your house’s mold infestation. They will also include in the report suggestions on how to remove the mold, and how to keep your house mold-free once the removal has been done. This report is very important, as it will be the file you have to give to mold removal teams, so they’ll know what to do.

Aside from health and construction issues, it’s also a good idea to call on Pittsburgh mold inspection experts if you want to have your house appraised before you sell it – or conversely, if you want to check on a house before you sign on the dotted line and acquire it. If you are a tenant, you can also use mold inspection services if you think there are mold concerns that your landlord is not addressing. At the same time, if you are a landlord, then you might want to have your rentable spaces checked for mold before a new tenant comes in, and then do regular checks in the future.

And remember, if you want to be sure about the Pittsburgh mold inspection experts you’re calling on, like the ones from pittsburghmoldinspections.com, you should check to see if they are accredited for mold inspection by a qualified local organization.

What mold inspectors look for

Mold inspectors can divide a house into sections, so their inspection can be more efficient and accurate. Here are some places that are important for them, when it comes to mold inspection.

Roof area – The whole roof, including the attic space (if any), ceiling, and gutter structures all have to be checked for possible leaks. If a leak creates a moist area in the attic or in the space between roof and ceiling, then this could be a perfect mold incubator. This may be the source of the mold infestation that you don’t see, but is affecting some people in your house.

Foundation – Pittsburgh mold inspection experts also look at the foundation of your house, such as the basement or the crawlspace underneath your flooring, if any. The dark, damp environment in these areas, combined with the contact to soil itself makes these areas a near perfect breeding ground for mold.

If you think your house has a mold infestation, do contact Pittsburgh mold inspection services so you can have your house inspected properly for mold.