Black Mold Symptoms in Your Home

Leaving a mold problem untreated can not only lead to negative effects in your bronchial health, but it can cause permanent damage to the areas of your home that it inhabits – water damaged ceiling panels, rotted flooring or cabinetry, carpeting that can’t be salvaged, etc. Black mold is particularly dangerous to allow to spread. Though it might be obvious once the problem has spread, you might not realize you have a mold problem at first. The key to treating black mold the most effectively is to catch it early, or better yet, prevent black mold from forming altogether. As mentioned previously, not all molds are dangerous to your health, and even some of the more dangerous molds might affect you differently from a family member depending on your personal sensitivity to it, but it is always best to take action against mold as soon as you notice it forming colonies. Here are some black mold symptoms to look for when checking your home for mold problems:

High Humidity levels (greater than 55%) provide a breeding ground for black mold. If you live in a humid climate or have damp areas of your home, it will be important to install dehumidifiers, ventilation fans, active dampness control systems, or to fix leaky pipes and find a way to dry out affected areas.

Musty odors are a very strong indicator of a black mold problem, particularly in areas like basements. These odors don’t mean there is definitely a black mold problem, but if you suspect black mold and also have musty odors in your home (particularly if it comes through your heating or cooling vents), you should have your home checked right away.

Yellow stains or tints to your wallpaper and paint. Black mold often lurks in areas that you can’t see – under wallpaper, between walls, in cracks and crevices, around pipes, etc. If a yellowy tint is coming through your wall coverings, there may be black mold underneath. Peter Crump of the Mold Removal Guide offers a great tip to shine a black light on your wall, and if it glows yellow, that’s a sign of mold. 

Health symptoms. If you or your family has been getting sick and exhibiting any of the health symptoms outlined in our Black Mold Symptoms Affecting Your Health blog post, you may have black mold and should take action yourself or find a mold professional to locate the problem. 

Find out more information about mold in the home and how to keep yourself safe.