Sources and Types of Mold
Where does mold come from? Technically, mold spores are everywhere, but they need a certain type of environment to grow into visible colonies. Here are the basics on sources and types of mold commonly found in homes.
Mold 101:
There are more than 10,000 different strains of mold – most species are harmless, but, left unchecked, can cause extensive damage.
Mold spores are everywhere – there’s some type of mold inside your home right now.
Mold requires 3 ingredients to begin growing – Oxygen, Moisture, and Organic Material.
Controlling moisture is the most effective way of getting rid of mold.
The source of any mold is the combination of those 3 ingredients: Oxygen, Moisture, and Organic Material. In any home, Oxygen and Organic Material are ubiquitous, so the variable that “causes” mold growth is generally Moisture.
Sources Of Mold
There are lots of different sources of excess water/moisture in a home:
- Pipe Breaks
- Toilet Overflows
- Rainwater Seepage
- Sump Pump Failure
- Sewer Back-Ups
- Plumbing Disasters
- Water Heater Leaks
- And more
Any source of water can be a potential source of mold, which is why quick water cleanup is crucial. Any untreated moisture has the potential to grow mold in as little as 24-48 hours!
Common Molds and Where They Grow
Kitchens and Bathrooms
- Chaetomium globosum
- Cladosporium cladosporioides
- Cladosporium sphaerospermum
- Aspergillus fumigatus
- Ulocladium botrytis
Drywall and Wallpaper
- Cladosporium sphaerospermum
- Chaetomium
- Doratomyces
- Fusarium
- Stachybotrys
- Trichoderma
- Scopulariopsis
Carpets and Other Flooring
- Penicillium chrysogenum
- Aspergillus versicolor
- Aureobasidium pullulans
- Aspergillus repens
- Wallemia
- Chaetomium
- Scopulariopsis
Windowsills and Doorways
- Aureobasidium pullulans
- Cladosporium sphaerospermum
- Ulocladium
Basements and Cellars
- Aspergillus versicolor
- Aspergillus fumigatus
- Fusarium
If you have mold growing in your home or business, get tested! Air quality testing will determine how much and what kind of mold that is infesting your building.