Black Mold on Walls or Ceilings in Your Driggs Home? Don't Panic!

2/22/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Remediates Mold in Driggs

Call SERVPRO for Driggs Property Mold Remediation

Mold comes in many different colors. Black is one of them. Black mold is sometimes heard about on the news, while other colors of these fungi are left undiscussed. But not all black mold is the toxic black mold that makes headlines.

Homes in Driggs can be damaged by mold of any color, and some can lead to health effects. Black mold seems much more threatening though it does not produce mycotoxins much different from other species.

Any mold, regardless of color, can cause health effects in people. Some people are more sensitive to the various elements of molds found in their home. Sometimes, the health effects experienced are heightened because of the increased humidity that allowed large colonies of mold to proliferate. SERVPRO does not just remediate black mold. We help homeowners by setting up dehumidification systems that can mitigate mold growth, thus, helping to alleviate these health effects.

Several different government agencies have information, backed by some extensive scientific study, about mold. What we have learned is that the facts are vastly different from what many people believe about mold of any type. The media, often to gain higher ratings, often use sensationalized stories in the news and also in much different 'based on real life' dramas. The scientific findings, though, have resulted in a much less dramatic picture of mold, including black mold, and their dangers. We at SERVPRO want to calm any fears you may have about black mold.

Part of the belief regarding black mold as being more harmful than mold of other colors could also stem from a common misconception. Many people view things of a dark or black color as more sinister than its equivalent of another color. This stereotype holds true for good guy vs. bad guy scenarios, felines, magic, and many other things. We even categorize highly contaminated water from sewage or storms as "Black Water."

The CDC has stated that “the term 'toxic mold' is not accurate.” Any mold in and of itself, of any color, is not toxic. Any toxicity comes from what is produced by certain types of mold, called a mycotoxin. There are only a few strains of mold that produce mycotoxins, and one, Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as Stachybotrys atra, happens to be black in color.

Stachybotrys is the strain of mold that has many people nervous and ready to vacate their home when found. Leaving your home is not the right reaction. Not all is lost, and your family will not automatically begin to have life-threatening illnesses because of exposure to this or any other type of mold. SERVPRO has helped many families regain control of their homes, so they never had to leave. From initial inspection through containment and remediation, rely on us to resolve your mold infestation.

There are over a thousand varieties of mold in the USA alone, which is a fraction of the number of mold types worldwide. This microbe lives everywhere on the planet, including indoor areas, and also those outdoors. Mold not only looks unsightly but can eat at the cellulose found in so many materials that we use and possess. Our daily activities often involve items that are plant-based and therefore susceptible to damage from mold infestation.

Black mold can be controlled and infestations treated in the same manner that mold contamination of any other color is controlled and treated. SERVPRO of Rexburg / Rigby knows just how to take your nightmarish discovery and get everything back under control for you. If you are worried you may have black mold, call us at (208) 356-0263.