The 10 Most Common Types of Mold

Mold is most likely to be present in your house right now, even if you haven’t noticed it. Continue reading this blog post to find out which species are most common, where they grow, and when you have a problem.

Mold is an important component of the earth’s natural recycling process, and since it is so common in the environment, it is difficult to keep all mold out of a home. Mold spores may be transported indoors on clothing, shopping bags, and even pets. They can also enter a home through leaking windows and roofs. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), once the invisible spores fall on a moist surface, they can begin reproducing within 24 to 48 hours.

While certain types of mold are more likely to contaminate a house than others, they always require a wet environment to thrive. Mold is more prone to grow in areas that are continuously moist, such as an unvented bathroom or a sink cabinet with a leaking drainage pipe. Researchers have found over 100,000 distinct mold strains, but they all fall into one of three groups.

• Allergenic

This implies they can induce allergic responses and asthma attacks in those who are allergic, as well as mild allergy symptoms in people who are not sensitive.

• Pathogenic

These molds often produce symptoms exclusively in persons with immune system problems or those who have or are recovering from a major illness.

• Toxigenic

These types of mold are the most harmful and can cause significant health problems in healthy individuals.

Mold treatment recommendations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advise homeowners to clean tiny areas on their own, but to bring in a mold remediation professional if mold growth exceeds 10 square feet or is associated with water damage. Mold treatment includes expert mold cleansing and removal from the house. If building components like drywall and carpets cannot be effectively sterilized, demolition performed, and removal may be required. It’s also a good idea to contact a professional if the mold is poisonous, the HVAC system has been polluted with mold, or sewage has led to water damage and subsequent mold development.

Some types of mold are more harmful to human health than others, and the CDC advises that some people are more vulnerable to health consequences from mold exposure. Those who are allergic to mold or have asthma may experience more acute symptoms. The 10 types of mold listed below can be found in and around residences, whether they are noticeable or not.

10 Most Common Types of Mold

• Stachybotrys

Stachybotrys, sometimes known as “black mold” due to its greenish-black hue, is a toxigenic mold that thrives in moist environments and is most commonly found on cellulose type materials such as wood, drywall, or even damp leaf piles. It begins as tiny black patches that become larger and spread. Stachybotrys is a hazardous mold that can cause serious headaches, unexplainable nosebleeds, upper respiratory pain, and fatigue.

Stachybotrys may also induce pulmonary hemorrhage in infants. If a family member exhibits any of these symptoms and you suspect your house is contaminated with black mold, contact a mold remediation professional who can test the mold and decide the best approach to remove it. While many types of mold are black, the majority are not Stachybotrys.

• Mucormycetes

Mucormycetes are described as “filamentous” molds because they begin as fluffy white or light grey puffs with long hairs, eventually turning a darker gray as they grow. Mucor is prevalent in soil and plants. Throughout the summer and fall, homeowners frequently bring the spores indoors. Mucor molds prefer to grow indoors on rotting fruits and vegetables, but they may also develop in air conditioner condensation lines and drop pans.

Mucor is a highly allergic types of mold, and inhaling its spores can cause asthma episodes and trouble breathing even in healthy people. Inhaling mucor spores can cause mucormycosis, a form of fungal illness that most commonly affects the nose, eyes, and brain in those who have allergies or compromised immune systems. To decrease the danger of mucor mold, check and clean condensation pipes and drip pans weekly when operating the air conditioner, and throw out old fruits and vegetables before they go bad.

• Alternaria

Alternaria, a kind of allergenic types of mold, is often found under sinks and around tub and shower bases where moisture can accumulate. This mold is easily identified by experts due to its velvet soft texture and brown threads that mimic hairs. If you have allergies, breathing Alternaria spores can cause asthma-like symptoms and upper respiratory problems.

Otherwise, the mold may not have any effect on you. Alternaria spreads fast, so if you find it in your house, use an all purpose cleaner containing bleach or one specialized to combat mold and mildew. You can use this cleaner to wash it away before it spreads.

• Aspergillus

Aspergillus mold is prevalent in many houses and will grow on any wet surface, but it is difficult to identify since there are over 180 Aspergillus types of mold strains, many of which are various colors.

The majority of strains of this allergenic mold are innocuous, but a few can cause significant symptoms or result in a fungal infection known as aspergillosis in persons with weakened immune systems. Testing is the only method to establish if the mold in your house is Aspergillus, your best chance is to remove all types of mold as soon as you see them.

• Ulocladium

Another form of mold that emerges after floods or water damage is Ulocladium. Although certain types of mold strains are pathogenic, others are allergenic. The mold is black and may coexist with other forms of mold, such as Stachybotrys. Individuals who have not studied these different types of mold may be confused by the two molds’ similar appearance.

Ulocladium requires a continual supply of water to thrive, therefore if the substrate on which it is growing dries up and the mold will most likely die. Spores, on the other hand, can remain dormant and thrive in the presence of future wetness. Allergenic strains of Ulocladium can produce hay fever-like respiratory symptoms, while pathogenic strains can cause significant respiratory symptoms in anybody with asthma or a weakened immune system. If you believe your house contains Ulocladium mold, the best course of action is to contact a professional mold remediation specialist, since there is a chance it is the more hazardous Stachybotrys mold.

• Fusarium

Some types of mold require heat to survive, but Fusarium develops and spreads in temperatures as low as near-freezing. Fusarium strains may occur almost everywhere. The majority of strains are allergic, generating merely hay fever-like symptoms, but a few strains can be extremely poisonous, causing nervous system problems and internal hemorrhage. Fusarium wilt is a common threat to garden plants and agricultural commodities, and several tomato varieties have been bred to resist Fusarium wilt.

Fusarium prefers soft fabrics like carpets, upholstery, wallpaper, and draperies to grow in, and it typically shows as pinkish or reddish patches. Fusarium will be less likely to establish itself in your house if you clean often with a HEPA filter equipped vacuum. Homeowners in humid climates might benefit from the usage of a dehumidifier.

• Penicillium

Although penicillin is a useful antibiotic, one strain of Penicillium mold is both allergic and dangerous. It generates spores, which can cause allergy-like symptoms including sinusitis, trouble breathing, and asthma attacks. Symptoms can be more severe in persons with immune system diseases, leading to persistent health problems.

This velvety, bluish-green types of mold is frequently seen in homes that have had floods or other forms of water damage, and it requires constant moisture to thrive. Once inside, Penicillium may quickly spread through moist wallboard, sloppy carpets, and wallpaper. For this mold, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Repair plumbing leaks and dry out flooded houses as soon as possible. Professional mold treatment is needed once Penicillium has spread throughout a property.

• Trichoderma

Trichoderma mold can be identified by little puffy spots of white and olive-green mold developing in moist locations, such as around a leaking window or around a shower base. This allergenic types of mold multiplies quickly and thrives in moist environments. Trichoderma can cause coughing, sneezing, and bronchial infections in the house. According to the Environmental Health Center in Dallas, certain strains can generate mycotoxins, which are volatile organic chemicals that can cause serious issues like lung infections, liver and kidney diseases, nervous system difficulties, and even some forms of cancer.

Trichoderma mold can also produce an enzyme that rots wood. If your house has been contaminated by Trichoderma mold, expert mold treatment will be required and certain sections of your home may require repairs.

• Cladosporium

Cladosporium species, another allergenic types of mold, prefers to grow indoors in fabrics such as carpets and upholstered furniture. However, the mold can also be found beneath sinks and within cupboards. It has a velvety look and comes in green to brown colors. When airborne allergens are high, Cladosporium generally enters the house on clothing or dogs; the spores then rest on carpets or furniture and begin to multiply.

Cladosporium growth is facilitated by high indoor humidity levels. Respiratory symptoms such as a sore throat and itchy sinuses might result from inhaling the spores. The spores can also cause watery eyes and sneezing in dogs. Cleaning carpeting and upholstery using a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter-fitted vacuum on a regular basis will help eliminate Cladosporium spores from a house before they begin to develop. Using a dehumidifier can also be beneficial.

• Acremonium

Acremonium covers almost 100 strains of toxigenic types of mold discovered in air conditioner and humidifier moist condensation lines and drainage pans. Because the mold comes in a variety of hues, including white, pink, and gray, it might be difficult to identify without testing. As the mold grows, it begins to seem dry and powdery.

According to the research database, symptoms of acremonium spore exposure include eye discomfort, breathing difficulties, pneumonia, and even arthritis or fungal diseases. If any of your family members exhibit any of these symptoms and you believe your house has Acremonium mold, contact a mold remediation specialist to test for and remove it.

All Types of Mold Removal Company Serving St. Louis, MO

Call Pride Cleaning And Restoration, Inc. at (314) 668-1223 today for 24 hour water damage restoration, fire damage restoration, or mold remediation along with any of our other services or get an instant quote from our website. Our Mold Remediation Company will get to your Missouri home and remove all types of mold in 30 to 60 minutes.

Wondering what could be the overall cost of mold removal? Read more here.