Most people can identify a few types of mold: the kind found on bread, the kind found in blue cheese, and the kind found in houses. This blog focuses on those molds comprising the last group. There are plenty of them – over 100, in fact. We’ll highlight several of the most common molds here, all of which are unhealthy and all of which are the target of our respected mold removal company.

Penicillium

Penicillium is one of the likeliest molds to be found in homes affected by water damage. It grows on everything from carpeting and wallpaper to insulation and mattresses, and it’s well-known for the swiftness with which it spreads. This blue or green mold is also harmful to breathe, causing lung inflammation, allergic reactions, and chronic sinus infections.

Stachybotrys chartarum

Rather than refer to this mold by its lengthy real name, we’ll use its more infamous name instead: “black mold”. This is the musty-smelling, slimy black mold that frequently grows in areas of perpetual dampness, i.e. leaky pipes and AC ducts. Even though the mold itself is benign, the toxins it produces are not. These toxins are responsible for a number of health problems, including asthma attacks, fatigue, allergic reactions, general respiratory problems, chronic sinus infections, and depression.

Aspergillus

Another mold typically found in homes, aspergillus not only contributes to respiratory infections and allergic reactions, it’s also responsible for an illness called hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a serious inflammation of the lungs.

Fusarium

It’s common knowledge that mold thrives in warm, damp areas – but these aren’t the only places where mold can grow. As proof, consider Fusarium, a mold that grows and spreads in cooler climes. Fusarium is most often discovered growing on soft items like water-damaged fabrics and carpeting, and it contributes to respiratory infections, allergic reactions, and asthma. Fusarium is also known as a mold that’s specifically harmful to people with weak immune systems.

Cladosporium

Fusarium isn’t the only mold that can grow in cool environments. There’s also cladosporium, which lurks on soft surfaces like carpet and fabrics, and on hard surfaces such as floorboards and cabinets. Basically, any water-damaged surface. Like the rest of the molds on this list, cladosporium causes and exacerbates several respiratory ailments.

Ulocladium

Of the 100+ different molds, ulocladium is one whose growth is perhaps most strongly connected to the amount of water present in an area. The more water, the more likely you are to find ulocladium, making it a common sight in flooded homes – particularly on wet walls. Ulocladium is also one of the most allergy-inducing molds.

Serpula lacrymans

Serpula lacrymans, one of the most well-known yellow molds, is infamous for its ability to feed on damp wood and cause “dry rot”.

If your home has recently been affected by water damage, or if you just want to ensure that your home is mold-free, contact Axis Response Group today. Our expertise in mold testing near Arlington Heights, IL is well-documented, and our professional team will provide the solutions you need.