How Does Mold Spread Through The Air?

Does mold travel through the air? The answer is yes, it does. In fact, mold, like most other fungi, can spread through not only air but in water and on people and animals. 

According to a report from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration), “Mold growths, or colonies, can start to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours. They reproduce by spores – tiny, lightweight “seeds”- that travel through the air.”

Mold growths will thrive in moist, warm, and dark areas and will continue to spread as long as there is a food source available. Food sources for mold include water affected building materials such as paper, wood, carpet, insulation, and drywall. 

Mold might also be found growing on furniture and clothing.

 Mold spores can be inhaled by those living or working in areas that have been infected. This leads to toxicity for some sensitive individuals who may suffer severe health reactions.

More commonly, those living and working in a mold affected area experience symptoms of mold exposure such as coughing, wheezing, headaches, and muscle pains.

Discovering that water has infiltrated your space and that it has caused mold to grow is a distressing event for homeowners. 

Reaching out to the certified professional mold removal, remediation, and restoration team at HRS in Denver helps you stop mold from growing and decrease the chance that those who live and work in your infected space will suffer long-term health issues. 

Contact us, and we will begin quickly to take care of the mold that has damaged your property.

What Is Mold? 

Mold is a fungus. It forms as a colony of spores, which are simple microscopic organisms that thrive anywhere there is a moist environment and can start to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours.

Molds are in every area of the environment and in the air that you breathe each day.

Mold needs water or moisture, warmth, and darkness to spread. It thrives on wood products, ceiling tiles, cardboard, wallpaper, carpets, drywall, fabric, plants, foods, insulation, and other organic materials.

In addition to the damage, molds can cause in your home, they can also cause mild to severe health problems for those who are sensitive to its spores.

How Does Mold Spread?

Mold spreads when spores are released into the air and travel there or on hosts such as animals, people, or in water.

Mold can grow anywhere there is moisture, warmth, and darkness such as on building materials or surfaces. This combination happens frequently when a water emergency happens in a home or property. 

How Far Do Mold Spores Travel?

Mold can begin to grow on a moist surface in as little as 24-48 hours. As it spreads, it creates new spores and colonies. 

Mold can spread quickly, as colonies feed on the material that is hosting them.

These colonies grow at a rate of one square inch per day. This means that in less than a week, mold can spread to cover an area of several square feet.

How Fast Does Mold Grow?

Mold begins to spread as soon as it begins to grow. Colonies can build in as little as 1- 12 days after spores come into contact with the host material. 

Building materials, fabric, and carpet that have suffered moisture are all ideal hosts for mold colonies.

Mold spores are able to expand at a rapid pace and are often found in hidden areas of a home.  Left untreated, it will spread in a house and cover a surface in a matter of days.

Is Mold Dangerous? 

Mold spores can become dangerous to those who are sensitive when it is left unmitigated and is allowed to spread from room to room of a home or property.

Some molds release spores that can be toxic to individuals who are allergic to them. When a person inhales the spores, they may suffer a series of mold exposure toxicity symptoms that range in severity between mild, short-term symptoms and serious, long-term health conditions.

Though mold spores are in the air we breathe daily, it becomes a danger when colonies spread and release large quantities of spores that end in health related issues for those who live and work in areas where an old infestation has occurred.

How Do I Get Rid Of Mold

The first step in getting rid of mold in your home is becoming aware that mold is growing in your space. This often happens when a homeowner becomes aware of a musty smell in the air, or when they see the discoloration caused on surfaces by mold colonies.

Once mold is discovered, the process of stopping the moisture causing the ideal growth space for the colony starts. 

Mold is tested and identified, and drying efforts begin.

Drying a space that has been infected by mold is an essential step because mold colonies begin to die as soon as moisture is removed from their reach. This limits the most dangerous health effects or damage that might occur from continuing mold growth.

Reaching out to professional services, like those offered by the certified mold mitigation professionals at HRS, ensures that you won’t see continued mold growth as a result of moisture being allowed to remain in a space.  

Once the area is fully dried, technicians are able to clean, repair, and disinfect all salvageable property in a space. 

HRS’s Mold Remediation & Restoration Services

At HRS, we offer highly-trained and certified technicians who can help you mitigate a mold problem soon after it is discovered.

Our team is by your side throughout the process, from identifying and testing the mold that is infecting your space, to cleaning and disinfecting the area and keeping those who live and work on your property healthy and safe.

It is our mission to bring your property back to its pre-damaged condition in the shortest time possible. 

Mold Inspection & Testing

The first step in the process of getting rid of mold in your space is to find where it is hiding. 

This can be harder than it sounds and is why the certified technicians from HRS in Denver, employ technology like thermal cameras and moisture meters.

Once the mold is discovered, testing helps us determine which type of mold is growing and how dangerous it might be to those who live and work in the space that has been infected.

Mold Removal & Remediation

Mold colonies begin to die as soon as the water that is fostering its growth is removed. 

Stopping the growth is an essential first step, but mitigating the damage caused by the mold spread is also important. 

HRS’s Denver-based certified technicians use professional-grade tools to clean and disinfect all areas covered by mold. 

Personal property that is affected but is salvageable is also cleaned and repaired.

At this stage of the process, all affected areas are cleaned, disinfected, and readied for restoration. The final step in returning your property to its pre-mold condition. 

Mold Restoration

Restoration is returning your property, the space, and all salvageable personal items, to their pre-mold condition.

At HRS, our mold remediation professionals in Denver have licensed contractors with years of experience helping homeowners recover from damage caused by mold. 

Our restoration teams provide skilled repairs to people who have endured trauma, fire, water and mold emergencies.

Contact HRS Restoration Services Today!

When you suffer an emergency on your property, whether it is fire, water, mold or other trauma, HRS’s certified and licensed restoration professionals in Denver are ready to help.

Bringing your property back to its pre-damaged condition, while protecting the health and safety of those who live and work in the space, is our mission.

Contact us today to get started!