In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the different types of mold in the basement, so keep reading!
Gone are the days when mold was merely seen as an eyesore. Over the years, the issue of mold in homes has become a major issue, due to its threat to human health.
This fungus thrives in areas of high moisture, and your basement is one of such places that can attract water.
There are many species of mold in the world today, and it’ll be to your advantage to know the kind that has infested your basement.
Different Classes Of Mold Species
There are several species of mold, and they can all be divided into groups. Let’s study them one by one.
Allergenic mold: This class of mold is notorious for producing allergies and reactions. One of the major ones being asthma attacks.
Pathogenic mold: This mold group causes complications for people who already suffer from acute illnesses.
Toxigenic molds: This class of mold is known to produce toxic materials which can cause severe health problems. They have the potential to cause death among individuals with acute health problems.
Types Of Mold You Can Find In Your Basement
Now that you have an idea of the classes of mold that exist, let’s take a look at the types of mold you can find in your basement.
Knowing the kind of mold you are dealing with will give you a better idea of how you can get rid of them.
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Acremonium mold
This type of mold produces harmful toxins and is known to change in appearance as time passes. In its initial stages, it starts as a tiny moist mold, which later transforms into a powdery form.
It usually has a pink, orange, grey, or white color, and it can grow in areas with high condensation. Drain pans are among their favorite environments, as well as the basement.
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Alternaria mold
This is the most popular type of allergenic mold known to humans. It has a velvet texture and has brown or dark green hairs.
If your basement is damp, then you’d most likely find this mold species there. You can also find them in showers, under a leaking sink, and bathtubs.
This mold is common anywhere there is water damage in a building.
Being that it is an allergenic species, it can cause symptoms of asthma to appear in the nose, upper respiratory tract, and mouth.
It spreads very fast, so it would be in your best interest to get rid of it as soon as it begins to grow.
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Aspergillus mold
This mold type is a common feature in many homes in America. They are characterized by long spores which can form thick layers.
There are more than 185 types of aspergillus mold, so they can appear in several colors.
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Aureobasidium mold
Here’s another allergenic mold that you can find in your basement. They can grow behind tight corners like the back of the wallpaper, and even on wooden surfaces.
They can be found in pink or brown color, but black is their most common color. You can also find this mold on the basement wall and floor, and it can cause different types of eye, nail, and skin infections.
They can also cause skin infections so be careful not to make direct contact with them. They are among the most dangerous mold species in basements.
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Chaetomium (Black Mold)
This mold starts with a grey or brown color before eventually turning black. And they can be found in basements with water damage.
They look like cotton and they can also be recognized by their musty smell. What makes black mold in basements dangerous is its ability to cause lung-related health problems.
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Cladosporium mold
This allergenic mold species is hard to keep away from, being that they can grow in warm and cold environments. They can be found in cupboards, floorboards, fabric, carpets, and other upholstery.
They have a brown or olive-green color, as well as a suede texture.
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Fusarium mold
Similar to Cladosporium, this mold type can also thrive in warm and cold conditions. What makes it worse is that it is both allergenic and toxigenic, so it has to be removed as soon as it begins to grow.
If your basement has water issues, then they can be found growing and spreading in there.
They can be found on carpets, fabrics, wallpaper, and other indoor materials.
Their usual colors are pink, red, and white.
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Mucor mold
Mucor is an allergenic mold that can be found growing in very thick patterns. They are commonly known as white mold, but can also appear greyish.
You can find this fuzzy white mold on the basement floor and wall. You can also find them around your air-conditioning and HVAC systems. If your carpets are damp, then there’s a good chance you will find them there too.
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Penicillin mold
This is another allergenic mold that can be identified by its green or blue color. It also has a velvet-like texture.
When there is any form of water damage in your home, it can start to grow as a result. You can find penicillin growing on your damp carpets, mattresses, and wallpaper.
This type of mold should be dealt with urgency, as it can spread from one area to another in very little time.
Ironically, penicillin is vital in the production of antibiotics and can be used to process food, yet it remains one of many causes of respiratory issues when it grows in the home.
Its spores can go airborne, which allows it spread rapidly around its surrounding environments. This is dangerous since the floating spores can be inhaled by pets, adults, and children.
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Stachybotrys mold
This is a toxigenic mold type that also has the ability to cause allergies. It comes in dark green or black, and it has an irritating slimy texture.
Stach grows well in wet or damp environments, specifically on wet wood, cardboards, hay, wicker, and paper.
This mold is also known as toxic mold, thanks to its mycotoxin-producing abilities, which causes severe health complications to people who have come in contact with it.
Symptoms of such complications include breathing problems, fatigue, and sinusitis. Dull aches in the mucus membranes of the sinuses are very common among people who have been exposed to this type of mold.
Other symptoms include a burning sensation in the airways, tightened chest muscles, coughing, a bleeding nose, severe headaches, and a fever.
Several neurological problems in infants can be linked to Stachybotrys exposure. This is why it is of utmost importance to get rid of this type of mold as fast as possible, especially if you have kids at home.
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Trichoderma mold
There are 5 different sub-species of this type of mold. It is the allergenic kind and it is dominantly white, although you can find green patches around it.
Its colonies grow very fast, and they appear in wool-like clusters until they develop into more compact units.
Just like other molt species, this white mold thrives on wet surfaces and be found growing inside wallpaper, damp fabric, and damp carpets.
Since it grows well in moist environments, you can also find it growing in your air conditioning filter and HVAC system ducts. As long as there is a build-up of condensation, then you can find it there.
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Ulocladium mold
This mold is commonly black, and it grows well on surfaces that suffer from extreme wetness. They can be found in kitchens with water problems, as well as windows with high amounts of condensation.
Ulocladium can thrive alongside fusarium, Stachybotrys, and Chaetomium mold. When you find it around your basement, then it’s a clear sign that you have extreme water damage.
There are 2 distinct sub-species of this type of mold, both of which can cause severe health issues in humans who are exposed to it. Hay fever is one of its most common effects on people who are prone to allergies and immune disorders.
Asthma symptoms and breathing difficulties are also among their common effects.
There have also been reports of skin infections, so be advised not to touch it with your bare fingers.
It is easy to confuse Ulocladium with other mold types, which is why you should call a professional to take confirm the kind of mold you are dealing with.
Conclusion
There you have it guys, these are the different types of mold you can find in your basement. Hopefully, this article will help you identify the particular type of mold you are dealing with when you spot them in your home.
Remember, mold can cause those exposed to it to display different types of respiratory symptoms. It is not ideal for those who have asthma and other breathing issues.
Some mold species can also lead to complications that can lead to death, so they have to be gotten rid of urgently.
Call a professional to help you deal with your mold infestation if need be.
Take care and thanks for reading!