What Are the Most Common Types of Mold Found in Homes Today?

If you have a significant amount of moisture in your home, it can cause mold to grow. All mold falls into three categories. Allergenic spores won’t make a person sick, but they can trigger asthma.

Types of mold that are pathogenic can make people with underlying issues fall ill. Toxigenic mold is the most dangerous of all. It can cause lethal health problems.

No matter what kind of spores you’re dealing with, you need to find a way to get rid of them, including rising damp.  The first step is identifying them. Check out this guide to learn everything you need to know about household mold.

Stachybotrys

Stachybotrys mold is also known as the notorious black mold. There are two different types of it. These are stachybotrys chlorohalonata and Stachybotrys chartarum. They’re both dangerous molds that can be toxic to you and your family.

It tends to grow on cardboard, wood, paper, and hay. It also has the reputation of winding up inside ventilation systems. The easiest way to identify it is by its musty scent.

If you leave it alone, it can cause horrible asthma attacks, depression, fatigue, breathing problems, and sinus infections. This isn’t a type of mold that you want to handle by yourself.

Always hire mold remediation services to take care of it. They have gear that can keep them safe throughout the cleaning process. You don’t.

Alternaria

If you have mold growing in your bathroom, it’s most likely Alternaria. It’s one of the most common types of household mold. You can spot it in rooms that are damp and not well-lit.

Bathrooms aren’t the only places in your house that fit the bill in this regard. Due to condensation, you can find it on the bottom of your windows and under your sink.

It’s an allergenic mold, so it’s not as dangerous as Stachybotrys. It can still trigger asthma attacks, but getting rid of it isn’t as crucial unless you have underlying conditions.

Chaetomium

Chaetomium mold is more common in outdoor spaces, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t grow in doors as well. You may spot it if your home has undergone any serious flood or water damage.

When you meet the necessary moisture requirement, Chaetomium will grow inside of your drywall. That makes it a little difficult to spot. It has a musty smell that you’ll have to sniff around for.

It starts out as a white fuzzy fungus that gets darker as time goes on. When it gets into the late stages of its growth process, it’s easy to mistake it for black mold.

We will reassure you that it’s not quite as dangerous. At the end of the day, Chaetomium mold is only allergenic. You may have a reaction to it, but it’s not going to cause any lasting respiratory damage.

Aspergillus

Aspergillus is another highly common mold that can grow even if you’re a smart homeowner. Many people find it in their HVAC systems. If your house undergoes any kind of water damage, it can also cause Aspergillus.

There is one species in the Aspergillus family that people use to make fermented condiments such as soy sauce. That doesn’t mean you want to spot it in your house.

It can cause allergic reactions and severe respiratory issues. There’s even a toxic version of it that produces chemicals that can cause cancer. It can also be pretty lethal to those who have underlying infections.

Trichoderma

Trichoderma grows the best when presented with damp soil. That doesn’t mean you can’t find it in your house. It will appear anywhere it can find moist organic material.

Some common areas are under the carpets and beneath wallpaper. It’s a toxic mold that can cause allergic reactions and sinus infections by producing mycotoxins.

Aureobasidium

Aureobasidium is a pink and black mold that makes its home in outdoor environments. This is where it can grow and thrive the best, but it can flourish in damp homes.

It grows on wooden furniture, painted walls, wallpaper, and around windows. If you’ve used caulk to make any quick repairs around your home, it can attract Aureobasidium mold. It’s an allergenic mold that can stimulate some horrible reactions.

Ulocladium

Ulocladium needs a ton of moisture to be able to thrive. It’s common in showers, washing machines, and any refrigerators that dispense water.

It can appear in other places in the event of a flood or heavy water damage. It looks a lot like black mold, but it’s not quite as dangerous to deal with. It can still cause some pretty bad infections and allergic reactions.

Cladosporium

Cladosporium can grow in both warm and chilly environments. It can infect floorboards, old fabrics, carpets, and wooden cabinets.

It can be a nasty type of mold. If left unchecked, it can cause serious problems like respiratory complications, breathing issues, asthma, nail fungus, and skin lesions.

Serpula

The last mold we’re going to talk about is serpula. It’s a yellow mold that feeds on wood and dries it out. It’s found more often in outdoor areas, but like most other types of mold, it can make it inside.

It can cause infections in people, but it’s more destructive to objects. Your wooden structures don’t have to be damp for serpula to infect them. It can creep in regardless and cause dry rot.

Understanding the Different Types of Mold

The last thing anyone wants to see in their home is mold. It can make your family sick, and in some cases, destroy your house. The first step in defeating it is identifying what kind you’re dealing with.

We hope that reading this article helped you get a jumpstart in your research on the different types of mold. For more tips that will help you clear up your mold issue, feel free to explore the rest of our blog.