Am I Getting Sick Or Is There Mold in My House?

Recently, a client of ours came to us for mold testing because she wasn’t feeling well. Her complaints sounded regular enough: running nose, itchy eyes, a small cough, and ongoing fatigue. Her doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with her, but we immediately noticed one stand-out symptom - she only felt ill when at home. 

Mold allergies mimic the common cold or flu and can easily be mistaken for a real viral infection, except that symptoms often disappear or lessen when the affected person leaves a mold-contaminated space. If this story sounds familiar to you, read on to learn more about the common symptoms of mold exposure in the home. 

Common Mold Symptoms

Mold can grow anywhere in our homes and is found both out in the open and hidden away. No matter where it is, the small spores that it uses to spread are what primarily causes allergic reactions - and are also what shows up on mold testing in Toronto. 

Some of the most common symptoms of mold exposure include: 

• sneezing, post-nasal drip
• itchy watery or burning eyes
• headache
• cough
• fatigue

Why Is There Mold In my House?

There are many reasons that mold growth appears in Toronto-area homes. It could be due to external factors, such as your home being located in a flood-prone area, or internal issues like humidity or a pipe leak. Whatever the cause, mold growth is primarily caused by excess water or indoor moisture. Leaks, drips, spills and floods are all common causes of mold infestations. Once exposed to water, mold spores can come out of dormancy and begin to grow in as little as two days. 

Where Does Mold Grow?

Mold can be found in any room of your home but there are rooms where it’s more common. 

The Attic: Because most of us don’t use our attics, a leak or condensation buildup can go undetected for months. 

The Bathroom: With plenty of water and humidity from activities like bathing, the bathroom very commonly sees mold growth. 

The Basement: Many laundry rooms are located in the basement, and in many homes (especially older ones), high humidity and poor airflow can quickly encourage a mold infestation. 

Get Rid of Mold - For Good. 

Professional mold testing and remediation is the only way to locate all sources of mold growth indoors and get rid of it - for good. Once we remediated our client’s home, her cold symptoms disappeared and she started sleeping better and waking up more rested. Not only did she get her energy back, but her home was more comfortable and safer to be in once the mold was removed. For more information on mold testing in Toronto or other common signs of mold growth, get in touch with us at  1-866-684-7684.