Ignoring mold is a very risky decision, especially as a commercial property owner or landlord. It doesn’t just look gross; it can affect your tenants’ or occupants’ health as well if not cleaned properly. Actually, one of the most overlooked threats lurking in offices, warehouses, and retail properties is mold. Mold can be easy to find if there is a lot of it, but most often, it shows in hidden crawl spaces and small corners, so it’s important to always be on the lookout. If you end up ignoring mold in commercial spaces, it can have lasting effects, not just on property value, but also on the health and safety of everyone who enters. At INX Indoor Air Quality, we’re proud to be a trusted name in mold remediation in Gladwyne PA. Ignoring mold issues can really take a toll on your health, but don’t worry, we’ll walk you through how to stay protected. Stick around—we’ve got some important tips to share! We’ve been around the block when it comes to mold removal, remediation, and more. See how we can help you get started in understanding the risks and dangers of mold and what to do about it as a commercial property owner or manager.
The Unseen Dangers of Commercial Mold
Commercial mold is a whole different beast when compared to residential mold. This is because of the amount of space most commercial mold properties have. Mold tends to thrive in damp, poorly ventilated areas. With mold, it may seem like a small, easy task to fix, but if you don’t clean it up properly, it can cause significant health risks and come back for more damage. Commercial properties, with their complex HVAC systems and hidden moisture sources, are especially susceptible to undetected mold growth.
Infrastructure Damage with Mold
Not only is mold terrible to breathe 24/7, but it can also affect the building’s infrastructure. As a commercial property owner or manager, it is your job to make sure everything is clean and running well. If mold is ignored in a commercial building, it can affect the building by ruining or damaging the walls, ceilings, and even the foundation. This can be extremely costly to fix, too. Try to save the money you would be spending on foundational fixes and put some of it into hiring a mold removal team like INX Indoor Air Quality. It’s an investment that will save you money in the long run.
Health Risks Associated With Mold Exposure
So, what kind of health damage can mold really do? Well, mold releases microscopic spores into the air, and if you or your occupants breathe this air in, you could be putting yourself in danger without even realizing it. Here are some health risks we’ve come across the most when it comes to mold exposure:
- Having Allergic Reactions: Mold exposure commonly triggers sneezing, watery eyes, itching, and skin rashes—even in individuals with no history of allergies.
- Bad Respiratory Problems: Employees, tenants, and visitors may experience persistent coughing, wheezing, nasal congestion, and throat irritation.
- Asthma Flare-up and Chronic Conditions: Mold can significantly worsen asthma symptoms and may even lead to severe infections for those with compromised immune systems.
- Potential Long-Term Illness: Prolonged exposure has been linked to chronic sinus infections, fatigue, headaches, and even cognitive issues.
If your occupants have children, pets, or even elderly individuals, it may be more important to get them out of the space when mold is present because they are the most susceptible to getting sick. You can get services like commercial mold remediation in Gladwyne, PA, to at least get an inspection to determine how bad the mold situation is.
Why Ignoring Mold Is Costly and Risky
The obvious reason to ignore mold has been mentioned, but there are also a handful of other reasons to take it seriously. Ignoring mold growth in commercial spaces can escalate into major financial and legal problems. Property owners and managers are legally responsible for providing a safe environment. If mold comes into the space and nothing is done about it, they could be putting themselves at risk of a lawsuit or hefty settlements. Some can’t come back from this financially, so it’s better to just get rid of the mold problem as soon as possible rather than risking the legal fees.
Also, there is something called productivity losses. Sick building syndrome is real. Mold can decrease employee productivity due to increased sick days, absenteeism, and low morale. Businesses known for poor air quality or sick building conditions will struggle to attract and retain tenants or employees. If your employees don’t want to work in a productive manner, it can affect your profits as well as your brand image. Nobody wants to be pushing their employees to work in an unsafe environment.
What Happens if You Breathe in Mold Spores?
Breathing in mold isn’t that dangerous if it only happens a handful of times, but if you’re currently living or working in a space that has a large concentration of mold spores, it may be concerning for your health. The most common symptoms of exposure to mold include respiratory issues such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Headaches, fatigue, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin may also accompany these symptoms. If you’re someone who is already prone to illness or has pre-existing conditions, breathing in mold spores can make your symptoms even worse and can even lead to a hospital visit.
Mold doesn’t just affect your physical health; it can also affect your mental health. Mold poisoning can cause difficulties concentrating, memory loss, and confusion. Then, consider mental health. Living or working in an environment infested with mold can cause anxiety, stress, or even depression. All around, it’s not a good thing.
What Mold Toxicity Looks Like
So, how do you know what mold toxicity looks like? Usually, the symptoms don’t occur till you’re exposed to it on a daily basis. Once it’s in your system, they call it mycotoxin illness or mold toxicity. This can be treated, but it’s important to know the symptoms before you go to the doctor. Here are a few we have found that are most common:
- Fatigue and weakness
- Headaches and migraines
- Difficulty breathing and coughing
- Sinus infections and allergies
- Skin rashes and hives
- Digestive issues such as nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain
- Mood changes such as anxiety, depression, and irritability
If you have most of these symptoms, it’s advised to go to the doctor as soon as you can. These symptoms can be mild to severe, depending on the individual’s sensitivity to mold.
The Importance of Regular Inspections and Teaming Up with Mold Removal Companies
These health risks can all be avoided if you team up with a professional mold inspection company. Companies like INX Indoor Air Quality have specific steps in place to identify early signs of mold growth. Even if you can’t see the mold yourself, our team is able to spot it with our high-tech equipment. We typically check out specific high-risk areas first when we’re doing a standard commercial mold removal Gladwyne PA. Our team looks at storage rooms, basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and even the HVAC systems. We’ve found these areas are the most moisture-prone.
If you see mold or hear about mold from one of your tenants or occupants, get professional intervention as fast as possible. The mold experts, like us, know exactly what to do in targeting the root cause. We’re also able to make sure it doesn’t come back again. DIY methods don’t always do the trick, so if you think you can get rid of the mold yourself, you may be mistaken. DIY methods not only allow mold to return, but can also put your team and building occupants at further risk.
Can You Recover from Mold Exposure?
The good news is that if you do end up dealing with mold exposure, you are able to recover. Most people, with proper treatment, can get better over time. One of the main ways to do that, though, is to get out of the area that has the concentrated mold spores. If you’re continuously breathing in toxic air, your body will see the effects. Once you’ve confirmed that there is mold in the air you’re either working or living in, remove yourself as soon as possible. Recovery time varies depending on the severity of exposure and individual health factors. Even if you notice something small, like coughing more than usual, it’s important to get it checked out. It could be nothing, but it’s safer to have the peace of mind rather than it being a worst-case scenario. Also, giving a call to a mold professional team like INX Indoor Air Quality isn’t a bad idea either. We may be able to tell you what needs to be done regarding quick clean-ups or preparing the commercial space for experts to come in.
Preventing Mold Growth in the Future
As a commercial property owner, your main job is to make sure the space you manage is clean and healthy for everyone. In doing this, there are some steps that you can take to help prevent mold growth long-term. First, to fix leaks of any kind. Even something as small as a water drop from a pipe. Then, improve your ventilation system as much as you can. This all makes sure that the amount of moisture in the air is kept to a minimum. Additionally, regularly checking for and addressing any potential sources of moisture can help prevent mold growth.
Another important step is to keep indoor humidity levels below 50%, as this greatly reduces the likelihood of mold growth. This can be achieved through proper ventilation, using dehumidifiers, and repairing any water leaks promptly.
If you end up keeping tabs on all these tips and proactively keeping your commercial property clean, then you shouldn’t see mold any time soon. Just remember, if you do see mold or even suspect it, it’s better to call the professionals at INX Indoor Air Quality, rather than ignore it.
Why Choose Professional Commercial Mold Removal?
As we’ve mentioned, DIY strategies never really work out when it comes to true mold removal. There are so many reasons why picking professional commercial mold removal experts is the right choice. First, they give very thorough assessments. You won’t be able to do the inspections that these professionals can do because they’ll have specific equipment for seeing every nook and cranny for mold. Second, professionals have advanced ways to get rid of mold and mold spores. It’s more than just wiping down a countertop. Our team can specifically eliminate mold safely without the risk of spreading spores around. Lastly, mold companies can give you recommendations or future strategies if mold happens again. We’ve experienced tons of different mold situations and can help you reduce recurrence just from simple tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years.
Choose Us and Your Commercial Space With INX Indoor Air Quality
Mold is no small feat, especially if it’s occurred in a commercial space. Commercial properties are known for having a large amount of space with multiple units or offices. With this in mind, mold can spread to all of these if left untreated. If mold is spread to these areas, your occupants or tenants can risk their health by breathing in mold spores all day long. It’s a serious problem for them and the infrastructure of your building. The best decision you can make in a situation like this is to team up with a reliable commercial mold remediation company Gladwyne PA like INX Indoor Air Quality. Use us for your next mold inspection, fast mold remediation, or just the basic mold removal service. We’ve been around the area for a while and know exactly what to do to make sure commercial properties, specifically, are clean and do not contain mold spores in the air. Don’t leave liability and health to chance. Contact INX Indoor Air Quality, today for a rigorous commercial mold inspection, and we can help you create a safer workplace or living space for everyone!
