Unclean air ducts are a breeding place for particles that are harmful to your health. But nothing inside an unclean air duct is more harmful to human health than mold. And among all the molds that grow inside your air ducts, none is more toxic than black mold.
But, due to a lack of knowledge, many people can’t identify this fungus.
So, what does black mold look like? Black mold is a fungus that appears to be mainly black. But this mold can have a few other colors as well, ranging from dark brown to white. The fungus usually has a fuzzy texture and can appear to be moist, due to the moisture of the area they grow in.
Let’s take a deeper look at how you can identify black mold.
What is black mold?
Black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum) is a type of fungus that usually grows in areas with a lot of moisture and heat, and which are quite dark. They are often called toxic black mold, as they cause various serious health issues such as loss of immunity and inflamed lungs.
So, it is a must that you remove this fungus as soon as you realize it exists in your air ducts.
What do black molds look like?
Now that you know what it is, you should know what black mold looks like. This will help you identify the mold as early as possible, and dispose of it. Here are a couple of factors that will help you see them in your home.
1. Color
Black molds get their name from being primarily black. But the issue is that a lot of fungi growing in your home are black too. So, what is the difference between mold and black mold?
Black molds are not always black, despite what their name suggests. In fact, other than black, these molds can have a lot of other colors.
You can find black molds in your home that are dark brown, dark green, and orange with white specks. The latter happens when they are about to produce spore.
2. Texture
Since you can not always rely on their color to know if you have black mold in your home, you need to know their texture as well. Unlike most other dark-colored molds, black molds have a furry texture, which can sometimes turn velvety.
Also, as they grow in moist areas, sometimes they can appear to be moist and slimy. The furry texture only remains until the mold is in small patches. As it grows, it can look like black stains.
When black mold gets dry, it loses its velvety and moist texture and looks like dark-colored powder.
How can you identify black mold?
The issue with black mold is, you can’t really see them until it’s too late. Once you can see them, it will mean they have proliferated and taken over your entire air duct system.
This is why, identifying black mold by other means is necessary, which will help you remove them before it’s too late.
1. Smell
One of the most common and easiest ways to identify black mold is by its distinct smell. They have a musty or earthy smell, which is a telltale sign that your air ducts are infested with black mold.
Sometimes you will smell the mold, but won’t be able to find them anywhere. When this happens, there is a chance that the ducts have water leaks which have caused mold growth.
Sometimes you can’t identify the smell of black mold due to being accustomed to it. If you suspect there is black mold in your ducts, then bring a friend to ensure its smells.
2. Sickness
Another way to tell if your home has a black mold infestation is by seeing whether you or any of your family members have fallen sick.
You, especially your elderly can suffer from plenty of health issues from black mold. These issues include shortness of breath, allergies, etc. If that happens for no clear reason, then you might have black mold in your air ducts.
3. Sighting
This is one of the more obvious ways to identify black mold in your home. You already know what it looks like.
So, if you see velvety, moist patches, or large black stains on your walls, then you have a serious case of black mold infestation.
How to get rid of black mold
Now that you know how you can identify black mold, you now have to know how you can remove these fungi from your home. This will help you keep your home healthy and clean.
Wear protective gear
Black mold spores are not only toxic when inhaled, but they are also toxic when they come in contact with skin tissue. That’s why you should wear protective gear such as a PPE kit, gloves, mask, and goggles before handling black mold.
Seal the area
Mold spores spread through the air, so you should be very careful handling them. To ensure these spores don’t spread to other parts of your home when you are cleaning your ducts, you should seal the area.
You can do it by taping all the vents. Then you should open only one window in the room and start a fan so that the spores can fly outside.
Scrub the mold off
Now you should start scrubbing the mold off your ducts. You should first prepare a cleaning solution by mixing tree tea oil or soap with water.
Then take a clean cotton cloth, and scrub the entire mold-infested area with it, until you can see no more fungus.
Disinfect the area
After cleaning the ducts, you should disinfect them to ensure there are no remnants of black mold or spores. You can use white vinegar, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide to disinfect your air ducts.
But be very careful while using bleach, as concentrated bleach can be pretty harmful to the eyes, and skin.
Finish up
To finish up your cleaning, you should remove all the tape from the vents, and open all the windows and doors. As a result, the room will be properly ventilated.
You shouldn’t enter the room before the toxic fumes have left the room.
Final Words
Once you get to know “What does black mold look like?”, getting rid of them will be much easier. If you feel like you don’t have the necessary material or skills necessary to clean black mold from your air ducts, book our air duct cleaning service to take care of it.
FAQ
1. What kills black mold instantly?
If you want to clean black mold instantly, then a mixture of baking soda, white vinegar, and water is the best solution for you.
2. Is all black mold toxic?
Not all molds that are black are toxic. There are a lot of molds that have black coloring, but only a few are toxic. But it is better to not take any chances and get rid of molds as soon as possible.
3. How do you get rid of mold permanently?
There is only one way of treating black mold permanently. You have to ensure there can be no moisture buildup in your home, so that mold can’t grow.