Mold tends to look a fair bit like another common crawl space invader, wood rot. There are some key differences between these invaders that can help you and area professionals determine which has settled into your home.
Wood Rot
Wood rot is most commonly known as Serpula lacrymans, one fungus among many. Unlike mold, however, wood rot primarily shows up in this form when it invades your home. Wood rot spores will make their way into your home via your HVAC system, just as mold spores do, but they’re not going to immediately take root. Instead, spores will only grow when they land on wooden structures. Even then, the spores need warmth and moisture if they’re going to take root.
Just because wood rot is persnickety, however, doesn’t mean that it’s not a problem. After this fungus’s incubation period, wood rot can tear through your wooden supports at a rate that can rapidly compromise your home’s structural integrity. If you don’t catch wood rot early in its incubation period, you may need to replace a significant percentage of the wooden supports not just in your crawl space but throughout the rest of your home as well.
Mold
The term “mold” doesn’t refer to a single home invader. Instead, there are several different types of mold that can wreak havoc throughout your house. This genetic diversity sets a mold infestation apart from wood rot growth, but it’s not the only difference between the two invaders. Mold, luckily, doesn’t eat away at your property like wood rot does. It can, however, start growing just about anywhere. Mold spores can settle and begin growing in your drywall, carpeting, exposed furniture, and insulation. Its ability to grow in the most inconvenient of places can make it especially difficult to get rid of.
Furthermore, mold has a significant impact on residents’ health, where wood rot does not. All molds, regardless of genus, can cause your family to develop respiratory problems, even if your family has no history of such conditions. These conditions can range from mild coughing to difficulty breathing and asthma in adults and children.