Mold - Organic Food Source

12/10/2015 (Permalink)

Wood is a great organic food source. This basement door was at a home in Clarks Summit, Pa.

Most fungi grow best while feeding on organic materials. They cannot manufacture their own food source, so they use plant products for food. Since organic food source is one necessary requirement for mold to breed it would benefit us to know what exactly is an organic food source?  

The word organic by definition means -"relating to, or derived from living matter". So what sources in the home or business are such?

Here is the issue. Many buildings are constructed of WOOD or WOOD PRODUCTS. Most Fabrics are of COTTON, WOOL and HEMP. A CARPET secondary backing is an excellent nutrient source.. So is the ADHESIVE  that bonds wall coverings to the structure. DUST and LINT are largely organic. While this list is not all inclusive, they are common problem areas we all have in our homes and businesses.

So as you can see, there are many examples of organic food sources in the indoor environment that fungi can eat, grow and spread. Knowing this can help a homeowner identify and prevent possible mold issues. When in doubt always consult a indoor environmental professional. 

An organic food source is only one of the the five factors that need to be present for mold infestation. The others are temperature, moisture, darkness and air flow.

SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/old Forge is a mold remediation company. We follow IICRC standards in the remediation process. We do not do mold testing but will happily provide an estimate if mold is determined to be present. Call us today at (570) 235-1646 if you have any questions. We do more than just smoke, fire and water cleanup and restoration. We are Lackawanna County's premier specialty cleaning company.