Black Mold Symptoms & Dangers
What black mold does to your health, how to recognize it, and the point where DIY stops and a pro starts.
Symptoms to watch
- Nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose
- Coughing and throat irritation
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Skin irritation
- Headaches and fatigue
- Aggravated asthma or wheezing
If symptoms ease when you leave and return at home, your house is the likely cause.
Is it "toxic black mold"?
Often not. The term points to Stachybotrys chartarum, which grows on chronically wet drywall and needs lab testing to confirm. Whatever the species, it means a moisture problem.
When to call a pro
Call if it covers more than ~10 sq ft, keeps returning, follows water damage, or anyone home has breathing issues. See our process.
FAQ
Black mold questions
It can cause coughing, congestion, eye and throat irritation, headaches, and worse asthma or allergies — especially for infants, older adults, and people with breathing conditions.
Nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, skin irritation, and aggravated asthma. A giveaway: symptoms fade when you leave the house.
No. Many dark molds are harmless. "Toxic black mold" usually means Stachybotrys, which needs lab testing to confirm. Either way, over ~10 sq ft should be handled professionally.
Tiny surface spots, sometimes. Anything over ~10 sq ft, tied to water damage, or in the HVAC should be done by a pro to avoid spreading spores.
Littleton Mold Guides
More mold resources
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