When you own a home, you are responsible for its structural integrity and safety. However, sometimes, hidden dangers in your home or minor problems turn out to be harbingers of larger problems to come. One such seemingly insignificant problem is that of yellow mold.
While black mold is well known for being a catastrophic problem in the home, yellow mold is not quite as notorious. However, yellow mold can be just as big a threat if it is left unchecked.
Here we will go over what yellow mold is, what it can do, and how to get rid of it.
Let's get started.
What Is Yellow Mold?
Yellow mold is similar to black mold and every other form of mold because it is a fungus. However, like black mold, yellow mold is a typically corrosive and destructive substance that, if found in your home, can signal problems.
In terms of appearance, it can appear to have a dull or vibrant yellow coloration. Its texture ranges from fuzzy, to splotchy, to slimy.
What Types of Mold are Yellow?
Aspergillus
Aspergillus describes several hundred different types of mold species. It was first cataloged in 1729 by Italian priest and biologist Pier Antonio Micheli. Aspergillus is most often found in decayed leaves and vegetation. Its coloration is typically white, green, blue, reddish-brown, and yellow-green.
Mucor
Mucor may sound like a villain from He-Man, but it is a mold. It is made up of approximately 40 different types of mold. Its coloration is typically white, gray, and yellow.
Serpula lacrymansis
Serpula lacrymansis is a mold that specifically causes dry rot. It poses the biggest threat to wood, both indoor and outdoor, any mold. It is found with coloration that is white, red, reddish-brown, and yellow.
Cladosporium
Cladosporium covers an entire genus of mold species. It particularly covers many of the types of mold that you are likely to encounter within your home. Cladosporium can have brown, white, or yellow coloration.
Epicoccum nigrum
Epicoccum nigrum is a mold that is both pathogenic to plants as well as one of the most commonly found molds in the home. It is a frequent destroyer of wooden materials, carpets, and drywall. It has a coloration of brown, orange, and yellow.
Geomyces pannorum
This is a highly common mold found outdoors. It is ubiquitous in soil. It is yellow and brown.
Where Else Can Yellow Mold Be Found?
Yellow mold is a lot like black mold in that where it crops up tends to be the same. It tends to develop in places where there is an abundance of moisture and nutrients to feed off. Here are the many places where you can expect to see yellow mold pop up.
- Basements – The basement is almost a perfect breeding ground for yellow mold because basements are typically humid, have poor ventilation, are blocked off from sunlight, and are usually the site of plumbing or a water heater.
- Crawl spaces – Crawl spaces are notorious for being humid, having poor ventilation, and receiving no sunlight.
- Bathrooms – Bathrooms deal in a high volume of water. They are also where you will likely encounter leaky plumbing and lots of humidity. This makes them perfect havens for mold growth if left unchecked.
- Kitchens – Kitchens have high volumes of water, particularly if there is a dishwasher. If you are not careful, an unclean dishwasher or leaky pipes can lead to a full infestation.
- Laundry rooms – As with kitchens and bathrooms, laundry rooms typically experience high water use and high humidity from dryers. They are also the site of plumbing problems which lead to leaks that propagate mold growth.
- Yards may seem somewhat gross, but yellow mold is frequently found in yards. It typically looks like dog vomit, for lack of a better comparison.
What is Yellow Slime Mold?
You need to understand that yellow slime mold differs from the yellow mold described up to this point. Yellow slime mold vastly differs from the previously described yellow mold because it is a name-in-name only.
This is because slime molds are no longer part of the same kingdom as fungi.
One of the primary differences between yellow mold and yellow slime mold is that yellow slime mold is typically only found outside. It feeds off of dead trees and other forms of vegetation.
Can Yellow Mold Make You Sick?
The short answer to whether or not yellow mold can make you sick is yes. Yellow mold is similar to black mold in that it travels via spores, and when you inhale those spores, you can develop some truly nasty symptoms.
Here are some things that can develop from exposure to yellow mold.
Mucormycosis
Mucormysocis is caused by exposure to Mucor yellow mold. Its symptoms are as follows:
- Headache
- Congestion
- Fever
- Black lesions around the nose or inside of the mouth
- Facial swelling on one side
Aspergillosis
Aspergillosis is contracted after exposure to Aspergillus mold. It features the following symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- Fever
- Chills
- Head or eye aches
- Lesions on skin
- Shortness of breath
Serpula lacrymans
Serpula lacrymans is typically effective on vegetation but can cause some health issues. Here are the main symptoms one can develop:
- Pneumonia
- Sinusitis
- Bronchitis
- General Respiratory Issues
Is Yellow Mold Toxic?
Different types of yellow mold produce mycotoxins, so certain yellow molds are toxic. Different forms of Aspergillus molds create mycotoxins. Mycotoxins have a wide range of effects on both humans and even livestock.
Among the possible problems brought on by mycotoxins are:
- Weight fluctuations
- Cognitive issues (brain fog, confusion, anxiety, poor memory)
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Numbness
Mycotoxins are the worst of the worst when it comes to mold. It's such a powerful toxin that the US government, among others, has weaponized it for war and likely continues to do so.
Removing Yellow Mold From Ceiling
If you discover yellow mold in your home, you will want to remove it quickly. You can take steps similar to getting rid of black mold.
However, it needs to be said that if you have yellow mold on your ceiling, you will likely have to replace the ceiling material. When ceiling tiles or drywall have mold on them, it is typically a sign that there has been a leak in your attic, and the quality of water from the leak is in question, to begin with.
It is simply impossible to salvage the materials because it cannot be guaranteed that mold will not come back, even though the discoloration is there to stay.
If the mold has grown to an extent larger than ten square feet, you need not try to take it on yourself.
With mold growth that large, the EPA recommends that you call in an expert water removal service that can properly and safely remove mold and damaged materials.
