Chaetomium Mold: The Hidden Danger After Water Damage

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Most homeowners know to worry about mold after a flood or leak—but they may not realize that some of the most destructive types of mold grow behind the scenes, inside walls or under carpets. One of the most commonly overlooked yet serious molds in water-damaged properties is Chaetomium (pronounced key-TOE-mee-um).

If your home or business has suffered a roof leak, plumbing failure, or flooding, you need to know about this mold—and why it’s a red flag for more than just allergies.

What Is Chaetomium Mold?

Chaetomium is a cellulose-loving mold commonly found in buildings that have suffered water damage. It thrives on materials like drywall, wallpaper, carpets, wood, and insulation—basically anything organic that stays damp for too long.

Unlike many molds that grow in visible patches, Chaetomium often hides inside walls or under floors, growing undetected until serious damage occurs.

Where Does Chaetomium Grow?

Chaetomium needs high moisture and cellulose to grow. It’s commonly found in:

  • Drywall after roof or pipe leaks
  • Carpet padding and subflooring
  • Basement walls and foundation leaks
  • Behind wallpaper or paneling
  • Attics and crawlspaces with poor ventilation

Its presence often indicates prolonged moisture exposure—and sometimes deeper structural issues.

Health Risks Associated with Chaetomium

While Chaetomium isn’t as notorious as Stachybotrys (black mold), it can still cause a range of health issues, especially in people with:

  • Asthma or respiratory sensitivity
  • Weakened immune systems
  • Allergies or chronic sinus infections

Exposure to Chaetomium spores may lead to:

  • Persistent coughing or sneezing
  • Skin and eye irritation
  • Headaches or fatigue
  • Neurological symptoms in severe or long-term cases

In rare situations, certain species of Chaetomium have been associated with opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals.

Why Chaetomium Indicates Bigger Problems

One of the biggest concerns with Chaetomium is that its presence often means there’s been significant, ongoing water damage. By the time it’s detected, building materials may already be compromised.

It’s also commonly found alongside other toxic molds like Stachybotrys and Aspergillus, which makes accurate identification and complete remediation critical.

How to Detect and Remove Chaetomium Mold

Chaetomium is difficult to identify without laboratory testing. That’s why professional mold inspection is the safest first step after water damage.

At MSI, we conduct:

  • Air and surface mold testing to identify the type and severity of mold
  • Moisture mapping to find the source of dampness
  • Containment and HEPA air filtration to prevent cross-contamination
  • Safe removal of affected materials followed by antimicrobial treatment

Because of its hidden nature and aggressive growth, Chaetomium cleanup should never be DIY.

Water Damage? Don’t Wait for Chaetomium to Appear

If your property has experienced flooding, leaks, or high humidity, don’t assume the problem is gone just because surfaces look dry. Hidden mold can begin growing within 24–48 hours of water exposure.

The sooner it’s identified, the easier and safer the cleanup process will be.

Schedule a Mold Inspection with MSI Today

At MSI, we’ve been inspecting and remediating mold since 1998. Our certified team has seen thousands of water-damaged buildings and knows exactly what to look for—even the mold you can’t see.

Call us at 877-712-1600 to schedule a professional mold inspection and protect your home, health, and investment.

Understanding Stachybotrys: The Truth About “Black Mold”

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When most people hear the term “black mold,” they’re thinking of one mold in particular: Stachybotrys chartarum. Its dark appearance and alarming reputation have made it infamous, but separating fear from fact is critical—especially for property owners, landlords, and those with compromised immune systems.

How to Say It

Stachybotrys is pronounced:
/ˌstæk.iˈbɒ.trɪs/
(STACK-ee-BAH-tris)

It’s often mispronounced or lumped together with other black-colored molds, but it is its own distinct genus and species.

What Is Stachybotrys?

Stachybotrys is a slow-growing, cellulose-loving mold that thrives on water-saturated materials. It typically appears dark green to black and has a slimy or sticky texture when wet due to its high moisture content. Unlike some faster-growing molds like Aspergillus or Penicillium, Stachybotrys requires constant moisture over an extended period to develop.

It commonly grows on:

  • Drywall
  • Ceiling tiles
  • Wood framing
  • Insulation
  • Wallpaper
  • Carpet backing
  • Paper-based materials

Because it takes longer to grow, its presence usually indicates a long-standing or unresolved water issue, such as a hidden leak, slow drip, or chronic humidity.

Health Effects of Stachybotrys Exposure

Stachybotrys has earned its reputation due to its potential to produce mycotoxins, especially in environments with high humidity and low airflow. However, it’s important to note that not all Stachybotrys strains produce toxins, and the presence of the mold doesn’t automatically mean there’s an immediate health threat.

Still, the risks are serious enough to warrant immediate attention:

Potential Health Effects:

  • Chronic coughing and sneezing
  • Eye, nose, and throat irritation
  • Fatigue and headaches
  • Skin rashes
  • Wheezing or asthma exacerbation
  • In severe cases: respiratory distress, especially in infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals

There have been controversial reports linking Stachybotrys exposure to pulmonary hemorrhaging in infants, but these claims are debated and not definitively proven. That said, any mold exposure in vulnerable populations should be taken seriously.

What Makes It Dangerous?

What sets Stachybotrys apart is not just the health concerns—it’s the difficulty in detecting it early. Since it thrives behind walls and under flooring, by the time it’s visible or smells musty, it may have already compromised indoor air quality or damaged building materials.

Additionally, home testing kits are not sufficient to determine if Stachybotrys is present. Professional sampling and lab testing are required to confirm it, as it often coexists with other molds that appear similar to the naked eye.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Panic—But Don’t Ignore It

Stachybotrys is serious, but it’s also manageable. The key is to act fast. If you suspect long-term water damage, musty odors, or persistent allergic reactions in your home or office, it’s time to bring in professionals.

At MSI, we’ve tested and remediated mold since 1998, including thousands of cases involving Stachybotrys. Our certified experts know how to locate, sample, and safely address dangerous molds—without fearmongering or unnecessary costs. This is one of the many reasons, we are the most trusted disaster restoration company in the business.

What is Alternaria?

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Alternaria is one of the most important allergenic molds found in the US. It is most common as an outdoor mold, as it thrives on various types of vegetation. Alternaria spores can be detected from Spring through late Fall in most temperate areas, and can reach levels of thousands of spores per cubic meter of air. While one usually thinks of molds as a problem in damp or even wet conditions, Alternaria spores can be at their highest concentrations during dry, windy conditions that are ideal for the spores to become airborne.

Alternaria is one of the most common outdoor molds, but also has been found in the indoor environment. The National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing conducted a study looking at house dust samples from 831 homes in 75 different locations throughout the US. Alternaria was found in over 90% of those dust samples. While much of that allergenic load was probably due to outdoor Alternaria finding its way inside, Alternaria is known to grow on moist surfaces in the home as well.

Alternaria is known to be a problem in allergic disease. In patients who show allergy to molds, up to 70% of those patients demonstrate allergy to Alternaria, and Alternaria is known to be a risk factor for asthma. Dampness and mold problems have been reported to occur in 20 – 50% of modern homes. Additionally, keep in mind that mold spores often outnumber pollen spores by 1,000 to one, and mold can produce spores for months on end, versus the weeks of pollen production by many allergenic plants.