Tradie's warning after gruesome find in Melbourne home
Michael Schulze, owner of leak detection company 1300FINDLEAK, was called to a Brunswick home this week where he found not one, but two fist-sized clusters of mushrooms thriving in the lounge area.
The culprit? A long-term, unattended leak from the bath.
'It was very, very wet. On a scale from 1 to 10, it was a 10 for sure,' Schulze told Yahoo News Australia.
'It's not pleasant at all.'
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Schulze explained that litres of stagnant water had built up under the bath, causing dampness to spread through the walls and across the property.
The result: mushrooms, and the release of potentially toxic spores into the air.
'The tenants didn't seem fussed about it, but most people don't really know the dangers of breathing in mould and being around damp areas. You can get really sick,' he warned.
The health risks of indoor mushrooms
Mushrooms aren't just a sign of extreme dampness, which can lead to structural damage.
They also pose a significant health risk.
According to Health Victoria, inhaling mushroom spores can cause respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
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Exposure to mycotoxins can even lead to nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Schulze knows this first-hand, having suffered a prolonged illness last year before discovering mould growing under his bed.
'I was just getting sick all the time,' he said.
How to avoid a fungal invasion
So, how do you prevent mushrooms from turning your home into a fungal paradise?
Schulze says there are telltale signs of water build-up to watch out for.
'First signs to look out for would be bubbling paint or discolouration of paint,' he explained. Mould, especially black mould, is another clear indicator. And if mushrooms appear, the situation has likely reached a critical point.
'There's a lot of people out there with leaks, but when people have them, they don't seem to get a leak detector… They just call a plumber… But we look at leaks all day every day.'
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