The Toxic Health Effects Of Mold
Mold is more than just unpleasant to look at. Not only can it permanently damage your home but also it can seriously affect your health. Some molds are toxic and cause serious medical conditions. Most molds badly affect people with existing allergies or asthma and, if there are enough spores in the air, can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat.
When mold levels are elevated and there is chronic exposure in the home, side effects can run the gamut from mild to serious. These can include sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness of the chest, skin irritation, asthma, respiratory infection, and toxic poisoning. Individuals with suppressed immune systems may be particularly vulnerable to illnesses caused by mold contamination.
Mold Inspection Costs An Average Of $650
Mold inspections cost about $650, regardless of whether it is a black mold inspection or an apartment mold inspection. A mold inspection is typically the best first step in determining how extensive a mold problem is and whether major remediation needs to be done to make the space safe again.
For those whod like to sidestep the cost of a professional inspection and try to perform a home mold inspection themselves, the best mold test kits range in price from $30 to $90 and can be purchased easily online. DIY mold testing can be useful and more cost-effective if the suspected mold is contained to certain areas, like a bathroom or under the kitchen sink. However, its important to remember that the results can vary and in some cases can even be inaccurate if the tested material comes in contact come in contact with other airborne contaminants. Customers will want to closely follow directions to ensure accurate results.
What Happens During A Mold Inspection
The inspector will first examine any areas that may have already been susceptible to mold. The inspector will also perform a visual inspection of the remainder of the house, concentrating on areas where mold is known to commonly form.
The home inspector may use equipment such as moisture meters or infrared camera to detect the presence of moisture in drywall or in other inaccessible areas. The source of moisture may also be determined. This will help to come up with a solution to remedy the issue.
Afterward, the inspector will recommend a course of action. Part one of the plan is solving the moisture problem. The home inspector may have discovered the source or further investigation may be needed. Without solving the moisture problem, removing the mold is pointless because it will just grow back over time.
If the mold does not affect a large area, you may be able to handle the cleanup yourself. If it contaminates a larger area, a mold remediation specialist is recommended. The professionals will have the proper safety gear and equipment to perform the job safely and properly.
Also Check: How Much Is Crown Molding At Home Depot
Is Mold Toxic In The Bathroom
Believe it or not, varieties of mold do produce toxic metabolites called mycotoxins. Stachybotrys also known as black mold, is a species of mold that can be called toxic black mold. Luckily, mycotoxins will only be produced if there are other bacteria in the area, and the fungi are eating. Also, if the fungi are eating, they will produce secondary metabolites.
What Is An Indoor Air Quality Mold Inspection Test
The Air-O-Cell Air Sampling cassette is a sampling device designed for the rapid collection and analysis of a wide range of airborne aerosols. These include fungal spores, pollen, insect parts, skin cell fragments, fibers, and inorganic particulate. The mold inspection device is placed in the center of the room where experts suspect mold is growing. Next, an air pump works to collect air samples. The entire process is repeated in at least two rooms to ensure accurate readings and help pinpoint the exact location of the mold.
The typical mold inspection will last no more than 30 minutes and will gather enough air to send to the lab for analysis. The samples are incubated in a petri dish before being tested.
Also Check: Can You Get Mold Poisoning
Symptoms Caused By Mold
In addition to producing mycotoxins, these fungi can cause some human health issues. Lets take a look at what those side effects are:
- Body aches and pain
- Respiratory problems
Lastly, mycotoxins can create longer-lasting health effects. When produced, mycotoxins can cause mycotoxicosis. This will lead to depression, various cancers, and Parkinsons disease. Also, keep in mind that water damage or water on the shower curtain promotes the perfect breeding ground for black mold in your shower.
Should I Get A Mold Inspection When Buying A House
Are you interested in buying a house but concerned about mold? Are you considering hiring someone to test the house for mold?
You are in the right place. In this guide, I will go over the pros and cons of having the home tested for mold and my top tips for doing it correctly.
In this guide, I will be going over
- how to hire the best company for mold testing
- tips to verify they do a great job during the mold testing
- my secret tip on how to verify that mold isnt in the home
- why hidden water leaks can create mold issues inside the walls
Lets get started with this guide!
Read Also: How To Clean Mold Off Bathroom Ceiling
Recommended Reading: How To Stop Mold In Mobile Home
Contact A Mold Inspector
Above all, contact a mold inspector. A mold inspector will assess the extent of the contamination. This is something that a home inspector cannot do.
After inspecting the property, the expert will convey the severity of the problem and recommend a mold remediation company. A visit from a mold inspector typically takes between two to five hours, and the cost could range from $200 to $500. In many cases, the mold inspector is a separate party from the mold remediation company.
- Note: If possible, be onsite with the specialist as they conduct the assessment. Youll have a chance to ask questions and gauge your comfort level with the company.
The mold removal industry doesnt have the tightest regulations, but the following are some general guidelines to consider:
Also, true experts dont elevate the danger of a specific type of mold over another. An honest professional can also convey if you can remove the mold on your own.
Inside Of The Fireplace And Chimney
Dont expect the home inspector to get down on their hands and knees to gaze up the flue. According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, the home inspection report covers the inspection of chimneys and vent systems, fuel-burning accessories installed into a fireplace, and a homes fuel-burning fireplaces, stoves, and fireplace inserts. It does not cover:
- Automatic fuel feed devices
- Anything located outside of the inspected structure
Still, Mickelson advises homeowners to have their fireplace cleaned and checked before the home inspection. The average cost to inspect and clean a chimney runs $80 to $500, depending on whats needed.
A recent trend in home inspection is buyers adding additional inspection services to the evaluation of the home such as level-2 chimney inspection, Kuhn says. A chimney sweep ideally one certified by Chimney Safety Institute of America uses a camera to view the chimney interior to identify significant cracks or other damages.
Don’t Miss: How To Remove Mold Under Sink
How Do Molds Get In The Indoor Environment And How Do They Grow
Mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, and pets can and be carried indoors. When mold spores drop on places where there is excessive moisture, such as where leakage may have occurred in roofs, pipes, walls, plant pots, or where there has been flooding, they will grow. Many building materials provide suitable nutrients that encourage mold to grow. Wet cellulose materials, including paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, and wood products, are particularly conducive for the growth of some molds. Other materials such as dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery, commonly support mold growth.
Next In The Process Comes Inspection And Recording
The inspector will conduct an inspection of the property. If it is with home inspection, the inspector will conduct his/her general inspection. However, if this inspection is just for mold air sampling, the inspector will look for areas of concern using their knowledge and equipment.
Here are a few places of high interest for an inspectors mold inspection:
The Air Handler This area typically can have a lot of mold growth especially if it unmaintained and/or the filter has not been replaced with a HEPA filter.
The Roof & Attic A common spot for water entry through roof leaks.
Exterior walls Another common entry point for water intrusion.
Plumbing systems Using thermography cameras and their knowledge of construction, inspectors can find possible water leaks inside the walls.
After conducting an inspection, the data is recorded with cameras. Moreover, the air quality cassettes are labelled and shipped to a laboratory for testing.
Recommended Reading: How To Clean Mold Out Of Your Car
Can Home Inspectors Detect Mold
Does a home inspector check for mold? Yes, some inspectors are Certified to test for mold. This is an important question to ask upfront to the home inspection company you choose to hire.
At the Elite Group, our home inspectors are Certified to test for mold. A home inspector that tests for mold can be a valuable asset to the prospective buyer or the seller.
For example, if a home inspector does not test for mold they will simply just point out the stains inside the property and recommend a mold specialist evaluate. This leaves the buyer to hire another Certified Mold Inspector to visit the property with prices ranging from approximately $300- $500 just to visit the property and then $75- $125 per sample taken. This can be a time-consuming and expensive process.
On the other hand, inspectors that are certified to test for mold can offer reduced fees for service as they are already at the property. Our company, when noticing a mold-like substance, will offer to swab the sample and send it to the lab.
Future Prevention Of Mold Tips
If you buy the home, here are some prevention of future mold tips
Read Also: How Do You Know If You Are Allergic To Mold
Where Does Mold Grow
There are many places where mold can grow. It is a good idea to take a look around the following areas in a home:
Water intrusion can cause black mold and it can be found on furniture, drywall, carpets, or dust. This type of mold is called Stachybotrys chartarum.
Indoor Air Quality In A Commercial Setting
We check mold and indoor air quality in commercial buildings, hotels, offices, retail stores, and government facilities. Our commercial inspections include:
- Mold inspections and mold testing
- Indoor air quality assessments
- Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, temperature, and humidity testing
- Volatile organic compounds
Recommended Reading: What Mold Needs To Grow
Why Mold Test Is Crucial For Home
When buying a home, it can be a wonderful idea to do mold air quality testing. Considering youve no idea how well the previous residents have lived or maintained the house, the air quality can be in question.
Mold can sometimes be smelled or seen if theres a serious problem. Though, this is not always the case. Ive personally been in several homes where there was mold testing was requested and I was shocked at the number of mold spores that come back on the tests.
Completing mold air quality testing on the house youre buying, is like doing your additional set of due diligence and theres no true way of knowing if theres mold growth without testing.
When To Inspect For Mold
One good thing about mold- if you can see it, you have mold in your house. Seeing mold in the cracks and corners of your walls definitely means it is growing and spreading more spores. Keep in mind that mold may also grow in places you cannot see, such as in your ducts or between your walls. It may also form colonies so tiny they escape the eye. A few situations should make you look for any mold problems in your house.
- Water damage. If your basement flooded, roof leaked, or a broken pipe sprayed water all over the kitchen, you need to inspect for mold. Any place that got wet and was not quickly dried could become contaminated by mold.
- Purchasing a new home. There is no way to know what kind of water damage may have happened in the house you are planning to buy. The only way to find out if mold is present is to do a mold inspection.
- After a house has been unoccupied. If a house has been closed up and unoccupied for months or years, humidity could have built up inside and caused mold to grow. This is especially a problem in warmer areas with high humidity.
- After mold remediation. If you have gone through the often expensive and difficult steps to deal with a mold problem, regular mold inspections are a good idea to make sure you really got rid of it all.
- You see some mold. If you notice some green, blue, black or white stuff growing in your house, do a mold inspection to make sure you find it all. It might not be restricted to one location.
Donât Miss: Who Gets Rid Of Mold
Don’t Miss: Does Ultraviolet Light Kill Mold
Should You Get A Mold Inspection When Buying A House
Mold inspections are by no means a requirement when buying a house, but getting one can potentially save you thousands of dollars and a lot of stress.
Heres why homebuyers should consider getting a mold inspection before signing on the dotted line.
In states like New York, homeowners are not required to fix or remove mold problems before they sell their house.
While sellers may be required to disclose any known issues of mold, the key word here is known. When a properties is listed, sellers rarely go out of their way to look for mold to disclose. And if they dont know about it, they dont have to do anything about it.
Therefore, the onus is often on the buyer to check for mold before buying. Caveat emptor, or buyer beware, as they say.
Whats The Main Purpose Of A Home Mold Inspection
Home inspectors regularly search for problems with the home. They typically uncover everything from burnt out lightbulbs to structural issues and everything in between. However, to properly inspect for mold one needs more training. Home inspections are great, and we recommend that every homebuyer gets one. But if youre concerned about mold either due to signs of previous water damage, or odors that could potentially mean mold growth, or even if you or your family members just suffer from allergies or asthma and you want to play it safe, then you should consider hiring a mold inspector to perform air quality tests and inspections for mold.
Mold inspectors do a visual inspection of the new home or existing home for signs of mold. If left alone, mold can damage surfaces and lead to health conditions for the people who live or work in the building. Mold spreads by way of spores. Mold spores are everywhere. Its virtually impossible to remove all the spores from the air. However, you can make sure to eliminate unintentional water sources around the home. Mold will only grow in areas with a water source. Mold problems occur when moisture is left unchecked. Then, when spores ultimately land on a damp surface, they grow. The mold inspector will look for these mold colonies and recommend a course of action depending on the size of your mold problem.
Also Check: How To Clean Mold Off Plastic Cutting Board
Also Check: How Do You Know If Mold Is Making You Sick
Educate Yourself About Building Iaq & Indoor Environmental Issues Inspection Tests
The more you can bear reading up on IAQ issues and investigations, the better you can sort out the baloney-sellers from the more dedicated, serious environmental professionals.
Here are some more information sources:
To Look more carefully at the building yourself this website has articles on how to look for problem mold or other indoor air quality issues, see these online guides:
To Evaluate the leak and moisture history of your building see these instructions:
Overall building risk for mold MOLD EXPOSURE RISK LEVELS, and if there seem to be particularly high risks it might be appropriate to hire an expert
When to Hire a Professional MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT, HIRE ? helps decide if its appropriate to bring in an pro.
Read Also: How To Mold Leather Holster
