When To Test For Mold
Beyond actually seeing mold, there are several clues that point to the presence of mold in a concealed area. If mold isnt visually apparent, you may still want to test for mold if you have any of these signs:
- There is a rotten or musty smell
- You experience allergy or asthma flare-ups
- Wall or floor surfaces are warping or bubbling
- You discover water damage that went untreated
Air Quality Testing For Mold
Most people are not aware of how severely mold can affect their health. Because mold spores are so small, they can become airborne easily and spread quickly. Just because you cannot see a mold contamination in your home doesnt mean that its not there.
Mold and mildew are the result of moisture and water damage. Rooms that are prone to leaks, condensation and flooding often experience mold growth. These include bathrooms, attics and basements.
Property owners have to be careful because moisture problems are not always obvious or visible. They can remain completely hidden from sight . If left untreated, they will lead to black mold contamination.
Exposure to black mold can cause or aggravate health conditions like asthma and allergies.
Over time, it can also lead to more serious conditions such as chronic bronchitis, problems with the nervous system, cancer and heart conditions.
Luckily, you have two types of air tests to help you detect unseen mold: viable sampling and non-viable sampling. Each has its advantages and drawbacks , but both are effective means of assessing indoor air quality.
Had Mold In Crawlspace Remediated 25 Years Ago Inspector Said Tiny Bit Of Mold There Now But Not Enough To Cause Our Ermi Result Over 15 No Visible Mold In House Proper We Didn’t Clean All Surfaces After Initial Remediation Could Enough Mycotoxins Remain From Then To Cause Current Ermi Score If So Do House Fogs Work Or Must We Clean Every Individual Item In The House To Get Rid Of The Mycotoxins
ERMI testing is not accurate and should not be used for residential mold investigations. Please read our article on ERMI Testing. ERMI testing cannot differentiate between spores from last week vs. 10 years ago. It also cannot differentiate between a systemic, long term issue vs. a single, one-time event. I recommend hiring a company that uses non-viable air sampling. This is the industry gold standard technique and can determine the current state of your indoor air quality.
In general, I do not recommend house fogging. It is far better to remove the contaminants than to attempt to neutralize them. Fogging can be useful when dealing with viruses or bacteria. In those situations, your goal is to kill the organism. With mold growth, we need to physically remove the spores from the home. Therefore, HEPA vacuuming and damp wiping are much more effective.
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I Have A Total Spore Count Of 2520 And I’m Told I Need To Remediate Now Then I Have Os Baseline Total Spores Is 3486
I recommend holding off on remediation until you have more information. The total spore count is of limited value. You need to know the spore counts of individual types of mold spores. This is because some spores are commonly found in very high levels in the outside air.
For example, the 80th percentile for December in Washington is 5,000. This means 20% of the time, Basidiospores are found at levels over 5,000 in the normal outside air. If your indoor sample consisted mostly of this type of mold, it would not indicate a mold problem. It simply means the mold spores floated in through the door. This is why indoor mold spore counts should always be compared to outside averages.
In general, extensive remediation is not recommended unless the indoor counts are multiple times higher than the outside figures .
Recommendations For Further Action
Once you have received your test results, you will need to take action to remediate the problem. The report should include specific recommendations for further action, such as removing moldy materials or cleaning affected surfaces.
If the problem is widespread, you may need to hire a professional mold remediation company. In severe cases, you may need to move out of your home while the problem is being remediated.
Whatever the case, its important to follow the recommendations in your report to ensure that the problem is properly remedied. Otherwise, the molds can spread further and cause adverse health effects and structural damage.
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What Is Black Mold
There is a lot of confusion about black mold. While there is no scientifically recognized type called black mold, what many people are referring to is either Stachybotrys and Aspergillus Fumigatus. These molds are dark green, not black. While all molds have the potential to be toxic some are referred to as toxic molds. Toxic mold triggers the same symptoms as other mold types but is also believed to cause more serious respiratory issues in some people.
Black mold releases mycotoxins which have links to health issues more serious the allergy-type symptoms. Symptoms of exposure to black mold include aches and pains, mood swings, headaches, nosebleeds, and memory loss. That said, more common symptoms of mold exposure are skin rashes, sore throat, sinusitis, nasal congestion or running nose, watery eyes, and dry cough. For those with asthma or preexisting lung conditions, the risk of mold exposure is greater. If anyone in your home has allergies or asthma, a weakened immune system, or is an infant, young child, or is elderly, they remain at a higher risk than healthy adults. That said, you should find out how to test your house for mold by reading further.
Is Sampling / Testing For Mold Necessary
In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a buildingâs compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association , the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists , or other professional organizations.
Read more about mold at
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Milford’s Trusted Air Quality Mold Inspection Testing And Removal Company
Are you seeing signs of mold in your home or commercial property? Are you concerned that the problem may get worse if not addressed? You can schedule a free mold inspection with BioClean, but if you just cant wait another day to know if theres mold in your home, you can alleviate your concerns with a viable mold test kit and a few testing tips.
What To Do If You Have Mold In Your Air Conditioner
Finding mold in your air conditioner is a problem that you should deal with immediately. If the mold is heavily infesting a small air conditioner, itâs recommended to replace the unit with a new air conditioner because even with significant cleaning there is a high chance that the mold will continue to thrive in unseen areas of the appliance. However, if the mold is relatively light, then you might be able to get rid of it before it spreads throughout the AC unit.
Wear safety glasses, a face mask, and gloves, then move the unit to a space where it can be cleaned without contaminating the rest of the home, such as the driveway. Open the air conditioner and remove the filter. You can either replace the old filter if it is disposable or wash the filter in a mix of 1 part liquid bleach to 10 parts water, allowing it to soak for at least 10 minutes to kill any mold.
Rinse the filter and allow it to air dry. While the filter dries, deep-clean all affected surfaces of the air conditioner with the solution of bleach and water. Rinse off the AC unit, being careful not to soak any electrical components, and allow it to dry before reinstalling the filter.
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How Are Mold Air Test Samples Examined In Thelaboratory
Mold spore sample slides are prepared in the laboratory and then examined atmagnifications from 100x to 1920x to identify the dominant or other indicativeparticles collected. Particle counting, such as spores/M3 of air, ifprovided, is performed at 400x, 480x, 720x, 1000x, up to 1920x.
Somecompanies also use polarized light and darkfield methods and a variety of slidepreparation chemicals and stains.
How Does Mold Get Into Hvac Systems
Any environment that is affected by moisture can be prone to mold growth. The summertime is humid. Plus, vapor develops in the ductwork as the cold air runs through warm ducts. Whenever the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system isnt running, water droplets can collect in the air handler or ducts. Instead of evaporating, the water inside the system accumulates and gets warmer. This becomes the perfect place for spores to grow. Then, built-up dust, skin, and pollen particles act as fuel for mold infestation inside the air conditioning system.
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Which Type Of Mold Test Should You Use
Most hardware stores have a wide inventory of mold tests. These kits are inexpensive and easy to use, but they are almost entirely useless. Some of these mold tests are only designed to let you know when mold is present on certain surfaces.
For the less obvious type of moldairborne moldyou should get yourself a viable mold test kit. The results are not instantaneous. It will take up to several days, and if the results are positive, you can have the molds tested for their type.
Action : Continuously Exchange Your Indoor Air With Clean Air By Using A Hepa Air Purifier
A HEPA air purifier can filter the air in any room to give your body a chance to employ its remarkable healing ability. Otherwise, a constant assault on your body by mold inhalation while you sleep keeps your immune system overactive and prevents healing. These devices are not inexpensive however, they can contribute to your increased productivity each day and help prevent full debilitation from mold. CitriSafe Air Maintenance Candles will also reduce mold and mycotoxins in the immediate area when lit for a period of time.
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Action : Avoid Fungal Growth Promoting Foods
Without drastically changing your diet, you can avoid foods that promote fungal growth throughout the body. Sugar, starchy foods, refined grains, and fermented alcohol all feed fungi in the body. Fungi, including Candida, have a sugar receptor that, when bound to, changes the structure of the microbe making it resistant and promoting the growth of hyphae, or root like growths that can penetrate gut and other tissues. A Candida infection can also penetrate the blood brain barrier and impact mood disorders.
Poor Reason For Testing #5 To Determine If The Environment Is Safe
At this time, it is unknown what level of mold is safe or how much is necessary to cause health problems. Mold tests cannot measure all the molds in an environment or how much occupants are exposed to. Such testing can also miss evidence of problems and results may mislead or be misused. MDH recommends assuming that any visible amount of mold may potentially cause illness and advises that the best approach is to remove this potential threat as soon as it can be done safely. MDH also suggests that it is also reasonable to conclude that an area should be relatively safe with regard to mold, if all visible growth was removed, the surrounding areas thoroughly cleaned, and it remains dry and free of mold odors.
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We Had Mold Sampling Of Our Crawlspace With Visible Mold And In Our Basement With No Visible Mold No Air Testing Was Done The Test Sampling Indicated A High Level Of Mold I’m Unsure How To Proceed Should We Insist On An Air Quality Test
Yes, you should insist on non-viable air testing for mold. The style of testing performed at your house is unreliable and not intended for residential mold investigations. Please reference our article on the limitations of ERMI testing.
If visible mold growth was found in your basement, theres no reason to perform testing. Focus your resources on remediating the issue and ensuring it will not return. Mold growth in a crawl space can impact the air quality in the home above. This is best determined with a non-viable air mold sample, such as a Zefon Air-O-Cell cassette.
Mold Hygiene 8 Actions You Can Do Consistently That Will Maintain Your Wellness
Like many things in life, cohabitating with ubiquitous fungi for the mold sensitive is a process and not an event. There is no magic wand or miracle cures for mold. Mold hygiene encompasses the vigilance required surrounding your environment, diet, hygiene, and medical treatment all have an impact on wellness.
If you are mold sensitive, Mold Hygiene is a must. Not everyone requires mold hygiene however, it is surprising when one family member can be debilitatingly ill while others are symptom free. This can be the cause of significant misunderstandings about mold sensitivity. Human genetics can explain why some people are sensitive, while other blood relatives are not sensitive. Previous personal exposures to mold are another explanation. Exposure can occur slowly over a long period of time, or in a single massive exposure. Either way, exceeding your mold-exposure threshold can make one mold sensitive for a lifetime.
The main message is action. Doing something is always better than nothing. Consistently employing actions can have a real impact on your health and mold hygiene. Your bodys immune system and defenses coupled with a Doctors care will facilitate detoxification and healing will be the real solution. Because the impact of mold is so significant on the mind, body, and ones emotional health, vigilance and mold hygiene will help a mold sensitive persons emotional disposition.
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Poor Reason For Testing #4 To Find The Cause Of Health Complaints
It can be very difficult to conclude if and how occupants may be impacted by a specific mold problem. For one thing, the full range of health effects caused by molds is poorly understood at this time. Whether health effects will occur depends, for each person, on how much mold gets into their body, the amount and potency of various substances that the mold mixture can contain, and the unique susceptibility of each person to the effects of these substances. Unfortunately, mold tests alone will not determine if a specific problem environment is causing a persons complaints.
Even when mold contamination is found in an area where health problems are occurring, it is often difficult to conclude that the mold is the actual cause of an individuals specific complaints since other contaminants commonly present in damp or water-damaged settings can also cause or contribute to the complaints associated with moldy environments. Indeed, focusing too heavily on mold alone can be a poor strategy if other potential causes of complaints are not also addressed. Nevertheless, such an association of complaints to evidence of mold contamination is reason enough to remove the mold and correct the underlying causes of excess moisture.
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Would This Water Damage Over 2 Years From A Leaking Balcony Cause Mold It Looks Like There Could Be On The Ceiling
Yes, its possible mold growth occurred during the original leak. However, the growth would have stopped as soon as the ceiling material dried out. The mold from the original growth period will remain indefinitely, but it is not active or spreading. The ceiling is acting as an air barrier between the cavity above and the indoor air. Any lingering mold spores are trapped in the ceiling cavity and cannot enter the interior air within the home.
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Getting To The Root Of The Problem
Mold can affect your health in different ways some people have severe reactions while others dont experience any.
Common health effects of mold include hay fever-like symptoms such as a runny nose and red eyes. If you have allergies or asthma, youll likely experience more severe reactions such as asthma attacks or skin rashes.
Mold spreads and reproduces through spores in the air. You can buy DIY home test kits to help determine whether or not theres mold present in your home. Yet, as popular as these tests are, you shouldnt rely on them entirely. Always follow up with a professional inspection and treatment.
The Pros And Cons Of Spore Trap Analysis
Every sample that is collected is a puzzle piece. Each sample is information that tells part of the homes story regarding water intrusion and mold infestation. Our job as inspectors is to remain neutral, be scientific, and collect as much information as possible, giving the client as complete a picture as possible as to what is happening behind the walls of their home.
To put it simply, spore trap analysis, or air testing as it is commonly referred to, is not inherently faulty testing. Instead, the issue becomes how this information is analyzed and presented to the client. If the inspector did no testing beyond spore trap analysis and told the client that the test did not show any mold and there is no mold issue, a great disservice has been done.
That being said, spore trap analysis is always an excellent place to start. If the issue is found in air testing, which is essentially a broad overview, we know that it is a grave mold issue that presents a health concern. It can also serve as a good point of reference compared to other tests we might perform on the home.
From our perspective, to find mold at even minute levels that might make a hypersensitive individual sick, air testing only tells a tiny part of the picture. For example, heavier molds such as Stachybotrys or Chaetomium globosom will rarely show up on air testing. Incidentally, these are known to be very toxic molds that make people very sick.
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