What Happens If There's Mold In Your House

Products And Tools Youll Need To Test For Mold In Your Home

What Happens When Exposed to Mold?

The only thing you need to test for mold at home is a test kit. In addition to the ones previously mentioned, there are several options available:

Pro-Lab Mold Test Kit: This kit includes three tests. Your sample can be tested for an additional $40 fee, with results delivered by e-mail or via the companys app.

MoldCheck Multi-Test Kit: This kit includes supplies to perform ten tests, which is great for an entire home or monitoring an ongoing infestation. However, there is no lab testing option, so you will need to find your own if you need identification.
ImmunoLytics Mold Screening Test Kit: Perform eight tests with this kit. Each plate can be tested for $33 each.
My Mold Detective: If you are looking for a more advanced mold monitoring option, the My Mold Detective is a reusable air sampling pump that collects samples in just five minutes. The device comes with four sampling cassettes that can be tested in a lab for $35 each.

My Mold Detective Additional Samples: The My Mold Detective can be used again and again, so order as many samples as you need to keep tabs on your mold problem.

How Do Doctors Test For Mold Exposure

If you are aware of mold growth in your home and you feel sick, inform your doctor about the mold and your symptoms right away. But sometimes you cant see mold, and it is not clear whether its mold exposure thats made you sick or not.

Because mold allergy or mold exposure symptoms can resemble that of other allergies, the doctor will typically start by asking about your medical and family medical history. Additionally, doctors usually run tests for mold exposure which may include one or more of the following:

Skin test for reactions to allergens, including mold
IgG mold antibodies test to see the immune systems reaction to molds. A positive test means that an individual was or is currently exposed to mold
Urine mycotoxins test

A fungal culture of the nasal sinuses

The type of testing youll receive depends on the doctor you visit, so be sure to ask questions ahead of time so you can feel confident in your diagnosis.

How Toxic Is Mold

Any mold that produces mycotoxinsthe myco refers to fungusis toxic, and it can be quite poisonous. One of the more alarming varieties is Stachybotrys chartarum: Dense, black, and usually present where moisture has been a long-term, unresolved issue, like a damp basement or in an abandoned home, this fungus can trigger a suite of health issues, like persistent headaches, diarrhea, breathing trouble, and more. But other types can also cause issues, warns the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : All molds should be treated the same with respect to potential health risks and removal. These are the signs of mold that you should be looking out for. Plus, learn the other ways your house could be making you sick.

You Visibly See Mold Spores

Of course one of the most obvious ways to determine that you have mold in your house is if you can see it. The downside? If you see a ton of visible mold, it can be an indicator that you have a big problem on your hands.

Once you see it, youve got a big mold problem because what youre seeing is literally just the tip of the iceberg,Kelly Hayes-Raitt, a housesitter and the former director of the HomeSafe Campaign in California, told INSIDER.

Simply scrubbing the visible mold with soap and a sponge wont actually get rid of the mold. So if you see visible mold, you need to reach out to a mold remediation company or another expert to help you get things under control, including any leaks that may have caused the issue in the first place.

Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Mold On Bathroom Ceiling

What Should I Do If I Find A Defect In My New Home

Ideally, home defect issues should be worked out before you get to the closing, whether its a cracked foundation noted during the inspection or water damage discovered during your final walk-through. At this point, your agent should work with the sellers agent to explore different options toward recourse.

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What Apartment Mold Symptoms Should Worry Me

Mold is a fungus that grows in the presence of moisture in warm, dark places. It releases tiny little spores into the air and, if left untreated, can make you really sick. Those spores can settle into your lungs.

You might have mold if you witness or experience any of the following:

A persistent musty smell
You see black or dark green spots appearing on any surface
You start having physical symptoms like sneezing, coughing, trouble breathing, itchy eyes, or skin rashes that get better when you leave your apartment

You see signs of water intrusion like bulging drywall, bubbling or peeling paint, and/or discoloration from water stains that werent dried out immediately.

You might only see or feel just one symptom, but it is very important not to ignore signs of mold for the sake of your health. Each of these apartment mold symptoms is a cause for concern.

Moisture: Investigating And Solving Problems

Mould will grow indoors if moisture is present. Moisture problems in homes may result from:

daily activities such as showering or bathing, washing clothes or cooking, if exhaust fans are not working properly or are not used
infiltration of water from the outside when there are cracks or leaks in the foundation, floor, walls or roof
moisture condensation on cold surfaces

flooding due to weather conditions
inadequate ventilation.

Moisture indoors accumulates when it cannot be vented outside and becomes a problem when building materials become damp or wet.

Moisture problems are preventable.

Unless the cause of the moisture problem has been identified and solved, mould will reappear. Once the moisture problem and its causes have been identified, they must be fixed. To prevent future problems, measures should be put in place to control sources of moisture in your home, for example:

Ensure rain, irrigation water and snowmelt drain away from the house by sloping the grade away from the building.

Keep eavestroughs and downspouts clean of debris and ensure that the outflow runs away from the house and not into neighbouring foundations.
Repair plumbing leaks promptly.
Use exhaust fans, ventilation and air conditioning systems to vent moisture outdoors.

Use moisture tolerant materials in areas likely to get wet .

Run a dehumidifier in damp areas such as basements or if you observe that moisture is condensing on cold surfaces such as window panes.

Also Check: How To Know If There Is Mold

How Do I Prevent Mold In My Crawl Space

As we mentioned above, there are a certain number of things that mold needs to survive if you have an infestation underneath your house, the best way to kill it is to change the conditions that gave rise to it in the first place. For each requirement the mold has, you need to starve it.

Dampness Look for any water sources that should be there, i.e., leaky pipes, cracks, puddles where moisture gathers.
Ventilation Depending on your crawl space you might have more or less ventilation try to create a kind of through breeze if you can by having an opening on either end.

Nutrients unfortunately, the crawl space under your house will always have some kind of nutrient source, as it is right adjacent to the soil. You can help, however, by removing any trash or debris that might provide a base for mold. Cardboard, newspaper, anything paper or fabric.

Changing the temperature under your house is obviously not an option, however, if you deal with the above youll have the best chance of prevention and the temperature wont be as big a factor.

Spotting And Fur On Your Walls

What Happens If You Breathe In Mold Spores?

There are so many varieties of mold that you canât really identify the type based on specific shape, size or color. It can appear as a furry, dark growth, as a black stain, or as black, white, orange, green or brown specks. Rather than look for out-of-the-ordinary, multi-colored flakes in every inch of your home, identify areas that are moist and then look for possible signs of mold. The fungus thrives in cool, damp areas, and it will be much easier to find it by limiting your search to areas that are affected by excess moisture. Yes, paint and wallpaper gets stained and marked from every day living, but if you see a pattern to the stains, or they appear in the corners of a room, this is usually a good indicator that mold is present.

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Why Does Mold Form In Homes

Mold forms in homes because, in many cases, a home is the ideal place for mold to grow particularly in basements and other areas which may be dark and moist, and have a similar temperature all-year-round, due to furnaces and water heaters.

Essentially, there are mold spores in the air at all times and once they find a place thats hospitable to them, theyll start reproducing, causing a visible mold problem.

We Help You Feel At Home Again

It can take time to work things out with a seller after youve closed on the house. While most individuals are fair and honest, you may not reach an agreement that satisfies all parties. Still, you need to address unhealthy mold growth immediately. Quick action minimizes property damage and protects your health.

Our teams are ready to help with expert mold removal and remediation. As Chicagos leading restoration contractor, were uniquely positioned to handle all kinds of water damage problems including small plumbing repairs. Give us a call here at ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba. Let us help you finally feel at home in your new dream house.

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What To Do If You Suspect A Mold Problem In Your House

Infants and elderly are highly susceptible to the dangers of living with mold, and extra care should be taken to help keep them safe.

If you or someone in your family has exhibited any of the above symptoms or if you have other reasons for suspecting a mold problem in your home , you need to take action immediately. First, take care of your health, so if symptoms are present, seek medical attention. Second, schedule a professional residential mold inspection immediately .

A mold inspection will ensure your home is thoroughly checked and tested for mold by a professional mold inspector who specialize in residential mold testing. The process typically includes visual inspections, air sampling, and surface sampling to ensure accurate results.

Should a mold problem show up in testing, youll need to get mold remediation services in order to eliminate the source of the problem and prevent it from coming back.

Timing is everything. The longer you wait, the worse the problem will get. So, if you suspect mold is growing in your house, schedule mold testing ASAP. The sooner your home is inspected, the sooner any problems will be identified and you can get your health back and enjoy total peace of mind.

Houston Mold Inspections offers residential mold testing in Houston. Contact a professional mold inspector in Houston today!

Your Chimney Smells Weird

Chimney sweeps dont only remove dangerous creosote buildup they can clean out toxic mold too. Moisture can accumulate in the porous bricks and mortar of a chimney. Rusty chimney caps or flashing that needs repair allow rain and snow to seep in, creating an environment for mold to thrive. That may be the reason you smell something funky on days when the wind is blowing in a certain direction. Fix the cap and flashing and call the chimney sweep to extinguish the mold issues. Watch out for these other scary ways your fireplace could be toxic, too!

Recommended Reading: How Do I Test My Home For Mold

Check Your Petri Dish

After 48 hours, check your petri dish for signs of mold growth. If you do not see mold, wait another 24 hours and check again. If you still dont see mold, wait again for 24 hours and check one last time. If you do not see mold growth after 96 hours, your test did not detect any mold. If you do see mold on your test plate, you should take additional steps to remove the mold.

Apartment Mold Symptoms That Should Worry You

Your apartment should be the place that refreshes your body and mind after a long day, not a place that makes you cough, sneeze, wheeze, and wish you were somewhere else. Follow along as we outline the top four apartment mold symptoms and the steps to take if you believe you’re dealing with a mold problem.

Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Mold In My House

How Much Does It Cost To Remove Mold From A Crawl Space Professionally

This, of course, depends on the contractor that you hire and the quality of the work done, as well as the size of your crawl space and the severity of your problem.

In general, however, you can expect to be paying somewhere in the region between $500-$3500, with the national average being somewhere around $2500.

Not an insignificant expenditure for your average family!

What Are The Best Mold Remediation Companies In Lake Forest Ca

How Do You Know If Your House Has A Mold Problem?

Even though there are a lot of factors that can cause mold, identifying what type of mold your home is affected by is the first step. If you wish to prevent mold, start as soon as you can. However, if you live near Baker Ranch Community Park in Lake Forest, or any other location in California hiring EMS can help fix your mold problem.

We pride ourselves on our skilled team that aims to make your home a healthy and safe place to live. Our experts are equipped with cutting-edge tools and products that ensure effective mold removal and help prevent further outbreaks in the future. Contact us and learn more about our mold remediation services today.

Can You Get Sick From Mold In Your House

Mold has a very bad effect on the human body because mold is a kind of fungus. The mold spores that enter your house can cause mold allergies and mold infections.

Mold allergies are a hypersensitivity to mold, meaning a person will have an adverse reaction from mold exposure.

This type of allergy causes nasal congestion, watery eyes, sneezing, headache, or wheezing attacks after being exposed to mold.

In addition, mold allergies can lead to mold infections such as respiratory illnesses. Mold infections cause fever, chills, fatigue, and pain in the muscles and joints.

If you have mold allergies or a mold infection, it is important to see a healthcare provider right away. Mold allergies can lead to mold infections if left untreated.

If you have mold growth in your home, it is important that you clean up the mold as well as fix any conditions that are causing the mold.

Plan Of Attack To Removing Mold From Your Home

What can you do when you find a mold source in your home, what plan of action is required next? First and foremost, when you locate mold growth in your home you will want to examine the underlying cause of the mold growth, whether there was a moisture leak or what type of conditions surround the mold in the environment.

Second, you will want to call a mold remediation specialist to assist you in the removal of this mold from your homes surfaces. Often times we will try to utilize different methods of mold removal that we find online, but in reality, the best solution is having a trained professional come to your aid to ensure that proper removal occurs of this mold.

Third, eliminating the mold spores that have traveled into your air. We often dont consider that mold can compromise the quality of your homes air by collecting mold spores released from mold.

How can you eliminate these mold spores from your air? The enhanced chemical reactivity found in the EnviroKlenz Cartridge makes it ideal for removing harmful mold-generated VOCs.

The EnviroKlenz Mobile UV Air System is a portable air filtration machine that contains this enhanced chemically reactive technology that can effectively work at taking in mold spores and capturing them from your air.

Recommended Reading: How To Mitigate Black Mold

There Are Many Types Of Dangerous Mold

One of the dangers of buying a home with mold is that there are so many different kinds some of which can be extremely toxic. Researchers have identified over 100,000 different varieties of mold, many of which are routinely found indoors.

Someone who is unfamiliar with mold might be unable to recognize the signs, even if they were to see them. Further, mold often grows in hidden spots you cant easily get to, like underneath carpets or in the attic.

Mold growth is often missed by traditional home inspectors as well unless there are obvious physical signs. This means they will not be able to identify all the problem areas properly, so you could wind up buying a home with severe mold issues. To avoid this issue, it is highly recommended to schedule a professional mold inspection before buying.

If You Treat Mold Yourself Always Wear Protection

In fact, preparation and protective wear are important parts of making sure that youre removing and not spreading mold.

Robert Weitz is a certified microbial investigator and founder of RTK Environmental, a leading environmental testing firm. If you find mold, he recommends having a professional mold test to see if you can clean it yourself. If you can, he has a list of items that youll need:

A mask or respirator to filter out the mold spores youll be disturbing

Dec 16, 2016 | Real Estate Law

Before buying an existing home, it is imperative to have a home inspection performed. That way, potential problems are identified and corrected. A check for mold or mold-related problems should be included in the inspection.

Once the inspection is complete, ask the inspector whether any mold or potential mold dangers were identified. If the answer is yes, that information should be detailed in the official report. This is important because some inspectors will not list issues pertaining to mold as a way of avoiding liability. Therefore, always hire a reputable and licensed inspector.

In addition to an inspection, request a sellers full disclosure covering any mold problems that are not visible. If the seller does not want to provide a full disclosure, you can always have a mold-related contingency added to your offer. If the offer is accepted, the seller would be fully or partially responsible for the cost of mold testing, as well as removal and/or remediation.

What Happens If There’s Mold In Your House