Mold Detection Detecting Mold Detection Mold Detecting Detect Hidden Mold Detecting How To Detect Mold
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Detecting Mold |
1-800-369-8532 |
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE A MOLD PROBLEM?
Most of us already have two effective mold detectors; our eyes and our nose. If a blackish, grayish or greenish discoloration appears, especially if the location is or was damp, it is almost certainly mold. You may not know what type it is or how extensive the problem may be, but you do know a mold problem exists and it won't just go away by itself, and therefore should be addressed.
Some problems are not always visually obvious, but there are other waning signs to help detect mold. If a building smells dank or musty, there probably is mold somewhere. If you find yourself clearing your throat a lot or having pet-like allergies without any pets, there is probably mold somewhere. If you feel sick at home or work but you feel fine a few hours after you leave the environment, there probably is mold somewhere.
The presence of mold, water damage, or musty odors should be addressed immediately. In all instances, any source(s) of water must be stopped and the extent of water damaged determined. Water damaged materials should be dried and repaired.
Early warning signs of mold are easily overlooked by the public because of a general lack of knowledge about the seriousness of the problem.
The most dangerous mold is the mold you can't see simply because it often goes undetected so long that it becomes a significant problem long before anyone knew it was there. Visual signs of mold are often an indication of a much bigger problem. For example, mold on a wall can sometimes be the result of mold inside that wall trying to grow it's way out. That's why it keeps coming back in spite of the most rigorous cleaning efforts.
Fogged
or steamed up windows are not necessarily an indication that
mold is present, but it is certainly an indication that
ideal conditions for mold exists due to excessive indoor
moisture.
Water
stains on the inside of sash and freeze boards are a sign
that water is getting through the shingles and into the
construction materials. Left uncorrected, further
deterioration and issues are inevitable. 
Visible
traces of mold stains and spots is an another indication
that water is getting through roofing materials rather than
being deflected as in proper run off conditions. Further
deterioration and mold growth is certain.
Dark
stains on stucco is often an indication of dampness and mold
caused by excessive exposure to water. Concrete absorbs and
hold water. Porous materials fixed to wet concrete will
deteriorate.
Paint
will not stick to wet surfaces. Blistering paint is always a
strong indicator that the material is wet and wet
construction material is food for mold.
Water
stains and rusty nails in the tack strip is a sure sign of a
water intrusion problem. Water may have penetrated the
carpet and pad, dripped down the interior wall or entered
from another room or even outdoors.
One
of the most common points of entry for outdoor water finding
its way indoors is through windows. Some windows have
drainage holes in the tracks to let water out. Some windows
are just improperly installed.
Left
unchecked, window sill corners can become a big problem
quickly. Periodic inspection of your sprinklers to make sure
they don't hit the house can reduce costly mold repairs.
The
top half of this image is a bath tub and shower tiles. A
musty odor, reoccurring black lines in the grout and
high moisture readings warranted removing the tile. As
suspected, the walls behind the tiles were full of black
mold. 
Even
with no visible evidence of mold or water intrusion,
your sense of smell can often lead you to a mold
problem. In this case, a strong foul rotten odor from
the bathroom signaled there was more than wet carpet
here.
Closer
inspection revealed the rubber water seal on the shower
door came loose. The owner tried to glue it back on.
When that didn't work, he decided fill all the opening
with silicone caulk. 
Months
later the odor was nauseating. As seen in this image,
water found its way past the caulk, under the carpet,
behind the base board and deep into the drywall. Seen
here is toxic mold Stachybotrys.
Toxic
molds are seldom found indoors under normal conditions.
Wet drywall, carpet and wood is not considered normal
conditions indoors and will almost always produce
Stachybotrys and other toxic molds.
Damp
and humid room conditions where paper products such as
wall paper and decorative stickers is an ideal mold
environment as well. If you see bubbles, dark stains or
lifting in wall paper, look closer.
Another
image of mold growing behind wall paper. It is possible
to create potential mold problems when applying wall
paper with mix-it-yourself glue that is applied too wet.
Any
time you see black mold growing on a wall behind another
product, such as wall paper, base moldings, pictures or
furniture, be sure to take precautionary measures to
protect your lungs, eyes and skin.
Decorative
stickers can be another area of concern for hidden mold,
particularly when applied to walls that back up to a
bathroom where the shower is frequently used, a wall the
is an exterior wall on the other side that gets little
or no
sun,
or an exterior wall that is regularly exposed to water
i.e. rain, sprinklers, drainage or irrigation.