The only way to accurately determine the presence of mold spores in these cases is to collect an air mold sample. The EPA discusses it here.Īlternatively, you will often encounter projects with no odors at all, that in fact have very high mold spore counts. For example, you may have a building with a strong musty odor and very little active mold growth. This release of odors is based on a variety of complex factors and is not a reliable indicator of active growth. Mold growth releases odors during certain portions of its life cycle. Because of this fact, air sampling is a great technique for verifying if elevated mold spore counts are truly present. Musty odors are often, but not always, associated with mold growth. A similar connection is found with sinus infections. If your symptoms seem to worsen at home, mold testing can be an effective way to determine if mold spores are the culprit. Mold is a common trigger for individuals with allergies and asthma. Your family suffers from health problems commonly related to mold exposure In the case of the mold growth behind the bed, the air sample will tell you if the carpeting, bedding, and other materials have been affected by the mold growth. In these situations, an airborne mold test can be extremely helpful in determining the spread of those mold spores. ![]() This means that you also cannot determine what other materials may have been affected. Therefore, you cannot look at a site of visible mold growth and readily determine how many spores have been released. The challenge is that the number of released spores can vary dramatically from one project to the next. During mold growth’s cycle, thousands, even millions of spores can be released into the air. The extent of the actual growth is obvious, but the extent of the settled mold spores is not. Your inspector concludes that the mold growth is due to condensation from a poorly insulated wall. Let’s say you own a condo and you find mold growth on an exterior wall behind a bed. You’ve found visible mold growth, but it’s unclear what materials have been affected This is especially true if you see condensation on a modern, double pane window.Ģ. In these scenarios, it is reasonable to suspect that mold growth may be occurring in the home and therefore, testing is a worthwhile option. High humidity is one of the main causes of mold growth. If your home suffers from condensation on the windows, this is often an indication of poor air flow and high humidity. You don’t see visible mold, but you have high humidity Before any sampling is collected, you must first identify potential actions you’ll take based on the results. They may provide their clients with pages and pages of data, but no actionable information. This may sound obvious, but many inspection companies charge thousands of dollars for sampling without ever identifying a real benefit. ![]() When should you test your house for mold?īefore any sampling is conducted, you must first identify the potential results. These are both good examples of when mold testing is helpful. This is common with carpeting, as the mold grows within the pad and carpet fibers without much visual evidence. Amazingly, very little mold growth was visible. Despite the fact the area rug was only 6′ across, the constant exposure to vapor emissions from the concrete slab led to a tremendous amount of mold growth. The high spore count in the basement (right) was due to moisture trapped in the rug. Mold testing was performed in both areas.ĭespite the heavy staining from the mold growth in the bathroom (left), the flat growth profile did not lead to substantial spreading of spores. The photo on the right is a basement with no visible mold growth, but a damp rug and a strong musty odor. This was due to the lack of a bathroom fan. ![]() The room on the left is a bathroom with significant mold growth on the walls and ceilings. Which house has a higher mold spore count?
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