What is Mold???
Mold is a type of fungus that grows in our natural environment when exposed to excess water or moisture. Mold spores--tiny microscopic seeds--can be found virtually everywhere, including in homes. They waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually and can grow on building materials and furnishings. When mold spores land on a spot which high enough moisture levels, the mold spores may begin growing and digesting. When excessive moisture or water accumulates in or on a building, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or un-addressed. The key to preventing mold growth is to control moisture intrusion.
Why Get a Mold Inspection
There are several reasons you should have a Professional Mold Inspection.
- You see what you believe is a mold like substance
- You have had a water event due to:
- Roof leak
- Plumbing pipe burst/leak
- Basement flooding
Why Get a Mold Inspection (cont.)
- You smell a musty ordor
- Respiratory, allergy like health issues that just don't go away
- New feelings of exhaustion, fatigue, low-energy
- Chronic sinus infections
- More that 50% of all homes in America have mold issues
- Pro-active inspection for a future property sale
Can Mold Cause Health Issues
Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing.
Mold and Health
Mold exposure can lead to various levels of health issues. Common health effects include the following:
- Most common is allergic reactions to mold that can cause irritants
- Symptoms can include sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, skin rashes, watery eyes, and other symptoms
- Mold can cause asthma attacks
- "Toxic" mold can lead to cold and flu-like symptoms like fatigue, sore throat, headaches, rashes
- Serious cases have been reported to cause hair loss, diarrhea, auto-immune disorders, neurological damage
How to Get Rid of Mold
It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; as some mold spores will be found floating through the air after a door or window is opened. A quality filter on the HVAC system will trap those spores and remove them from the air. Mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must remediate the mold and fix the water or moisture problem. If you remediate the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, the mold problem will come back. It is heavily advised and recommended to work with a certified professional mold inspector and a remediation contractor that performs to the S520 Standard of the IICRC. Adherance to the S520 standard insures the remediaton contractor will follow the protocol to properly remediate the mold and fix the source of the water issue (if not already corrected).
Is Post Remediation Testing Necessary
Yes. It is advised that once you have gone through the mold remediation process to have a follow-up mold testing performed. This will ensure that the mold removal has been successful, and the source has been identified & corrected. The Mold Post Remediation Verification Inspection (Mold PRV Inspection) should be completed prior to any re-build of removed materials to insure there are no visible signs of mold growth. The containment area should not be removed prior to an air sample of the containment area to insure that the mold levels in the work area are acceptable and will not contaminate the air in the rest of the home once the containment barrier is dismantled. Post Remediation Verification inspections provide peace of mind that the mold situation has been successuflly corrected.