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Mold Basics
Mold, mildew, and other toxic organisms commonly occur in areas that show evidence of, or have the potential for, moisture intrusion and/or inadequate ventilation. Any area or item exhibiting such conditions can be a health hazard to some people, particularly children, pregnant women, the elderly, and other people whose immune systems are compromised. Most of us know what mold looks like and smells like. The key to controlling mold is controlling moisture: reduce moisture (keep the interior of your house dry and the humidity level below 45%), remove visible signs of mold, and disinfect surfaces. If a water invasion occurs, eliminate the water source and dry, repair, and/or replace any wet areas and items as quickly as possible.
Thousands of different types of mold occur naturally throughout the world, but apparently only a few of them cause health problems. Mold spores move naturally through the air and can be found in every area of the home, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You are breathing it as you are reading this. It grows on most building materials as long as the requisite moisture is present. Because mold requires a high moisture content in order to grow and thrive, homes with levels below grade/ground are more susceptible to mold growth than homes built on slabs and above grade/ground. However, since many homeowners do not regularly inspect their own homes for water and drainage leaks, mold problems do occur in all homes and buildings. You can prevent mold from growing and thriving in your home, and affecting your health, by inspecting your home on a regular basis (monthly at a minimum) for water and drainage leaks; see previous section on “Sink cabinets and chemical storage.”
If you see mold or smell musty odors, chances are great that you have mold growing in your home, and you should first seek out and correct the problems that are providing the mold with the moisture that it needs to grow and thrive. Remove all the items stored under your sinks and inspect the water and drainage pipes, valves, and connections for leaks. Have any leaks repaired immediately by a qualified plumber. Inspect around sink basins, bathtubs, and shower stalls for deteriorated grouting or caulking. These are areas where water can penetrate into the structure’s walls and framing, allowing mold to thrive in those spaces. After using your shower or bathtub, you should use your exhaust fans or open the windows located in the bathrooms to help prevent a build-up of moisture in those areas.
The identification of specific types of mold is beyond the scope of a home inspection and requires sampling and analysis of the samples. We cannot state unequivocally whether any specific type of mold is or is not present. When we do smell musty odors or see mold-like substances growing, we, of course, note it in the report for you. If you want to know what specific type of mold is present, sampling may be requested from us or you should seek the services of a qualified industrial hygienist or a qualified mold-testing laboratory. Only qualified laboratories have the necessary knowledge and equipment to determine what types of mold are growing and thriving in your home. Mold assesment technicians merely gather the samples for analysis.
Again, the identification of the organism(s) is beyond the scope of this home inspection. If, after reviewing the below information, you have additional questions or want further investigation, BC WARNER Home Inspections recommends that you request an initial mold screen to determine if there exists an ongoing climate for incubation or microbial contamination and that steps be taken to eliminate this climate.
There is a lot of controversy over the issue of mold and mold testing. Dangerous threshold limits have yet to be set for national standards. The question still remains of "how much mold is too much"? As individuals react differently to varying levels of contamination, this question may never be answered. Neither the New York City Department of Health nor the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recommend measuring airborne fungal levels. The EPA publication "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home" states "Is sampling for mold needed? In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary." Money spent on testing is not available for cleanup. With this being said, sudden appearance of unexplained health ailments or unknown sources of musty odors may require further evaluation and sampling to determine if biological/fungal factors may be contributing to the symptoms. Determining the species of mold growth occurring in the home also requires sampling.
BC WARNER Home Inspections recommends that information from the following sources be reviewed. You may want to identify and review other sources of information.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency information available on the EPA web site at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html provides a document titled
"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home"
Various articles on the Building Science Corporation web site at: http://www.buildingscience.com Click on the link "Learn More about Mold".
The New York City Department of Health Web Site at:
http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/home.html
Use the search function for mold.
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