By Ann Skeate
Mold is everywhere! It occurs naturally in the outdoor environment and is one of nature’s sanitation engineers. Mold assists in the decomposition of dead plant and animal life. However, you do not want mold inhabiting your home.
What Makes Mold Grow?
In order for mold to grow, mold spores must have air, food, temperature and moisture.
- Air: All living things need air to survive and mold is no different. It is not possible to eliminate all of the air from any area where mold is growing.
- Food: Food sources can be almost anything that is made from an organic substance. Wood, drywall, paper, ceiling tiles, and carpet are examples of food sources. Soap residue left behind after cleaning may also be a food source for mold.
- Temperature: Mold can exist in nearly any temperature. Some molds grow best in the cold. That is why mold can be found in your refrigerator. Other molds prefer warmer climates which is why you may find it in a water heater, attic, closet, or restroom.
- Moisture: Mold needs moisture to exist. Moisture sources like bathrooms without exhaust vents, shower leaks, broken gaskets on water lines, pipe leaks, roof leaks, and a bad window seal are prime reasons for mold growth to begin. Most mold species thrive in humidity greater than 70 percent. Moisture is usually the easiest thing for a person to control to reduce the growth of mold. Homes are often closed up which can trap a lot of mold spores inside. If the conditions for growth are met, mold can grow. And growth can begin in as little as 24-48 hours.
Mold can be found in many areas. The most common areas in homes are bathrooms, attics, kitchens, laundry areas, crawlspaces and basements. Mold is often found under sinks, in the shower, around toilets, ceiling panels, carpet, drywall/plaster and around windows. If you look around your home in damp areas or water leaks, you’ll most likely find mold growth as any moisture source has potential for mold growth.
Should I Test For Mold?
There are different kinds of tests that may be done to see if mold is present in your home. Tests are air sampling, surface sampling, and bulk sampling. If you see mold, it should be cleaned up and most likely testing is unnecessary — unless you need to determine the specific mold (fungi) type. Air sampling can be completed to determine what mold spores exist in the ambient air. Surface sampling may be completed on areas where suspect mold growth is evident. Bulk sampling may be completed with materials such as drywall or plaster and analysis determines growth of the mold. Sometimes bulk sampling is done inside of the wall where a leaking pipe may have caused mold growth.
Any testing for mold should be done by a trained professional. The trained professional will perform a walkthrough of the home to locate any potential sources for mold growth. If you see mold, it should be cleaned up immediately, since mold can eventually cause structural damage to building materials. The mold eats away at building materials such as wood, if it is left undisturbed and not addressed. If you feel there is a potential mold problem, you should consult with a professional who can assist you.
Ann Skeate has over a decade of experience in mold sampling, consulting, investigations and remediation planning for residential and commercial buildings. You may call her at Ideal Environmental Engineering, 309-828-4259.
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