Mold is great at hiding in places you would never suspect. Even hidden, it can cause great damage to the property and to the health of those living there. In this article, we will take a look at mold symptoms and find out whether you need mold inspection services.
Sniff the Air
Mold has an earthy, musty odor. If this is a natural smell of a property, there is probably mold growth somewhere. Tom Schultz, Owner of Certified Mold Inspection & Remediation Services, suggests to turn off the HVAC and close all doors. After a few hours, go room to room and find which room has the strongest odor. This is most likely the room where the mold growth is most active. If you can’t spot any visible mold here, you will need to contact a mold inspection company and schedule an inspection.
Water Intrusions
If you’ve had a water leak that caused surfaces to be wet for more than 24 hours, you probably need a mold inspection. This rule is a reminder that you can control mold by keeping moisture under control within a property. If moisture levels get out of hand, usually above 60% on a humidity reader, mold will likely grow.
According to the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) there are three categories of water intrusions.
Category 1
Category 1 water intrusions are not harmful if consumed. This includes things such as burst water pipes, failed supply lines on appliances, falling rainwater, melting snow or ice, broken toilet tanks, or toilet bowl over flow that does not contain any contaminants.
Category 2
Category 2 water intrusions include some amount of contamination at it’s source. Examples are washing machine or dishwasher waste or overflow, toilet overflow with urine but no feces, sump pump back-up, hydrostatic pressure seepage, broken aquariums and punctured water beds.
Category 3
Category 3 water intrusions are highly contaminated. They contain viruses and bacteria and as a result, can cause serious illness or even death in extreme conditions. This type includes sewage back-up, ground surface water intrusion, toilet back-flow from beyond the trap, and rivers & streams that have flooded the property.
Each of these categories of water intrusions can be harmful. If surfaces remain wet for more than 1-2 days, the mold growth process will likely begin. Because of this, if you have had any of the water intrusions listed above, you should think about mold inspection services.
Feeling Sick?
There are many health issues that are related to mold. The most common symptoms include asthma-like and allergy-like symptoms. Headaches, stuffy nose, sinus, and trouble breathing could all be caused by mold. This makes mold symptoms easy to mistake for more common health problems. The list of health symptoms related to mold can be long, which is why we came up with an article discussing a detailed list of health effects that mold causes. If you or any of your family members experience any of these symptoms, I would suggest visiting a mold doctor. If you are in Indianapolis, Indiana, I would recommend visiting The Natural Path To Wellness.
Other Reasons for Mold Inspection Services
Here’s a list of more reasons to get a mold inspection:
- Buying a new home or property
- Landlord and tenant mold dispute
- Curiosity
- Visible matter that appears to be mold