The following is an excerpt from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website. After the CDC excerpt you will find a list of 15 items all relating to moisture and after that you will find my response.
“I found mold growing in my home; how do I test the mold?
Generally, it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in a residence, and CDC does not recommend routine sampling for molds. Current evidence indicates that allergies are the type of diseases most often associated with molds. Since the reaction of individuals can vary greatly either because of the person’s susceptibility or type and amount of mold present, sampling and culturing are not reliable in determining your health risk. If you are susceptible to mold and mold is seen or smelled, there is a potential health risk; therefore, no matter what type of mold is present, you should arrange for its removal. Furthermore, reliable sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable or tolerable quantity of mold have not been established.”
Before reading any further go back and re-read the last sentence. “Standards for judging what is an acceptable or tolerable quantity of mold have not been established.”
An acquaintance and mold remediation professional sent me the following list of 15 items along with a note that reads “keep this as a reference”. He later told me the list is gathered from various sources, articles, and conversations.
- Solve moisture problems before they become mold problems.
- Mold can grow within 24- 48 hours of the initial water problem.
- Remember that every mold problem is a water problem first.
- The mix of mold indoors should be less than the mix of mold outside.
- Consider installing a whole-house/building dehumidifier, ventilator, and filtration system in parallel with the air conditioner. At the very least, put a $250 dehumidifier in the basement and insert a garden hose drain to the outside so you don’t have to empty the bucket daily.
- The best means of preventing mold is to deny the spores the moisture necessary for germination.
- Mold growth occurs when water problems go unresolved.
- When you’re facing down mold, first tell yourself, “Water is the problem,” and then go find, fix and completely dry up the source.
- If molded: “when in doubt, throw it out.”
- Bleach only kills some topical mold spores on hard surfaces.
- Mold is an allergen whether it’s dead or alive.
- Mold will come back no matter how well you clean or how well you use an inhibitor, if the area is allowed to become moist or humid again!
- Build it dry, design it to stay dry, and make sure it can dry if it gets wet.
- To kill mold and to help stop any future mold growth, use an EPA-registered mold anti-microbial fungicide.
- Damage due to mold is largely preventable.
This is my typical answer to the question “should I test for mold”?
Molds are everywhere either dormant or active.
Mold growth (active) is directly related to water.
An inspection identifying sources of water or moisture, according to the CDC, is more important than identifying the different types of molds that are present.
Cleaning mold can be very expensive and a waste of time and money if the source of water is not identified and corrected.
Remember this line “The mix of mold indoors should be equal to or less the mix of mold outdoors”. The reason for adding this line here is to emphasize a point. It is impossible to control mold growth outdoors. Every time a door is opened mold spores enter. Water and moisture can be controlled indoors. Common sense and cleaning can prevent most mold issues. Cleaning with chemicals by a professional, if needed, can correct an existing condition but will not prevent future mold growth if water sources remain unchecked.
Visit the CDC’s web site http://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm.
The list of 15 provided by Blair Dean Ph.D. C.M.I. C.M.A. http://asapmold.com.
