That weird smell in your house could be mold. Here’s how to check

Because climate change leads to more flooding and more severe freezes, more moisture and humidity means more homes and businesses are susceptible to mold growth. Mold can lead to a host of illnesses ranging from asthma and upper respiratory symptoms to organ damage and cognitive problems. Michael Berg, director of technology at Eurofins Environment Testing America, a company that conducts environmental testing for mold and other potential hazards, cited a research study showing that the economic cost to society of diseases due to moisture and mold exposure exceeds $22 billion. amounts.

With the Atlantic hurricane season starting in June, consumers need to know how to deal with water and mold intrusion into their homes. Since mold can begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours, respond quickly to water ingress by immediately removing wet materials (drywall, carpet, padding, etc.), using fans and dehumidifiers to dry out your home and trapped moisture to airflow. Some lucky residents won’t have mold, but those who smell it, see it or develop disease need to know what steps to consider, and that starts with a mold assessment.

The importance of a good review

Because there are no national standards for mold assessment and remediation, the standards vary from state to state. Only a handful of states have indoor air quality (IAQ) laws that target mold, putting uneducated consumers at a disadvantage when faced with water ingress. Doug Hoffman, executive director of the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors (NORMI), says NORMI has helped write mold laws in several states. Hoffman said consumers should think of the “form assessor as the architect” who is responsible for designing the scope and steps of the remediation project, while the “remediator is the contractor who does the work.” Hoffman says consumers should not try to save money on testing because testing dictates recovery and incomplete testing can lead to incomplete recovery.

Mike Marshall, chief operating officer of Mold Inspection Sciences Texas and president of the Texas Mold Assessors and Remediators Association, agreed, saying that “insufficient assessments and testing can lead to insufficient repair”: You can’t fix what hasn’t been identified. I can vouch for the need for a thorough, professional mold assessment. Cleaning and sanitation continued for 20 months after my house exploded with toxic mold two decades ago. Part of the extended timeline was because insufficient testing led to patchy cleanups.

However, disposing of uncontaminated materials can also incur unnecessary costs. Marshall estimates that remediation can cost 15 to 20 times the testing cost, so accurate testing can save customers a lot of money through targeted remediation. Berg said mold testing isn’t necessary in cases where there is a clear path to addressing the problem (such as after a flood or burst pipe), but is very helpful when there is hidden mold growth or when there are insurance claims or disputes. . In our experience with extreme mold, logic didn’t dictate a precise recovery plan, so thorough testing was necessary. As the mold explosion began in our shower, tape sample tests revealed toxic mold throughout the house—all three bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room, and more.

What Happens During a Mold Assessment

Marshall says the best way to prepare is for consumers to understand what happens during a mold assessment. He says consumers often request mold testing because they smell or see something that looks funny, or because someone is sick and they don’t know why. In many cases this happens after a recent water intrusion.

That’s how an assessment works in Texas, where I live. After a phone screening, a Texas-licensed mold inspector arrives for an in-depth interview with the homeowner. Next, the inspector performs an exterior inspection of the home to determine potential water entry points: a faulty roof, foundation issues, landscaping or mulching issues, window sealing, and so on. The inspector then scans each room with an infrared camera to see recent moisture events behind walls or ceilings. If the infrared detects polar regions with lower temperatures, a moisture meter is used to see whether water has collected there. They also test areas common to moisture ingress, such as around windows, doors, and areas with plumbing pipes.

Depending on the size of the room, the inspector will take one or more air samples if he discovers conditions conducive to mold growth. According to Marshall, the industry standard is to draw 75 liters of air through a biopump with an attached air sample cartridge for five minutes. The air sample cassette captures cells (mold, skin, carpet pieces, etc.) on a sticky surface on a microscope slide. The cassette is removed from the pump, sealed and sent to an independent laboratory not affiliated with the testing company under a strict Chain of Custody (COC) procedure for testing. A Chain of Custody documents the transfer of the sample from the collection point to the delivery at the lab, including date, time and signatures for each time the sample changes hands.

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