Water, Mold, Condensation and Useful Information

One of the most pressing concerns for home owners, tenants and especially home buyers is mold.

In some cases we have seen thousands of dollars spent on remediation which is unnecessary and usually based on information provided by those who are unqualified to do so, even other home inspectors, or those that have a financial interest in performing the required repairs or remediation.

In order to eliminate a potential conflict of interest we always recommend an unbiased third party inspection to maintain objectivity.

As a Certified Mold Inspector I offer comprehensive Fungal Assessment Inspections for home owners, tenants, businesses, and stratas including indoor air quality testing (IAQ) and other testing services.

I use specialized moisture detection equipment and infrared technology (see thermal imaging) and other various tools to track hidden moisture and locate possible areas of mold contamination.

It is not always present in the form of fuzzy green, black, or multi coloured growth , but can be present in its seed form called a spore or spores and can change to a vegetative state with the introduction of other conditions some of which include:

There are also some misconceptions on how to deal with mold such as:

Myth #1 - Clean it with bleach.

Bleach is an effective antimicrobial however it is caustic and dangerous or deadly if mixed with other common household chemicals. Regular dish soap and hot water is safer and just as effective as long as the vegetative growth is properly removed prior to the introduction of moisture and, the surface is properly dried after cleaning.

The fact is that applying moisture to active dimensional mold growth can cause the spreading of its seeds or “spores” about the environment, causing more serious contamination in other areas of the home, often through forced air heating systems.

It’s suspected that some molds are responsible for chronic health conditions such as Rinosinusitis, chronic coughs, headaches, asthma, and even cancer.

Myth #2 - As long as the mold is dormant it isn’t a problem.

This is untrue. When mold is in an active state of growth it emits Mycotoxins as it absorbs its food source. These toxins can significantly affect those with heightened sensitivities.

When mold is in a dry state the mold spores can more readily travel with natural air currents in the home, also causing potential health concerns.

Myth #3 - All molds are dangerous.

Mold is part of our natural environment, and without it we would not have the biological breakdown of organics, penicillin, or blue cheese! Some molds have been linked to possible health issues. These molds include but are not limited to Stachybotrys, Fusarium and Chaetomium. These molds are not common to our outdoor environment and are clear indicators of an indoor mold growth issue when found in any amount in an air sample. Other molds are common to our outdoor environment include but are not limited to Penicillium/Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Basidiospores, and are found in most air sampling we perform to some extent, as long as the levels are not excessive. Because we share our indoor environment with the outdoor environment it would not be realistic to expect a mold free home in most cases.

Indoor air samples must be compared to an outdoor control sample in order to provide an accurate diagnosis of the air quality in a home. Only a certified mold inspector (CMI), industrial hygienist, environmental engineer or mycologist can properly test and identify these molds. Relying on any other opinions regarding the toxicity of visible molds can be dangerous and inaccurate.

Mold can be a serious health and also a potential expensive building damage issue, and All In One Home Inspections can help you avoid costly situations that can affect your well being and devalue your assets.

Please feel free to contact us for further information and/or pricing regarding a Fungal Assessment Inspection and/or air quality sampling.