Do You Suspect You Have a Mold Problem: How To Be Sure

8/6/2020 (Permalink)

Do You Suspect You Have a Mold Problem?

Is there a musty odor permeating through your ductwork or from your basement? Is there a fuzzy, colorful substance growing behind your water heater? While an indoor environmental specialist may be the best expert to validate your suspicion of mold, there are ways to tell if your fungal suspicions are on the right track.

1. Smell

Mold has a unique smell. It is musty and dank. Typically, when you encounter mold the air is humid and thick. While musty can mean several things to different people, the best way to describe the musty odor of mold is stuffy and stale, and that is because mold usually develops in areas that are not well ventilated.

2. Look

Mold growth is unique in appearance. Most mold will rise above the surface of the material it is growing on, and it will look fuzzy, almost soft. Also, mold is quite colorful. It is found in gradients of green, gray and yellow. However, it may also take on the color of other chemicals and liquids that have spilled nearby. To definitively conclude that you have mold, however, you will likely need an indoor environmental specialist.

3. Humidity

As stated above, humidity and a lack of ventilation contribute to the development of fungus. Therefore, if you have an area of your property that is unusually humid without proper ventilation, then you have an area that is prime real estate for mold spore settlements.

4. Test

A mold remediation specialist in the Harrisonville, MO, area can take samples and perform a mold test to find out if you are in fact dealing with an infestation. The truth is, not all fungal deposits are mold, and there are times when something may look like mold but is actually a calcium deposit or something else entirely. Tests are the only surefire way to prove something is mold.

While you can base your assessment off smells, looks and environmental conditions, an indoor environmental specialist is likely your best shot at verifying your suspicions of mold growth. Don’t risk your property or health. Call an expert and ask for a test.