How to Locate Dangerous Mold in a Home

The presence of mold in the home can potentially have very dangerous consequences to your health, the health of your family and that of your pets. It is important that you locate dangerous mold in your home, remove it and dispose of it properly in order to protect your family from the health risks posed by mold. The initial symptoms of a mold reaction will look very much like a pollen allergy attack.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Professional mold inspection from a certified professional

1. Start by inspecting the rooms in your home with the highest relative humidity and with dark spaces. When mold is present in a home, it is usually found in the bathroom or in the basement, especially if there is a washer and dryer in the basement.

2. Locate signs of water damage. Those tiny black spots you see are mold.

3. Look in places that are dark and where water may be dripping without your knowledge. One of the primary places you'll locate dangerous mold in a home is under the sink in the bathroom or the kitchen.

4. Check your walls (especially close to the ground) for discoloration, bulging spots and cracking paint. Most of the space inside a wall is hollow and dark with higher humidity so it is a prime place for mold to thrive. Mold that has infected your drywall will have these telltale characteristics.

5. Look under your floorboards and baseboards. These spaces are dark and they seal in heat and water vapor, making them mold goldmines.

6. Look up. Mold can grow in ceilings just as easily as in walls and floorboards. If you have an unknown roof leak, it could be fueling mold growth above your head.

7. Open up all your cupboards and look inside. If you put dishes away wet this can fuel mold growth, and food particles from food stored in your cabinets will too.

8. Locate mold in the refrigerator. The bottom shelves and drain pan of your fridge are easy places to find dangerous mold.

9. Change your shower curtain regularly. You should replace your shower curtain every few months because this is one of the most common places where mold thrives.

10. Have your home inspected every few years by a certified professional mold inspector.

Tips & Warnings

• When all else fails, just follow your nose. Mold is characterized by a musty, mildewy smell that is unmistakable.

• Resist the temptation to use a swamp cooler to cool your house. Swamp coolers raise the amount of moisture in the air. Check around the wall unit often for signs of mold growth.