How to Know If There Is Black Mold in the Home

According to a study in 1999 by the Mayo Clinic, almost all chronic sinus infections are caused by mold. In addition, the increase in the asthma rate over the last 20 years has been linked to the increase in the presence of molds. It is therefore very important to be able to identify signs of molds in your house and to remove the mold as soon as possible.

Things You'll Need

• Humidity Sensor Mold Tests (Air or Surface)

Instructions

Identifying Possible Signs of Black Mold

1. Use a humidity sensor to test whether your home has high levels of humidity. Humidity can cause mold to grow.

2. Check for plumbing leaks. Water leaks can cause mold to grow in your walls.

3. Stay alert for odors. Often foul odors can be the main or only sign of black mold growth in your home.

4. Check to see whether anyone in your home is experiencing increased allergy symptoms. These symptoms can be caused by mold growth.

5. Be alert for signs of toxic poisoning as well. Mold can produce Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that can cause headaches, decreased attention span, difficulty concentrating and dizziness.

6. Look around your house for discoloration of your walls. Patches of green, brown, black or even yellow can indicate possible mold. You can use a black light to check more closely for this discoloration.

7. Check to see if paint is peeling around your house. This can also be caused by excess moisture, which can cause mold to form.

8. Check your bathroom tiles to see if a black substance has seeped into the cracks. Mold can be easily trapped in the grout between tiles.

9. Buy an air mold test and use it. Send your results to a lab if you are unsure of how to interpret them.

Identifying Black Mold

1. Look at the mold. If it is black mold, it should look black, gray-brown, gray-green, or white with orange spots. It may also be dark, slimy and greenish-black.

2. Smell the mold. Mold has a distinctive musty odor, similar to mildew.

3. Take a sample of the growth using a surface mold sampling test.

4. Send the sample to a lab to confirm that it contains mold.

Tips & Warnings

• Mold tests can be expensive, so try to use the other methods listed above before resorting to tests. Work on preventing mold from returning, rather than just treating the mold that is already there.

• Remove mold as soon as possible to minimize negative health effects.

Resources

• Toxic Black Mold Information Center