How to Measure Mold & Mildew

Mold and mildew can affect your health.

Mold and mildew growth in your home can not only be unsightly, but it can also affect your family's health. The quantity of mold and mildew present and individual physiology will affect the level of risk. Knowing how to measure mold and mildew will ascertain current fungi presence and prevent health-related effects.

Things You'll Need

• Flashlight
• Petri dish
• Clear tape
• Mold test kit (optional)

Instructions

How to Measure Mold & Mildew

1. Perform a simple visual inspection. This is perhaps the easiest way to measure mold and mildew. Go through the house and look at walls, floors, counters and ceilings. Molds are typically black, green, red or blue in color. They can also appear fuzzy or slimy depending on the type. Mildew is usually gray or white and can be powdery or downy. A visual inspection should identify the quantity and areas where surface mold and mildews are growing. Identifying surface mold is important because it can release spores into the air. These spores may travel throughout the house and use the ventilation system as a conduit. When the spores come into contact with moisture, they can form new colonies.

2. Perform a deeper visual inspection. Hidden areas like behind walls and attics can be homes for mold and mildew. If mold or mildew is visible, or if you smell a stale or pungent odor, it is likely growing within the wall or ceiling. You may need to cut a hole and use a flashlight for verification. If mold and mildew is present, the wall or ceiling may need to be treated. In serious cases of growth, the building materials may need to be replaced.

3. Do an air test. This involves placing a petri dish on a flat surface. Put the clear tape inside the dish with the sticky side up. This will catch any air particles or particulate matter. You can also place a petri dish in your air conditioning duct at the return air vent. This will let you know if any mold is traveling through the home's ventilation system.

4. Perform an analysis. If you have a microscope and know what mold looks like, you can perform your own analysis. Dust particles are likely to show up in the petri dish as well, so be careful not to confuse the two. For those who would rather not deal with the technical aspects, there are companies that will analyze your samples. They will let you know if there is any mold present in the air. There are also mold-test kits that provide petri dishes and containers for you to take samples of surface molds. Afterward, you can send the samples to a laboratory for analysis and identification.

5. Follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warning. Most molds and mildew cause allergic reactions, but individuals may be affected differently based on their unique physiology. As a result, there are no universal standards or acceptable levels of mold and mildew growth. The CDC state that any mold discovered should be treated with caution and removed immediately.

References

• CDC: Basic Facts, Molds In The Environment
• Home Health Science Inc.: Mold Check Whole House Mold Testing