Finding mold is no reason to panic

Mold seems to be cropping up more often these days, and it is not only because it has been a rainy year in many parts of the country. Experts say mold is not more prevalent these days; instead, we are more aware of it. The way new houses are built may not be helping matters. New energy-efficient homes tend to be conducive to mold growth because of their tightness, which restricts air movement.

“They’re too green,” said Nelson Barnes Jr., a mold remediation expert in the Washington area. “Houses need to breathe.”

Still, experts say that finding mold need not be panic-inducing. Understanding what it is, what causes it, how to address it and how to prevent it, they say, can help homeowners ensure that their home’s environment is healthy.

Mold is not a new problem. Homeowners have been dealing with it since biblical times. Leviticus, one of the early books in the Bible, offers a lengthy explanation on what to do in case of mold.

“There’s never been a mold test that we’ve done that didn’t have any mold,” said Rob Hopkin of ProTec Inspection Services in Poolesville, Md. “Every house, every environment has mold spores.”

It becomes a problem when the concentration of mold spores in a house is greater than what is found outside.

Mold needs three conditions to thrive: an ideal temperature, moisture and a source of food.

“If you eliminate any one of those three, you will not have a mold problem,” Hopkin said.

If only it were that simple. The temperature in most houses is almost always ideal for mold growth. Mold feeds on dust or dirt, which is nearly impossible to eradicate from a house. That leaves moisture.

“Most people think you have to have a water intrusion or pipe burst in order to grow mold,” Barnes said. “If you have relative humidity above 60 percent and you have organic debris, which we all have, which is dust, you can grow mold.”

The Environmental Protection Agency cautions that if damp or wet building materials or furnishings are not cleaned and dried within 24 to 48 hours, the moisture can lead to mold growth.

“That funny smell — we usually call it a musty smell — that’s from mold spores feeding on nutrients and off-gassing,” Barnes said. “That’s the first key that the homeowner can say, ‘I’ve got something going on here.’”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common indoor molds are cladosporium, penicillium, alternaria and aspergillus. Stachybotrys chartarum, often called toxic mold, is rare. This heavy, dense, black mold is most often caused by a longterm moisture problem. Foreclosed houses that have been empty for months are typically candidates for toxic mold.

“Most of the molds we see are not toxic molds,” Hopkin said. “Most of the molds we see are allergenic molds. ... Some people are going to be sensitive to it, and others are not.”

Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to tell what kind of mold you have by looking at it. Mold is colored by what it eats more than what it is; therefore, it is indistinguishable without testing by a professional.

... Mold affects people differently. For some, exposure to mold causes nothing more than itchy eyes, sneezing and coughing. For others, it can lead to asthma attacks and lung problems.

“People ask us all the time: ‘Is this a dangerous mold? Is this going to be a problem for us?’ ” Hopkin said. “The answer is: I don’t know. For some people, it likely would be. For many people, it might not.”

“Mold is a plant,” Barnes said. “If you didn’t touch it or eat it, it wouldn’t bother you. Here’s the problem: The reproductive facet of that plant shotguns spores into the air, and it’s those microbials that we breathe in that cause the problem.”

Barnes, who has given expert testimony in court cases and drives a truck with the license plate “Moldman,” said he believes many homeowners can resolve their mold problems on their own.

“I’m known for taking the scary out of mold,” he said.

But there are times when it is best to call in a professional because of the extent of the problem. The EPA recommends contacting a specialist if mold covers a surface greater than 10 square feet.

“The biggest thing, the absolute biggest thing in mold remediation is the evacuation of spores,” Barnes said. “Because with surface mold, you can go in, clean it up, wipe it down, put in a dehumidifier and you have done nothing to control the spores.”

He advises using a mixture of detergent and bleach to remove mold. But that is only the first step.

“If you get rid of the mold, but you do not correct the moisture problem, the mold will return,” he said.

The best way to control the presence of mold in your house is to prevent moisture from collecting. A few simple steps homeowners can take are:

Clean gutters and extend downspouts so that they deposit water away from the house.

Check that the grading near the foundation causes water to run away from the house and not toward it.

Make sure the house is properly ventilated, especially the basement, with adequate air supply and return ducts.

Run a fan to promote air circulation.

Replace air filters regularly.