How to Tell If There's Mold in Your Home or Business

“Man in coma after living with black mold for months” is the title of a story from an NBC affiliate in Panama City, Florida.

At first this title may make you think that the story is exaggerated in order to bring in viewers, however, upon reading the facts of the situation it becomes obvious that this is not just a line to grow an audience. Black mold, along with a pre-existing condition, has put a young Florida man in very serious condition, and he is not the only one who is facing the ill effects of mold.

Christian Childers, a 26 year old man, was placed in a medically induced coma after an asthma attack led to cardiac arrest. The black mold, that was the impetus of his issues, has been blamed on poor cleanup after Hurricane Ian.

However, it is important to understand that mold, even black mold, does not require a hurricane in order to grow. Mold is opportunistic and will grow when the conditions are right. So how does a homeowner know if there is mold in their house?

Here are three things to keep in mind when trying to figure out if there is mold in your home: sight, smell, and feel.

1. It may seem obvious that if you see mold in your home you have mold, but mold can also be very stealthy. Most likely you will not find classic looking mold smack-dab in the middle of your family room wall for all to see (although if there is a leaky pipe in the wall this could happen). Look for mold near the windows of your bathroom, on the inside walls of the cabinet under your sink, and in the corners of your basement. Remember that although some mold is black, mold actually comes in a variety of colors including green, red, and blue.
2. Your sense of smell can be another good tool in determining if there is mold in your home. Most people say that mold smells earthy or musty. Although your first thought when smelling this unpleasant smell may be to cover it with scented candles or air-fresheners this is a mistake. The musty smell might actually help you to pinpoint the origin of your mold problem.
3. The last indicator when it comes to deciding if you have mold in your home is “feel.” Not what you feel when you touch something, but instead how do you physically feel. Do you feel like you have seasonal allergies every season?  Often times mold will cause people to have a runny nose, itchy eyes, prolonged cough, and headaches, which are very similar to the symptoms many people suffer when they have seasonal allergies.

If you think that you may have a mold problem it is best to call a professional, like Mold Solutions by Cowleys. We will thoroughly investigate the area in question and determine if there is cause for worry. Unlike in the past when the only way to truly remove mold was through the demolition of the surfaces it was on, our mold-polymer patented technology is safe, effective, and causes no damage to your home.