Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions) and irritants. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash.
Allergic reactions to mold are common.
The attached photo is of the wall under a kitchen sink. When opening the cabinet to conduct the standard checks (plumbing, disposal, air gap), I was immediately aware of the the “black substance” due to the smell. The rubber tube that serves the disposal from the dishwasher was disconnected and must have dump a fare amount of water under the cabinet. By the picture, you can tell someone tried to “clean” the mold growth, but was not effective.
Not sure why this is not submitting, but here we go again…The attached photo is of the wall under a kitchen sink. When opening the cabinet to conduct the standard checks (plumbing, disposal, air gap), I was immediately aware of the the “black substance” due to the smell. The rubber tube that serves the disposal from the dishwasher was disconnected and must have dump a fare amount of water under the cabinet. By the picture, you can tell someone tried to “clean” the mold growth, but was not effective.
This is a Master Bathroom shower ceiling (made of gypsum board) with visible apparent mold growth. The bathroom is located at the N corner of the home The shower ceiling area is approx 4’ x 5’ and is lower than the ceiling outside of the shower. An exhaust fan has been installed in the shower area, but after running hot water for several minutes, much of the steam is making its way to the walls and ceilings outside the shower area (which is higher than in the shower area). The owner states the exhaust fan was installed directly in the shower area because it would’ve been too close to the AC supply register if installed at the outer area. The owner also states the fan was installed after apparent mold growth had already become visible. The area is small, and air circulation is poor. Should the gypsum ceiling be removed and replaced with tile? How can air circulation be improved?
Bathroom ceiling mold is the most common problems in any house; its also one of the easiest to prevent and cure as long as you havent let it get out of hand.1st step use your bathroom ventilation fan when you shower or bathe, and leave it on for 30 minutes following the end of your bath
Bathroom ceiling mold is the most common problems in any house; its also one of the easiest to prevent and cure as long as you havent let it get out of hand.1st step use your bathroom ventilation fan when you shower or bathe, and leave it on for 30 minutes following the end of your bath
The photo taken is a shower in the master bath. This can be a great breeding ground for mold. Using the exhaust fan and drying these areas after use is a good way the lessen the likelihood for mold to grow in these types of areas.
Moisture intrusion is the key factor in mold growth. The first step is to have the structure inspected to find out if there is an issue. After you have tested the area, and positive results come back that mold exists, Locate and repair the water leak. Once the water leak is repaired Remediation can start.
A spore is the means by which mold reproduce. Spores are microscopic and vary in shape and range from 2-100 microns in size. Spores travel in several ways: passively (moved by a breeze; water droplet) or mechanically disturbed (by a person or animal passing by) or actively discharged by the mold (usually under moist conditions or high humidity).
The key to mold control is moisture control. If mold is a problem in your home, you should clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem. It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
I read the article called Tape Sampling for Mold Inspections. Tape Sampling is the most commonly-used method to test surfaces for mold. It is a simple, inexpensive technique. Although some light-colored, mostly airborne, or smaller species may be missed using this technique, it is a generally reliable way to confirm the presence of and determine the type of mold found on flat surfaces at a mold inspection.
The owner of this half bath complained of a musty smell in the bath. After initial inspection, it was determined that the toilet wax ring had failed and been leaking under the subfloor for a period of time. The toilet, subfloor, and concrete slam was removed, mold was discovered under the subfloor. The bath had to be mediated for mold and all the fixtures in the bath had to be cleaned and/or replaced. Then bath was then painted and flooring and fixtures were installed.
A moisture meter can be a very important tool for inspectors performing mold inspection. Using the meter in locations subjected to moisture, can provide the inspector with the percentage of moisture present in that location. And will then allow the inspector to form of hypothesis of the location is conducive for mold
This is an image of a crawlspace with visible signs of moisture intrusion and potential mold growth. A distinct musty odor was present in the crawlspace as well as damaged wood products from moisture intrusion. I recommend further investigation by a qualified professional. This will help address indoor quality issues as well as insulation and ventilation issues.
In regard to the article on moisture meters. Moisture meters for home inspections come in two different types, pin type, and pin-less or search type. Both types have their advantages depending on the material you are testing and whether or not the surface may be damaged by pin type meters. These meters are useful in determining moisture content in building materials and in areas out of sight such as behind shower walls or beneath floor coverings.
Apparent visible mold was observed at the wall and flooring behind the shower in the master bathroom. A surface sample was taken from the wall area and air sampling was done in the family room and exterior of the house.
The groundfault Branch circuit photo was observed, I learned that standard electrical outlets are protected downstream from the ground fault outlet. The diagram failed to indicate how many standard electrical outlets could be covered by the ground fault outlet downstream.
During a recent inspection I observed this wall under the kitchen sink.The seal around the rim of the sink was open and the hot water line was spraying a fine mist on the wall for quite a long time.The suspected mold also continued into the basement through the flooring.You could actually smell this as soon as you walked into the rear of the house.Recommended further evaluation by a mold inspector and also recommended they not spend too much time in the house before it was.
The attached photo, although hard to see, shows evidence of possible fungal growth on the foundation walls and the subfloor structure. The foundation of this home has major grading problems and the home is missing gutters on all sides of the home.
The key to mold control is moisture control. Any areas in the home that experience water damaged needs to be dried within 48 hours. The presence of mold can cause many health issues including skin rash, asthma, and hay fever type symptoms. It is important to contact professional remediators if you suspect mold in your home.
