It's very common to find molds in homes and buildings. After all, molds grow naturally indoors. And mold spores enter the home through doorways, windows, and heating and air conditioning systems. Spores also enter the home on animals, clothing, shoes, bags and people.

When mold spores drop where there is excessive moisture in your home, they will grow. Common problem sites include humidifiers, leaky roofs and pipes, overflowing sinks, bath tubs and plant pots, steam from cooking, wet clothes drying indoors, dryers exhausting indoors, or where there has been flooding.

Many of the building materials for homes provide suitable nutrients for mold, helping it to grow.  Such materials include paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood and wood products, dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.

The importance of mold in the real estate market today

Much has been made of indoor mold in advertising and the media lately, so it’s a common concern for homeowners and buyers.  It's common to find mold even in new homes.  

Exposure to mold

Everyone is exposed to some amount of mold on a daily basis, most without any apparent reaction.  Generally mold spores can cause problems when they are present in large numbers and a person inhales large quantities of them.  This occurs primarily when there is active mold growth.

For some people, a small exposure to mold spores can trigger an asthma attack or lead to other health problems.  For others, symptoms may only occur when exposure levels are much higher.

The health effects of mold can vary.  The production of allergens or irritants can cause mild allergic reactions and asthma attacks.  The production of potentially toxic mycotoxins can cause more severe reactions, and in rare cases death.

Should I be concerned about mold in my home?

Yes.  If indoor mold is extensive, those in your home can be exposed to very high and persistent airborne mold spores.  It is possible to become sensitized to these mold spores and develop allergies or other health concerns, even if one is not normally sensitive to mold.

Left unchecked, mold growth can cause structural damage to your home as well as permanent damage to furnishings and carpet.

According to the Centers for Disease Control*, "It is not necessary, however, to determine what type of mold you may have.  All molds should be treated the same with respect to potential health risks and removal."

Can my home be tested for mold?

Yes.  Your home inspector should not be the source for testing. One of the problems associated with mold is that it is being used as a scare tactic and there are many "snake oil salesman" that are offering mold testing. Take a look at this video. http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=189429Real

Mold testing is very expensive and any testing should be performed by a qualified environmental testing company with licensed industrial hygenist. Again I must stress that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that testing to determine the type of mold is not necessary. Real mold testing for an average sized home can range in price from 1500.00 to 2000.00 and up. If your home inspector offers mold testing for an additional 125.00 fee, than not only do you need a real mold testing company, you also need a real home inspector.

How do I remove mold from my home?

First address the source of moisture that is allowing the mold to grow.  Then take steps to clean up the contamination.  Here are helpful links to lean more about cleaning up mold in your home.

• " A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home," Environmental Protection Agency
• " Repairing Your Flooded Home," FEMA
• " Controlling Mold Growth in the Home,"Kansas State University

*Sources: California Department of Health Services Indoor Air Quality Info Sheet, "Mold in My Home: What Do I Do?" revised July 2001; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Questions and Answers on Stachybotrys chartarum and other molds" last reviewed November 30, 2002.