Aspergillus / Penicillium:
are two separate genera of molds so visibly similar, they are often grouped together. They comprise of approximately 400 different species, produce dry spore that are easily dispersed through the air, and serve as a source of food for mites therefore also being dispersed by mites and other insects.
Outside: They may be found in soils, fruit rot, decaying plant debris, compost piles, and some petroleum based fuels.
Inside: Commonly found through-out the home on decaying fabrics, carpeting, wall board, moist chip boards, behind paint, on wall paper and adhesives, and house-hold dust. Can also be found in dried foods, dry cereals, nuts, apples, cheeses, herbs, onions, and oranges when isolated from blue rot.

Cladosporium:
is profuse and is essentially a cornucopia of spore when air monitoring either inside or out-doors. This genus contains approximately 20-30 different species, most abundant in dry weather, branching chains produce dry spores that are released by twisting of the spore-bearing hyphae as they’re drying.
Outside: Can be found in many soils, plant litter, and old plants and leaves, some of the species are plant pathogens.
Inside: Found just about anywhere indoors including but not limited to bathroom tiles, kitchen tiles, moist windowsill’s, laundry areas, textiles, and any other wet areas of the home. Some species of cladosporium grow at temperatures at or below 32 degrees (F) and can be found on many refrigerated foods.

Alternaria:
is one of the most common found molds geographically and contains approximately 40 -50 different species, very few
of which are commonly found indoors, and is easily dispersed through the air.
Outside: Found in soils, textiles, dead organic debris, foodstuffs, and is a plant pathogen that often found on dead plants.
Inside: When moisture is present, alternaria can grow on just about any organic substance.

Acremonium:
Is a slimly mold commonly found in areas of extreme moisture around the home and can be dispersed through water flow or droplets. The old dried – up spores are capable of dispersion by air. This common mold includes
approximately 80-90 different species.
Outside: Found in soils, dead organic material, foodstuffs, and hay.
Inside: Requires extremely wet conditions in order to multiply, and under such conditions can likely be found anywhere in the home.

Ceratocystis / Ophiostoma:
separate genera that are so similar that they are generally grouped together, and represent approximately 50-60 different species. The production of wet, slimy spore is typically dispersed by water flow, droplets, or insects.
Outside: Sometimes referred to as “lumber mold” this genera is commonly found in lumber yards and forests.
Inside: Can typically be found on wood construction materials.

Chaetomium:
contains approximately 80-90 different species, and is common geographically. These spores are formed inside of fruiting bodies, and are released by being forced through small openings in the fruit body being dispersed by wind, water flow or droplets, and insects.
Outside: Found in soils, dung, wood materials, straw, cellulose substrates and various seeds.
Inside: Very common on sheet rock paper that has been saturated by moisture, and on cellulose and wood construction materials.

Stachybotrys:
is ubiquitous, and represents approximately 15 different species, requires a significant amount of moisture to reproduce slimy spore and is commonly dispersed by water flow, droplets, or insects.
Outside: Found in soils, decomposing cellulose material, decaying plant debris, leaf litter, and seeds.
Inside: Common on wet materials such as wall board, jute, wicker, and other paper materials.

What is it? Where is it?

Medical research indicates that mold is the number one cause of allergic symptoms. Mold naturally occurs in home, office, and school environments, and many thousands of different molds exist, but only a few of them are known to cause significant health problems, of which Stachybotrys chartarum (toxic black mold) and Aspergillus niger(widespread in indoor environments) are the most common. Mold can be found in every area of your home: attics, basements, bathrooms, carpeting, ceilings, chimneys, closets, raised foundation crawl spaces, doors, flooring, garages, kitchens, ventilation systems, walls and framing, and windows. It grows in most building materials, including concrete, dry wall, carpeting, wall paper, fiberboard, ceiling tiles, and thermal insulation.

Molds reproduce by making spores that cannot be seen without magnification. Mold spores move naturally through the indoor and outdoor air. Because mold requires an environment with a high moisture content in order to grow and thrive, it should not pose major problems in an environment such as Salt Lake’s. However, because many homeowners do not regularly inspect their own homes for water and drainage leaks, mold problems do occur in our homes and buildings.

How do I make sure it’s not in my home?

It is in your home, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You are breathing it as you are reading this. However, you can prevent it from growing and thriving in your home, and affecting your health, by inspecting your home on a regular basis (monthly at a minimum) for water and drainage leaks. This means:

1. Removing all the items stored under your sinks and inspecting the water pipes, water shutoff valves, and drainage pipes for leaks. If you detect leaks, have them repaired immediately by a licensed plumber.
2. Inspecting around sink basins, bathtubs, and shower stalls for deteriorated grouting or caulking. These are areas where water can penetrate into the structure’s walls and framing, allowing mold to thrive in those spaces.
3. Using your eyes and nose for visual and olfactory clues. If you see mold or smell musty odors, chances are great that you have mold in your home.

You should also use your exhaust fans in your bathrooms and kitchens or open whatever windows are located in those rooms to help prevent a build-up of moisture in those areas and a subsequent growth of mold or mold-like substances.

If I have it, how do I get rid of it?

Most of us know what mold looks like and smells like. If you believe that you have mold in your home, you should first seek out and correct the problems that are providing the mold with the moisture that it needs to grow and thrive. Reducing moisture, removing all visible signs of mold, and disinfecting surfaces with chlorine and ozone, is the best way to combat a mold problem. Please read the attached “Mold Remediation” page for information about mold remediation techniques. 

Where can I get more information?

The HomeTeam Inspection Service is not a mold testing laboratory and, therefore, we cannot state unequivocally whether any form of mold is or is not present. When we do smell musty odors or see mold-like substances growing, we do, and always have, noted it in our reports. If you want additional confirmation, toxic mold test kits are available at The Home Depot (plumbing department, item #761-572) or at Lowe’s (product item #174419). If you need to know what type of mold is present in your home, we urge you to seek the services of a qualified and licensed industrial hygienist or a qualified and licensed mold testing laboratory. Only they have the necessary laboratories set up to determine unequivocally what types of mold, if any, are growing and thriving in your home. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at any time at 913 642-3515 or 816 810-3515.

Mold Remediation

Deciding When to Call a Professional

With the prevalence of household mold cases across the nation, many homeowners are wondering whether or not they can clean up mold themselves. The answer is yes, but without knowing the type of mold is growing in a home or the extent of the problem, many contractors are hesitant to recommend homeowners tackle a mold infestation themselves. Homeowners trying to decide whether or not to clean up mold themselves should realize that there will be a significant difference in the approach used for a small mold problem (total area affected is less than ten square feet) and a large contamination problem of more than 100 square feet. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a homeowner wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) may handle small cleanup areas. However, for larger areas, the EPA advises hiring an experienced, professional contractor. For in-between sized cases, the type of containment and personal protection equipment to be used will be a matter of personal judgment. Any home that has sustained major water damage or flooding needs to be inspected by a qualified water loss specialist.

If, after evaluating the problem, homeowners decide to clean mold themselves, they should keep in mind that they will be exposed to potentially toxic mold, strong detergents, and disinfectants. Steps should be taken to protect residents’ health during cleanup:

1. Wear a full- or half-face respirator with a P-100 filter to prevent inhalation of airborne spores.
2. Minimize exposure to disinfectants and contain the area in which you are working.
3. Wear protective clothing that is easily cleaned or discarded.
4. Use rubber gloves.
5. Ask family members or bystanders to evacuate areas that are being cleaned.
6. Air out the house well during and after the work.
7. Bag and discard moldy items.
8. Dry and dehumidify affected area for two or three days.
9. Remove moldy items as soon as possible to prevent further release of spores.
10. Use non-ammonia soap or detergent, or a commercial cleaner, in hot water, and scrub the entire area that is affected by the mold.
11. Use a stiff brush or cleaning pad on cement-block walls or rough surfaces.
12. Rinse cleaned items and dry thoroughly.

Disinfecting agents can be toxic for humans, not just molds. They should be used only when necessary and should be handled with caution. Disinfectants should only be applied to thoroughly cleaned materials. Do not use disinfectants instead of, or before, cleaning with soap or detergent. When using disinfectants:

1. Allow the disinfectant to remain on the surface for the prescribed time before rinsing.
2. Ventilate work area thoroughly.
3. Make sure the entire surface is wet.
4. Properly dispose of extra disinfectant and runoff.

The cleaned areas should be thoroughly dried and any sponges or rags used to clean the mold should be discarded. The key to mold control is moisture control. Keep the area dry and the humidity level below 45 percent. 

If a water invasion occurs, it is important to eliminate the water source and dry water damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.

If mold returns after a cleanup, it may indicate an undetected problem, such as a leak. If mold contamination is extensive or if the homeowners ever feel unsure of themselves during the cleaning process, a professional abatement company may need to be consulted.

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There are many, many valuable web sites with information about mold assessment and remediation. Simply type in keyword “mold” in any search engine and you’ll receive thousands of replies. Be sure to check the site sponsor(s) for legitimacy (or conflict!), but you will undoubtedly find something viable related to what you’re looking for.

The following is a short list of web-based mold information that we at The HomeTeam have referenced in the past and feel comfortable recommending:

General Information:

www.epa.gov (type “mold” at search queue and several documents will appear)
www.3m.com/market/safety/ohes2/mold/
www.moldsense.com
www.hometest.com
www.kansascity-homeinspections.com