Finding mold hiding in your walls can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Mold not only can cause damage to your home, but black mold is also a health concern that can cause respiratory issues or allergies. Commonly, Stachybotrys chartarum, black mold, flourishes in dark, damp spaces like walls. Thus, early detection is crucial to prevent costly repairs and maintain your health. This guide provides practical resources to help you be confident in detecting black mold.
Signs of Hidden Black Mold
Finding black mold behind walls is not as easy as discovering it on an exposed surface; however, there are several signs to watch for.
- Smell: Your primary focus should be noticing musty odors in the home that are not necessarily always present. If your space smells grassy or damp, or there is no visible mold (yet), but you are feeling sick in a particular room of your home, mold may be present.
- Sneezing or other unusual health concerns: Pay attention to any other unusual health concerns that occur in your house, such as sneezing, coughing, or unexplained headaches that seem to be related to time spent indoors.
- Discolored walls: Be aware of visible signs on the walls. Water stains, discolorations, yellowish or brownish patches, or peeling paint on the walls can indicate moisture that is creating a moldy surface.
- Bulging drywall: If the drywall appears warped, bulging, concave, or in some other unusual condition, it indicates water damage behind the wall. Consider what produces humidity or moisture, such as bathrooms, basements, or a plumbing leak.
Tools and Techniques to Find Hidden Mold
Seeing black mold is the best way to confirm its presence. Use a flashlight to look for subtle signs of mold or water damage in corners, baseboard areas, and locations around windows and near plumbing piping. If you know the area is at risk for mold growth due to water damage, you may want to try some of the following techniques:
- Moisture Meter: This tool can measure the moisture content in the wall. If you are getting readings of greater than 17%, moisture is present that could be favorable to mold growth. These devices are inexpensive and available at hardware stores.
- Thermal Imaging Cameras: These work by detecting temperature differences in walls. If there are pockets of moisture in the walls behind the surface, external temperature fluctuations may lead to mold growth.
- Air Testing Kits: Home mold testing kits are readily available online and at some home improvement stores. Air samples are taken in the room near the suspected mold, following the instructions provided in the kit, and then sent to the lab for analysis.
- Visual Mold Inspection: Our team at Mold Doctors offers complimentary visual mold inspections to residents on Cape Cod and the South Shore. If we find anything, we will submit it for testing.
Why The Mold Doctors on the South Shore & Cape Cod Can Help
If you suspect hidden black mold, it may feel overwhelming, but our team at the Mold Doctors is here to help. We employ skilled professionals and certified mold inspectors who utilize the latest technology, including thermal imaging and laboratory analysis, to locate and identify mold. You can be assured that you’re dealing with a company with an extensive background in mold remediation. Don’t hesitate; make your call today.