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Mold Warning Signs: How to Tell if You Have a Mold Problem
Infested with Mold?
Discovering that you have mold within your home can cause you to feel many things. You might initially feel disgust, frustration or even a sense of being overwhelmed. Placing the home up for sale might be the first thing that pops into your mind, but that should be a last resort.
Many people actually live in a home with mold and never realize it’s there. They ignore the warning signs until the problem reaches a point where the mold is taking over and affecting their health.
Warning Signs of Mold :
Therefore, it’s important to be aware of what the signs are that you may be sharing your home with more than just your family. Signs that you may have mold include:
- A strange odor:
Mold has a pungent smell. When it is confined to one area of your home, you may notice an unpleasant odor when you are in that area.Mold can sometimes live within the walls or behind wallpaper, and so you might not immediately associate the smell with mold. If you do notice an unusual persistent odor in your home, the culprit may be mold.
- The appearance of mold:
In your shower stall or bathtub, it’s easy to distinguish normal soap scum from mold.However, in the basement or cellar you may have to investigate a little further to find the mold. Mold will take hold of damp areas, so if you have a wall or floor where dampness collects, mold could very well be there as well.
- Health symptoms:
Because mold is not always visible, it can be difficult realizing that you do indeed have a mold problem. If you feel listless, congested and experience watering eyes while in your home, these can all be signs of the presence of mold.It’s not uncommon for a person who lives in a home that has mold to feel better while at work or out shopping. Their health problems begin the moment they step through their front door. Mold can often be the cause of this.
Do You Have a Mold Problem?
If you do think that you may have a mold problem, you’ll need to put on your investigator hat and get to work. Check all moist areas of your home first. If that doesn’t turn up any mold consider calling in a professional.
It can be difficult to stay in a home where the mold is causing an odor or is visible. You may feel very uncomfortable; however, for most people a small amount of mold will not cause serious health problems.
If you do suffer from allergies and find it’s causing breathing problems it might be wise to find a temporary place to stay until the mold problem is addressed.
Ignoring the warning signs that you may have mold only prolongs the problems you’ll experience. Be aggressive in locating the source of the mold and addressing it. After all, nothing is more important than your health.
Further Recommended Reading :
Joslyn from the Moldblogger Team
Like this post? Pass it along!
I completed a swab test kit from IMS Laboratory on a ceiling tile in an endoscopy department and the lab results showed too numerous to count Acremonium sp., Alternaria sp., Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp. and Epicoccum ingrum. How big of a concern should this be. My understanding of the report is that these are common molds found everywhere outside. Should these molds be showing up in a health care facility, endoscopy clinic?
Brandnew on November 10th, 2007Thank you for your question Brandnew!
I’ve posted a reply here : Q&A: Mold in an Endoscopy Clinic
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team
Joslyn on November 11th, 2007I’m looking to buy a home. many homes are fully rehabbed. how can i tell if there is mold in there on walls since it is now replaced covered up with paint and floor is covered with tile?
rehabclean on September 7th, 2009hello, My name is Michelle and I have had a Nasal culture of Alternaria back in the summer of 08. From A Ears Nose and throat doctor. It is been a nightmare for me.
michelle on October 22nd, 2009This doctor did not observe the problem and my health has declined.
I had a Mold Apartment with pictures and on my body. I don’t know if you can help me but I did move but have no help from doctors, I had 3 weeks of a inhaler antibotic and that was all, there is still streptococcus and Pseudomonas in my nasal passage and my body is still itching after my rash that I had all over my body due to the mold.
I am happy to talk to anyone about my issue, I am happy to go to the media how there must be a time when a doctor observes there are issues.
And not crazy, for more information about my story and if you can help me I live in LA CA e-mail address is
michelle_skin@yahoo.com
Thank You,
Michelle
i have a condo with black mold inside. can i legally post a sign on my front door describing i have toxic mold?? thank you
dan sauereman on March 28th, 2010I’d post this sign and then LEAVE. Check out my website at areyoumoldy.com
Lori Tondini on June 23rd, 2010Black mold has been found in my apartment building in a number of units, including mine. If I move to a new apartment and take my belongings with me (e.g. bed, couch, wood furniture, clothing) will moving those items bring the mold with me? None of the items mentioned have any visible signs of mold, smell bad, or were near the wall with the mold problem. Any advice would be appreciated.
Emily on July 1st, 2010I just moved into a house which is built like a log cabin (completely out of hardwood). Everytime it rains or is damp outside all the floors get very damp (both 1st and 2nd floors). My friends have been telling me that this is mold but I would like to know for sure. Is this a common sign of a mold problem?
Thanks,
Ryan on August 25th, 2010Ryan McCabe
I just moved into a house which is built like a log cabin (completely out of hardwood). Everytime it rains or is damp outside all the floors get very damp (both 1st and 2nd floors). My friends have been telling me that this is mold but I would like to know for sure. Is this a common sign of a mold problem?
Thanks,
Ryan on August 25th, 2010Ryan
Hi, i have a question about mould being visible on white/cream leather seats and same coloured seatbelts in a car.
If the seat belts or upholstery is of a darkish colour mould/mildew usually shows up as white patches or you will see black spots etc:
But would you see the mould on the above as it is light in colour, and usually you have to hold things at certain angles to see that mottled mould effect!
Please can you advise????
Many thanks.
Karen on November 17th, 2010Hello, i noticed some mold in the bathroom closet. I assumed something was leaking behind and it was. I got that fixed(twice. Then i noticed mold later on but, there is no leaks. My husband thinks the because the weather changed we have a small portion of the slab exposure(due to dirt settling around the house) that the air is getting in and mixing with moisture from the inside between the closet and the asset panel of the tub. We noticed today where the drain is, that its open. There was a piece of cement there but nothing is covering it. I don’t think it should be open like that. Could this be the cause of our problem? we want to get to work, IMMEDIATELY!!!!
Amanda on December 5th, 2010In response to Michelle, I am going through the exact same thing. I too have a rash all over my body. I recently noticed it after the heavy rains these last couple weeks. My roomate thinks I’m crazy because hes not experiencing the same or any of my symptoms. This rash is so irrating. I notice it the most after taking a shower. I truly believe we have major mold problems in the walls and deffinitely in the bathrooms. Please email me with any more comments or anything you have to say. I know I should go see a doctor but I think the best solution would be to get someone in here for a mold inspection.
Kelly on December 29th, 2010take care,
Kelly
where can I get a swab test kit for mold in my home?
roxannreese on March 26th, 2011My husband has a home that a friend of his has more or less given to him to fix up. It has had roof leaks for at least more than 2 years and has been vacant for at least 2 years or more, I believe it has been several years. My husband wants to move into this home, I personally fear mold is in the home because of the vacancy and the roof leak. Can you tell me if a roof leak and being vacant are factors that would lead to mold more than likely, please respond. I have a chronic cough and hoarseness that has lasted for months now since, working on the home with him last summer
Crystal on April 16th, 2011Can you tell me if the mold i have growing in my basement is bad mold. and how to get rid of it. It is a white powdery . I spayed water and bleach on it and seams to work for a while. But grow back a sort time later. Its growing on the foundation wall.
gus diiorio on April 22nd, 2011I live in a Hotel/Inn 1 bedroom. 1st night we stayed here it rained real bad and we found out we had a major problem when the ceiling started to swell up in this are. It looked like a pimple that needed to be popped or that was gonna explode. Luckly it didn’t but the owner called out the roofers but still to this day we also are dealing with these nat’s, little slow fly’s that never will go away. We are very clean people and have nothing inside that would be attracting them. Is this a sign of mold in the walls and ceilings from all the leaks over the years? please help if you know anything. deb484u@yahoo.com
Debbie on June 11th, 2011I live in a basement apartment. 6 months ago i noticed black spots on my beige carpet. At the time I thought it was probably just dirt and didnt look into it. After a while there were more spots, and i started to get sinus headaches. I didnt think much of that either as I am allergic to dust, and being a brand new basement I assumed it had a large amount of dust from the construction. However more black spots started popping up in places that could not have been from dirt. I had a mold specialist come to check it out, and the carpet picked up to check the floor . He said that the concrete is impressively dry and that he did not see any mold on the bottom of the carpet. I had the carpet cleaned anyway. It is now 6 weeks after I had it cleaned and the spots came back with even more. My wife who is not allergic to anything started complaining of dizziness and headaches .How can i fix this ? and how can I tell if this is because of mold or their is a different problem? What may that be? Thank you for your expert advice.
jay on June 25th, 2011Hi
For 2 weeks I’ve been smelling something which kind of smells like baby sick in my flat. (That’s the best way I can describe the smell). I’ve now started smelling it on my freshly washed clothes. No children are ever in my house never mind babies. I typed it into google and this is the first website which came up. Could I have mold in my house? I’m really worried now! Please help!
Gillian on July 27th, 2011Thanks.
Gillian-
Lori Tondini on July 27th, 2011is the smell coming from the washer? Many times, washers can develope mold, esp those new front loader ones. You need to leave the door open, not shut. Try running the washing machine on full load, hot water, as long a cycle as you have and add a half bottle of ammonia and some baking soda and see if that helps.
If the odor is coming from other places inside the home, do some investigating-follow your nose–and make sure no dead rodents under furniture or anything, like a dead mouse…or food left in unlikely places. (If you have kids this is a great possibility-I once found a gross and disgusting what-used-to-be-an-orange in my kids’ toybox years ago, and the rule was “food eaten in the kitchen only!” someone sure broke that rule at least once!
We are considering the purchase of an older home. Signs of mold are present around the baseboards and some of the wood panels are warped in the finished basement. The basement was dry when we saw the house shortly after record rains in the area. The current owner is not interested in removing the old wood paneling.
Should we forget this house in fear of opening Pandora’s box?
If we continue looking at other old houses with more recently finished basements, what signs of water/mold should we look for?
Karen on August 14th, 2011Karen, if the home is of high enough interest to you I suggest having a mold inspection added in as a part of the negotiations and have any decisions you make be based on the results of the inspection. To your second question, my only suggestion at the moment is what you’re probably already doing – keeping asking lots of questions, use your sense of smell, and look closely and carefully for areas where mold might be hiding.
Jonathan on August 14th, 2011I would be very leary…If the paneling is warped, that is a sign of extensive moisture back behind the walls. The basement may have been dry after a recent rain, but signs of water intrusion are evident inthe paneling. You did not say if the baseboard was down in the basement or up in living area? If it is UPSTAIRS, that could be a sign that mold contamination is not contained only to the basement area, and has spread throughout the living quarters also. I would ask why the home is for sale, and see if you can speak with previous tenants to see if anyone suffered any type of illness. If you are real keen on buying the house, ie, ideal location, etc…then I would definitely get QUALITY mold inspection and testing, which would reveal how hazardous the situation is and also how contaminated the home is. I personally would keep looking!
Lori Tondini on August 14th, 2011I have a large cedar closet. Over 15 yeasrs there has never been any mold in it. Now I find that some of the clothes have white mold. What can I do to prevent further mold in the future. Non poisonous method would be good.
inge bondi on September 21st, 2011iS IT A MOLD PROBLEM IF TOILET (THE HOLES IN WHICH THE WATER RUNS INTO THE BOWL) HAVE BLACK PARTICLES. tHE PARTICLES CLOGS THE HOLES AND LEAVE A RESIDUE IN THE BOWL. IT REQUIRES CONSTANT CLEANING.
E STREATER on September 22nd, 2011