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The truth is you will find mold of some type almost anywhere on earth. I’m honest and admit I’ve got mold. At least I know where it lurks. Do you know where mold hides in your home?
Mold Mold Everywhere
Mold is everywhere. There are over 100,000 different types of mold. The good news is not all of them are a threat.
Whether you live in the south, the north, the Midwest or the west. You probably have mold in the house. You folks in Arizona don’t think you have mold? Check the gasket around your refrigerator or front loading washing machine. Mold is everywhere.
Almost everyday I get a call from someone worried that “toxic mold” is the causing their allergies or asthma to flair up. They want help.
So, the first thing I do is ask the customer if they see any visible signs of moisture or mold. This may be wet spots, water stains on walls or ceilings or mold on any surface.
Next, I ask if the house or room smells musty or moldy. When I ask them why they think mold is the problem, many times they said they saw something on TV, read a news article or got something in the mail telling them that mold is a killer. They are acting on fear.
Testing for Mold
Yes, mold can cause serious asthma attacks. Mold aggravates or worsens some people’s allergies. yes, mold can even cause death.
But, before you hire a company to test your house for mold, a very expensive process that most insurance companies will not pay for, go through the process I described above.
Trust your eyes and nose.
If you see water stains, mold on a wall or smell something damp and musty then it needs to be checked out. There are mold test kits available in big box stores for about $10 that will let you know if there is mold present.
For an extra fee, you can send it to a lab and they will tell you what type of mold, mow much and if it is within acceptable levels.
If You’ve Got Mold
If it turns out you do have mold, don’t panic. First, stop the moisture. Next, follow the steps we outline on How to Remove Mold. Remember, I’ve got mold, you’ve got mold, we all have some mold. Even if it’s just the rind on our brie.
Mold can be a serious problem but don’t let the hype cause you to waste time, energy and serious money.
Wishing you the best of health
Mike