Frequently Asked Questions

What is mold?

Molds produce tiny spores in order to reproduce; then, those spores will want through the air inside and outside a home continuously until they land. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin to grow. Some molds can grow on wood, paper, carpets, and foods. Mold growth can more easily occur if there is an excessive moisture level or water inside a building, especially if this moisture goes undiscovered and untreated. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores when indoors, so it is best to try to prevent moisture before or as it has happened.

Can mold cause health problems?

When it comes to health issues, mold spores tend not to be a problem indoors unless they land on a wet or damp spot and begin to grow. Molds, once developed, have the potential to cause health problems. Molds, once fully grown, have the potential to cause health problems. Molds can also produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances. Allergic reactions can occur in sensitive individuals if they happen to touch or inhale molds or mold spores. These reactions to mold are common and can include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. Molds can also cause asthma attacks to those who are predisposed to them. In addition to allergens, molds can also irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Read more about mold at https://www.epa.gov/mold **[1]: https://www.epa.gov/mold

Who can test my home or clean, fix and remediate my home for mold?

The EPA does not have a certification program for mold inspectors or mold remediations firms, nor do they keep track of such businesses. Thus finding companies that supply this service is not limited. Sometimes companies that provide radon, lead, or asbestos inspection services provide mold assessment services as another part of their business. Companies that provide water damage inspection services may help look for moisture, and some may be familiar with mold problems as well. We recommend that you ask about these potential companies' qualifications, training, and experience to vet them yourselves.

What is the difference between mold and mildew?

Mildew often used to refer to mold growth, is also a term that refers to certain kinds of mold or fungus. Molds include all species of microscopic fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments, called hyphae, and they can thrive on any organic matter. These surfaces can include clothing, leather, paper, and ceilings, walls, and floors of homes with moisture management problems. Mildew, on the other hand, often lives on shower walls, windowsills, and other places where moisture levels are high.

How can I tell if I have a mold problem?

Molds are usually not a problem indoors. They only become a problem if mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Otherwise molds are apart of the natural environment and play their part just as any other factor or nature would. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce using tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on wet surfaces. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. Ignoring either of this steps can lead to the mold coming back down the line.

Why is mold growing in my home?

Molds reproduce utilizing tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on wet surfaces. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.

How do molds affect people?

Molds are usually not a problem indoors unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. Also, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing. For more detailed information, consult a health professional.

What does mold smell like?

Some compounds produced by molds have strong smells and are volatile and quickly released into the air. These compounds are known as microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). Because mVOCs often have strong or unpleasant odors, they can be the source of the "moldy odor" or musty smell frequently associated with mold growth. A moldy odor suggests that mold is growing in the building and should be investigated.

How do I get rid of mold?

It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in the house dust. What you can do is attack the problem at its source, moisture. Mold spores can only grow if they attach themselves to moisture in the home. Cleaning up and controlling moisture in your home can prevent future growth of mold.

What are the main ways to control moisture in your home?

• Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from the outside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and waterproofing. (The ground should slope away from the house.) Water in the basement can result from the lack of gutters or a water flow toward the house. Water leaks in pipes or around tubs and sinks can provide a place for biological pollutants to grow.

• Put a plastic cover over dirt in crawlspaces to prevent moisture from coming in from the ground. Be sure crawlspaces are well-ventilated.

• Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture to the outside (not into the attic). Vent your clothes dryer to the outside.

• Turn off certain appliances (such as humidifiers or kerosene heaters) if you notice moisture on windows and other surfaces.

• Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants.

• Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows. (A storm window installed on the inside works better than one installed on the outside.) Open doors between rooms (especially doors to closets which may be colder than the rooms) to increase circulation. Circulation carries heat to the cold surfaces. Increase air circulation by using fans and moving furniture from wall corners to promote air and heat circulation. Be sure that your house has a fresh air source and can expel excessive moisture from the home.

• Pay special attention to carpet on concrete floors. Carpet can absorb moisture and serve as a place for biological pollutants to grow. Use area rugs which can be taken up and washed often. In certain climates, if carpet is to be installed over a concrete floor, it may be necessary to use a vapor barrier (plastic sheeting) over the concrete and cover that with sub-flooring (insulation covered with plywood) to prevent a moisture problem.

• Moisture problems and their solutions differ from one climate to another. The Northeast is cold and wet; the Southwest is hot and dry; the South is hot and wet; and the Western Mountain states are cold and dry. All of these regions can have moisture problems. For example, evaporative coolers used in the Southwest can encourage the growth of biological pollutants. In other hot regions, the use of air conditioners which cool the air too quickly may prevent the air conditioners from running long enough to remove excess moisture from the air. The types of construction and weatherization for the different climates can lead to different problems and solutions.

Are there Federal regulations or standards regarding mold?

Standards or Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for airborne concentrations of mold, or mold spores, have not been set. Currently, there are no EPA regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants.

Does ultraviolet (UV) radiation from UV lamps kill mold?

If properly designed, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) cleaners that use ultraviolet radiation from UV lamps may destroy some molds that are growing on the moist interiors of HVAC surfaces (e.g., cooling coils, drain pans, or ductwork). But typical UVGI cleaners used in homes have limited effectiveness in killing molds. Effective destruction of some viruses and most mold and bacterial spores usually requires much higher UV exposure than is provided in a typical home unit. Furthermore, dead mold spores can still produce allergic reactions, so UVGI cleaners may not be effective in reducing allergy and asthma symptoms.

Does carpet cause indoor air quality (IAQ) problems in schools?

Carpet use in schools provides a decrease in noise, falls, and injuries. IAQ problems can be encountered with carpet and many other materials if the school has any water intrusion or moisture problem, such as a leaky roof. If carpeting remains damp, it can become a primary source for microbial growth, which frequently results in adverse health effects. Carpet and other furnishings that become water damaged should be removed and discarded or steam cleaned and thoroughly dried before reinstallation. New carpet systems (including adhesives used to adhere face fibers to backing materials, carpet cushions, and the adhesives often used to install carpets), like most new interior finishing materials, will off-gas VOCs for some time after being installed. These emissions can be significantly reduced, although not eliminated, in the first 72 hours by using proper ventilation techniques. With any floor covering system, low VOC emission products should be selected and used in school applications. Carpet also acts as a reservoir for dust, dirt, pollen, mold spores, pesticides, and other materials which may originate indoors or be brought into the indoor environment from outside. If kept very clean from the time it is installed, carpet can trap a significant amount of particles, which can be removed through regular and effective vacuuming. However, inadequate maintenance can allow large quantities of dust and debris to build up in a carpet. Some studies indicate that poorly maintained carpets can release significant quantities of particles into the air during daily activity.

Should I have the air ducts in my home cleaned?

You should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if: There is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface ducts or other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several important points to understand concerning mold detection in the heating and cooling systems: • Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible for a visible inspection, so ask the service provider to show you any mold they say exists. • You should be aware that although a substance may look like mold, a positive determination of whether it is mold or not can be made only by an expert and may require laboratory analysis for final confirmation. For about 50, some microbiology laboratories can tell you whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of sticky household tape is mold or simply a substance that resembles it. • If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy it cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced. • If the conditions causing the mold growth in the first place are not corrected, mold growth will recur.

What about mold in large buildings?

EPA has several resources available; you can start with the Indoor Air Quality Building Evaluation and Assessment Model (I-BEAM). I-BEAM updates and expands EPA's existing Building Air Quality guidance and is designed to be comprehensive state-of-the-art guidance for managing Indoor Air Quality in commercial buildings. This guidance was designed to be used by building professionals and others interested in indoor air quality in commercial buildings. I-BEAM contains text, animation/visual, and interactive/calculation components that can be used to perform several diverse tasks.

Should I use bleach to clean up mold?

Biocides are substances that can destroy living organisms. We do not recommend using a chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for example) as a routine practice during mold cleanup. However, there may be instances when professional judgment may indicate its use (for example, when immune-compromised individuals are present). It is impossible to sterilize an area; a background level of mold spores will remain. Of course, these spores will not grow if the moisture problem has been resolved. If you choose to use disinfectants or biocides, always ventilate the area and exhaust the air to the outdoors. Never mix chlorine bleach solution with other cleaning solutions or detergents that contain ammonia because toxic fumes could be produced.

Please note: Dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people, so it is not enough to kill the mold; it must also be removed.