Ways to Detect Mold Problems

Mold and mildew problems occur rarely but you should be checked regularly since they can lead to possible health problems. Here are some simple steps for you to spot mold and mildew problems.
Inspect for odors. Musty / moldy be checked regularly odors in the vicinity of a leak is a sure sign of mold. Naturally, you're not supposed to be sniffing around for mold, or touching mold if you have or if there's a chance you may have a compromised immune system. Sniffing and such is a definite no-no if you or your family has a history of allergy, asthma, or any other conditions that would put you at risk of an adverse reaction resulting from any form of mold exposure.

Inspect for odors near your AC ducts. Turn your AC off for a while and then do your inspection. The longer the AC is off, the better. Next turn your AC back on and leave your thermostat alone for a while, turning it on and off to more than one cycle in several minutes can damage your compressor. Immediately after, stand directly under the path of air flowing from a duct. You will surely smell the musty mold odors blowing in your face if your AC unit or your homes ductwork is contaminated with mold. Again, sniffing and such is a definite no-no if there's a chance you may have a compromised immune system.

Check for mold on AC registers and coils. There's a high chance of mold problems in AC registers in humid places and coils in general. AC coils are made to form condensation when in the cooling mode after AC use; this feature aids the system to remove humidity from your air. Metal AC register grills become cold as air exiting your duct courses through them. The bottom sides of AC coils sometimes develop large amounts of velvety grey cladosporium mold or clear jelly like bacteria masses while the AC register form black cladosporium mold.

Check for spots in and near your basements and closets. Occasionally mold does not develop as the result of a leak in your home but may occur as the result of humidity problems especially in areas with poor circulation like basements, closets, and bathrooms. Left unchecked, this may spread in your home. Mold on bathroom drywalls are typically black cladosporium while mold inside closets are powdery and are white or green in color. You can spot these molds best on black or dark surface.

Check for spots on water damaged building materials. Small spots, smug marks, or a powdery residue in damp areas is a sure sign of mold. Many mold spots are black, brown, green, or white in color. They start as just a fleck, typically just a few millimeters across but will easily spread if not restrained. To make sure that the spot is indeed mold and not just a by-product of a bad paint job, rub it with a piece of damp cloth. Molds tend to rub off on cloth or smear and leave a streak mark on the surface.

To be certain, hire a professional mold inspector. They have tools (moisture meters, humidity meters, and borescopes) specifically designed for this purpose.