The Little Pig’s “How-tos” of Mold Identification

Hello there! We hope you enjoyed the comic, written and sketched by our very own Laurana Roderer!

The story of The Little Pig brings up some very important points that we wanted to cover in this blog post. So, here are two “how-tos” of mold prevention and remediation that will allow you to AVOID a situation like The Little Pig experienced.

1. How to know if you’re attracting mold

The important thing here is to remember that mold LOVES moisture. ANY kind of moisture, regardless of climate. It’s easy to assume that living in a dry place means that mold isn’t something to worry about, but this is a myth. Minor incidents like leaks, leaky pipes, windows that don’t seal properly, HVAC air conditioning systems, bathrooms with showers that don’t vent properly, spills that don’t get cleaned up, and bigger things like burst pipes and flooding.

2. How to identify mold

We’ve gathered up some tricks from some of our mold remediation friends: 

1. Try eyeballing it first. Usually mold leaves around identifiable signs like smell or discoloration. If it has gone undetected for an extended period, you may also begin to experience various symptoms, such as headaches, skin irritation, infections, and asthma attacks. Aer Industries has a nice list of examples of house mold that includes pictures and descriptions for reference.
2. See a suspicious spot but are not sure if it’s mold or not? Nick Herhardt, the Family Handyman suggests “[dipping] a swab in diluted bleach (1 part bleach, 16 parts water) and dab it on the wall. If the spot quickly lightens (or keeps coming back after cleaning), assume it’s mold.” 
3. You can tell you have mold but you’re not sure if it’s damaging the structure? The Family Handyman suggests “[probing] the suspect area with a screwdriver or other sharp tool as a test for mold. If the wood is soft or crumbles, the fungi have taken hold and rot has begun.”
4. If you’re still not sure and would like to get the air in your home tested, we can also do that for you! We send samples to a third party lab and can get your results to you in under a week! The cost of this test can vary depending on location, but would not cost more than $150. 

In our next post we will discuss PREVENTION tips and ideas. STAY TUNED!

Who ya gonna call?

MOLD BUSTERS