How do you know if your house has mold in the walls?

Author: Lowell Pagac  |  Last update: Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Visual and odor cues can indicate the presence of mold, such as dark stains on bathroom tiles or a musty odor in certain parts of the house. Mold can also cause paint blistering on walls, lumpy insulation, and inadequate bathroom ventilation. Mold has a damp and stale smell, almost like wet paper.

How do you check for mold in walls?

Mold can grow in and behind your walls, where it can be tough to see. But a distinct musty smell can give it away. Sniff the walls in areas that are prone to moisture, such as your basement and bathroom. If you sense dampness or softness in your drywall, the mold might be eating away at the surface.

How do you check if you have mold in your house?

The best way to find mold is to look for signs of mold growth, water staining, warping, or to follow your nose to the source of the odor. It may be necessary to look behind and underneath surfaces, such as carpets, wallpaper, cabinets, and walls.

How can you tell if you have mold behind drywall?

7 Common Signs Mold Is Inside Your Walls
  1. Musty Smell. Mold has a musty smell often compared to wet cardboard, wet pets, or an old house's basement.
  2. Visible Mold. Mold inside walls often stays within the walls. ...
  3. Soft Drywall. ...
  4. Stains. ...
  5. Previous Flooding. ...
  6. Poor Health.

Can mold behind walls make you sick?

Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin. Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions.

9 Signs You Have Toxic Mold In Your Home

What kills mold on walls?

Use 1 part bleach to 3 parts water, according to Sherwin-Williams. If you don't want to use bleach but do want something other than water, try vinegar, borax or branded products that you can find at a hardware store or home center, which also kill mold.

What are the symptoms of house mold poisoning?

Common symptoms include sneezing, coughing, congestion and eye irritation. It rarely causes serious illness or death but may worsen asthma symptoms.

Do dehumidifiers remove mold?

Mold stays “dormant” in the air or on surfaces even when there's no excess moisture to help it grow. If the humidity in a room increases, mold will start growing in patches on walls, clothes, and more. So, to answer your question, dehumidifiers do NOT kill mold, but they do prevent it by reducing humidity.

Does drywall need to be replaced if moldy?

If you don't replace water-damaged, moldy drywall, it could end up compromising the structure of your home. It's also a health hazard, and in some cases, the only way to get rid of toxic black mold on drywall is to remove the affected panels completely.

Do air purifiers help with mold?

Do air purifiers help with mold? Air purifiers help capture mold spores from the air, preventing them from reproducing and spreading throughout your home. While air purifiers won't help treat active mold that's already present on surfaces, they are a great way to control the spread of airborne mold particles.

When should you walk away from a house with mold?

These telltale signs should have you looking for another home fast: The house fails all inspections because of mold growth, especially if there are foundation issues. The seller doesn't have the money to cover the cost of mold remediation and removal or doesn't want to spend the money fixing it.

What does mold toxicity feel like?

Each person's body is affected by mold toxicity in different ways. Some experience constant migraines and headaches, shortness of breath, brain fog, fatigue or even depression. Since symptoms differ from person to person, they may not be quickly associated with mold exposure.

How do you test for hidden mold?

Most mold is unmistakable, but sometimes small or largely hidden growths just make a surface look dirty. A quick test for mold can be done when you dip 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.

Is there a mold detector?

The Biomatrix mold monitor is more than the most technologically advanced smart home mold detector on the market. With the purchase of a Biomatrix device, your system will be monitored by a team of specialists, ensuring that your home is scanned for signs of trouble 24/7.

Is mold on walls common?

Wherever you are in the home, mould on walls is a common problem. Look for black and grey splotches. Early warning signs of potential mould growth are damp spots anywhere on walls. In the living room, mould growth will be bad in areas of poor ventilation.

Can you scan walls for mold?

One of the main tools we use in the mold inspection process is a thermal imaging camera. It has the ability to scan the room where mold is suspected and uses thermal energy to identify possible areas where mold colonies could be growing within your walls.

How fast does mold spread on drywall?

The 48-72 hour window is critical to prevent mold growth as it usually takes 24 to 48 hours for mold to germinate and grow. Once fungus gets a hold on a drywall surface, it can be the breeding ground for thousands of spores and quickly spread in the air around the wall with every passing hour.

Can drywall with mold be saved?

According to the EPA, homeowners can remove mold on drywall under 10 square feet. Larger infestations might require a pro.

What does harmless black mold look like?

When searching for black mold, look for circular-shaped spots that are black, dark green or dark brown. Some black mold can also take on shades of orange or have flecks of white within it. Most of the time, black mold has a slightly furry appearance.

What kills mold spores in the air?

Specifically, air purifiers with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters work great at removing mold spores. HEPA filters are considered to be rated MERV 17 or above, which means that the filters can trap more than 99.7% of air particles as small as 0.3-1.0 microns in size.

What does mold smell like?

Most people describe the smell of mold as musty, stale, and earthy — somewhat similar the odor of wet socks or decaying wood. Although mold smells can vary, here are some of the most common characteristics: Musty and Stale — like old socks or a stuffy attic that hasn't been aired out in months.

What is difference between mold and mildew?

Mold generally looks slimy or fuzzy, tends to have a raised texture, and can come in a rainbow of colors, including deep green and black. Mildew is powdery, looks white or gray, always appears flat, and grows on surfaces.

How do I test my house for mold toxicity?

Buy a Testing Kit to Confirm the Presence of Mold

Once you've done a visual inspection, it's time to test any discolored spots with a mold testing kit. These kits are available at home improvement stores and cost between $10 and $50. Some test kits are usable on surfaces, while others test indoor air.

When should I be worried about mold in my house?

Musty Odor

If you don't see mold but still smell an odor, you may need a professional to investigate hidden colonies of mold in walls, crawl spaces, or along home foundations. Once the source of the mold is found, it should be cleaned up or damaged areas removed immediately.

What happens if you breathe in mold for a long time?

Perfectly healthy individuals with no history of respiratory issues have been reported to suffer prolonged coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing. This combined with a weakened immune system that long-term mould exposure can cause may lead to even worse conditions like bronchitis.

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