If you notice any discoloration on your insulation such as brown, black, or even pink or orange particles, you are dealing with a dirt or mold problem. Insulation sheets are a solid color, so any discoloration will be obvious.
Black Spots on Insulation caused by Air Leakage
To determine if the problem is moisture and mould, or an air leakage pathway – have a closer look: Does the wood framing or sheathing around the insulation also have black spots? If not, it is more indicative of dirt than mould.
Sometimes, insulation mould may look like a thin grey or black coating covering the material. Insulation mould can have a slightly musty smell, and it can potentially lead to respiratory issues if left untreated, which is why it's so important to spot mould in walls as soon as possible.
Attic mold doesn't look like the mold on your bread. Attic mold will present as dark brown to various shades of gray staining on wood surfaces and can appear as a white, light gray to a greenish-gray powdery substance on various surfaces.
Mold and mildew can threaten the health of everyone in your household. When portions of insulating material harbor mold spores, then you should replace it. Even if the material dries out, mold spores can become airborne and travel to other wet areas of the house.
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.
Douse the insulation in a bleach solution (1 cup bleach and 1 gallon hot water) and scrape clean with a wire brush.
Mildew (mold in early stage) and molds grow on wood products, ceiling tiles, cardboard, wallpaper, carpets, drywall, fabric, plants, foods, insulation, decaying leaves and other organic materials. Mold growths, or colonies, can start to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours.
Musty Smell
If you think there's mold in your walls, get on your hands and knees and smell the electrical outlets. This might sound silly, but it may help you sense mold if it's growing within walls. Outlets have better access to the area behind the walls. Thus, smelling them can help identify the mold problem.
Fiberglass gets discolored when it filters the air leaking from your house. Over the years, the air leaking from the house, carrying dust and other particulates and moisture, turns the fiberglass black. So wherever you see black fiberglass, dig down and look for where the air is leaking out.
Toxic black mold on insulation can also look green or gray in the middle with white edges before it turns black. It is best to hire a professional mold removal company, especially if anyone in the home is sensitive to mold or has a medical condition.
It's not mold. This is the result of years and years of air leaking through the insulation; the insulation acts like a filter, and traps all the dust in the air, turning it black. Even though these tiny holes don't seem like a big deal, having them all over your attic can have a huge effect.
Clearly, spray foam insulation does much more than just insulate. It will control indoor humidity and condensation, and therefore prevent mold from growing and spreading. It will allow for a more balanced operation of the HVAC system in the home, and will save considerably on seasonal heating and cooling costs.
For people who cannot obtain field services to inspect and vacuum-test building insulation for problem mold, it is possible to cut and remove a square foot of mold-suspect insulation to be sent as a bulk sample to a forensic lab for testing.
Inspect the insulation along the inside perimeter of your basement, looking for discoloration. Properly working insulation should be a yellow, white, green or pink color depending on the manufacturer.
Mildew is a surface fungi identified as a patch of gray or white fungus lying on the surface of a moist area. Mildew is easily treated with a store-bought cleaner and a scrubbing brush. Mold, on the other hand, can have colors that range from black to green and is often the result of a much larger infestation.
These symptoms usually first appear 2 to 9 hours after exposure and last for 1 to 3 days. Other affected persons have progressive shortness of breath and cough, as well as weight loss. Work-relatedness may only become apparent over long holidays if symptoms resolve and then recur on return to work.
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.
Attic dust can contain various harmful toxins and pollutants. These can include everything from lead and asbestos fibers to mold spores and bacteria. Inhaling these particles can cause various health problems, including respiratory issues, allergy symptoms, and skin irritation if you come in direct contact.
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.
The Many Dangers of Mold
It can also harm your indoor air quality and even trigger allergy and asthma like symptoms, causing what is known as “mold sickness.” Symptoms of mold sickness include: Sneezing. Runny nose. Red eyes.
However, the color black isn't unique to Stachybotrys — people often confuse it with similar-colored molds like Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Dreeschslera. In earlier stages, black mold may appear more greenish-grey or greenish-black in color with fuzzy white edges.
Nigrospora is an example of a black colored mold. There is no evidence it is toxic to humans or other living organisms. The most common black mold is Cladosporium, which has no known toxic side effects. This type of mold is common both inside and outside of the home.
Stachybotrys chartarum often looks greenish-black and has a gelatinous, slimy, or slippery texture. If its moisture source runs out, toxic black mold can also appear dry and powdery, which makes identification even more difficult.