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.
Mold can grow on the fiberglass insulation backing, which is made of paper and is a mold food source. Fiberglass insulation without backing may be the best choice. Cellulose insulation is constructed of ground paper, which is an ideal food source for the growth of mold if it becomes wet.
Insulation turns black when it comes into contact with airflow, causing dirt or dust to collect on the insulation and make it turn black. Or, if there's moisture and airflow, black mold can grow on and possibly eat away at your insulation. To solve your black insulation problem, you can clean or replace the insulation.
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.
Air Leaks. Gaps in the structure around your insulation will suck air through your insulation. As air is pulled through the insulation, dust and dirt suspended in the air will lodge in your insulation. Over time the accumulating dirt will darken your insulation in the areas surrounding the air leaks.
Wet Insulation Can Lose Its Insulating Value
When your insulation becomes wet, it will start to lose some functionality, such as inhibiting heat transfer. Damp insulation can lose about 40 percent of its insulating R-value. You might think fiberglass is waterproof, but the thick batt can retain moisture.
Fiberglass insulation is constructed of tiny shards of glass that form pockets to trap air and help restrict the transfer of heat. Its naturally mold resistant in that the material itself is not a food source for mold.
Blown fiberglass comes in three common colors: white, pink or yellow and the colors simply identify the manufacturer. Blown-in fiberglass insulation in attics typically has an R-value of 2.5 per inch. The density of the blown-in fiberglass determines the R-value just like it does for a batt.
Properly working insulation should be a yellow, white, green or pink color depending on the manufacturer. Move the insulation on the basement ceiling around a little bit (just use a wooden spoon or other object to push it back and forth) to see if it has darkened.
Stachybotrys chartarum typically appears black or extremely dark gray in color. This mold tends to have very round splotches with a speckled appearance. Often, you see darker layers of mold over lighter layers.
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. If you catch it early enough, then you'll only need to replace a small section of material, keeping your cost lower.
Therefore, when looking for and trying to identify asbestos insulation, check the areas that are the most vulnerable to heat transfer. That's where you'll find insulation material, which may contain asbestos. Asbestos insulation is usually found in the less-visible parts of the home, including the following: Attics.
The short answer is no but spraying foam insulation over mold isn't a magic cure. Will spray foam kill mold? Yes, because spray foam creates an air seal and will starve that mold of its food source -- moisture and oxygen -- and will inhibit any future growth, it will also cause the mold to become dormant.
Fiberglass insulation, a man-made mineral fiber constructed from a variety of materials, such as sand and recycled glass, is the most popular form of insulation in the United States -- more than 90 percent of homes in America are lined with the pink stuff [source: Spencer and Gulick].
Although insulation helps to reduce moisture, it can also trap it, particularly in basements, leading to mold growth between insulation and walls.
Owens Corning soon faced competition from other fiberglass manufacturers. The company began adding red dye to the naturally tan or yellowish insulation to distinguish it from their rivals' products. Introduced in 1956, the bright pink color became such a powerful marketing tool that the company trademarked it in 1985.
Pink insulation serves as a very cost-effective and energy-saving product for consumers. It also performs very well in comparison with other forms of insulation, such as cellulose. While pink insulation settles very slightly or not at all, depending on the type, it never loses its insulating power.
Fiberglass, invented in 1938 by Russell Games Slayter for Owens-Corning, is the typical referent when the generic term “fiberglass” is used, and it is well known across America as the pink, fluffy material resembling cotton candy that is used as insulation in 90 percent of buildings in the country.
Douse the insulation in a bleach solution (1 cup bleach and 1 gallon hot water) and scrape clean with a wire brush.
How long does it take for mold to grow on wet insulation? Mold begins growing between 24-48 hours after your insulation gets wet.
Unless damaged, it can last 80 to 100 years in most houses before it needs to be replaced. However, insulation can start falling from fiberglass batts after 15 to 20 years, so if your insulation was installed in batts well over a decade ago, it might be time for an inspection or a home energy audit.
If the insulation became wet from water that contained any contaminates such as flood water and sewage, then the affected insulation and the wallboard are likely ruined, and both materials need to be removed as soon as possible.
There are a few ways that insulation in the home can have an adverse health effect. Insulation can make you ill in a variety of ways, often presenting some allergies or the flu. Improper Installation--This could be poorly installed or hung insulation, or simply using the wrong material in the wrong space.