Mold Information from the EPA

Suspect mold in your home?  Have a musty odor?  Anyone in the home getting sick with allergy type system, hay fever?  Feeling tired and fatique.  It could be that you have mold inside of your home. At Certainty Home Inspections, our certified ESA mold specialists can perform an indoor air quality test  for you on your home.  The test will tell you the types of mold your home has, the quantities of mold, whether it is elevated or not, and the health effects that are associated with the types.    The environmental protection or (EPA) has guidelines you can follow to help with the remediation of mold.  In more severe cases, you can contact Puroclean of Southern Indiana

A brief guide to mold & moisture inside of your home is a book the EPA puts out to help everyone understand the risks of mold and moisture inside of your home.  How can you tell if you have a mold problem?

Ten things you should know about mold

For information on mold inside of schools and commercial buildings click here

The EPA recommends Moisture can be controlled as follows :

Water in your home can come from many sources. Water can enter your home by leaking or by seeping through basement floors. Showers or even cooking can add moisture to the air in your home. The amount of moisture that the air in your home can hold depends on the temperature of the air. As the temperature goes down, the air is able to hold less moisture. This is why, in cold weather, moisture condenses on cold surfaces (for example, drops of water form on the inside of a window). This moisture can encourage biological pollutants to grow.

There are many ways to control moisture in your home:

• Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from the outside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and waterproofing. (The ground should slope away from the house.) Water in the basement can result from the lack of gutters or a water flow toward the house. Water leaks in pipes or around tubs and sinks can provide a place for biological pollutants to grow.
• Put a plastic cover over dirt in crawlspaces to prevent moisture from coming in from the ground. Be sure crawlspaces are well-ventilated.
• Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture to the outside (not into the attic). Vent your clothes dryer to the outside.
• Turn off certain appliances (such as humidifiers or kerosene heaters) if you notice moisture on windows and other surfaces.
• Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don’t become sources of biological pollutants.
• Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows. (A storm window installed on the inside works better than one installed on the outside.) Open doors between rooms (especially doors to closets which may be colder than the rooms) to increase circulation. Circulation carries heat to the cold surfaces. Increase air circulation by using fans and by moving furniture from wall corners to promote air and heat circulation. Be sure that your house has a source of fresh air and can expel excessive moisture from the home.
• Pay special attention to carpet on concrete floors. Carpet can absorb moisture and serve as a place for biological pollutants to grow. Use area rugs which can be taken up and washed often. In certain climates, if carpet is to be installed over a concrete floor, it may be necessary to use a vapor barrier (plastic sheeting) over the concrete and cover that with sub-flooring (insulation covered with plywood) to prevent a moisture problem.
• Moisture problems and their solutions differ from one climate to another. The Northeast is cold and wet; the Southwest is hot and dry; the South is hot and wet; and the Western Mountain states are cold and dry. All of these regions can have moisture problems. For example, evaporative coolers used in the Southwest can encourage the growth of biological pollutants. In other hot regions, the use of air conditioners which cool the air too quickly may prevent the air conditioners from running long enough to remove excess moisture from the air. The types of construction and weatherization for the different climates can lead to different problems and solutions.

Moisture On Windows

Your humidistat is set too high if excessive moisture collects on windows and other cold surfaces. Excess humidity for a prolonged time can damage walls especially when outdoor air temperatures are very low. Excess moisture condenses on window glass because the glass is cold. Other sources of excess moisture besides overuse of a humidifier may be long showers, running water for other uses, boiling or steaming in cooking, plants, and drying clothes indoors. A tight, energy efficient house holds more moisture inside; you may need to run a kitchen or bath ventilating fan sometimes, or open a window briefly. Storm windows and caulking around windows keep the interior glass warmer and reduce condensation of moisture there.

Humidifiers are not recommended for use in buildings without proper vapor barriers because of potential damage from moisture buildup. Consult a building contractor to determine the adequacy of the vapor barrier in your house. Use a humidity indicator to measure the relative humidity in your house. The American Society of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends these maximum indoor humidity levels.

Severe Mold Issue

For more information on mold issues go to

New Albany Indiana Home Inspector Finds Mold!

While inspecting a home in New Albany Indiana, Cory Kern, one of Certainty’s top inspectors noticed one of the worst cases of mold we have ever seen. This home has obviously had a moisture issue for some time. This home will require a mold remediation company to come in and remove this mold problem. At Certainty, we are ESA (Environmental Solutions Agency) certified mold inspectors. If you need your home tested for mold please give us a call at 866-417-9591. Don’t let your mold problem become worse, call and have your home inspected today.

Types of Mold In Southern Indiana & Louisville area

TYPES OF MOLD

Alternaria-Extremely widespread and common spore, common in soil, dead plants and foodstuff.  It is often found indoors growing on cellulosic materials and as settled dust on carpets, textiles,etc.  Potential opportunistic human pathogen.  Commonly recognized as type I(Hayfever) and type III hypersensitivity pneumontis.

Epicoccum- A common allergen found in plants, soil, grains, textiles, and paper products, secondary invader of damaged plant tissue.   Common cause of type I allergies ( Hayfever, asthma) No cases of infection have been reported in humans or animals.

Basidiospores-  Spores from one of the major groups of fungi that include mushrooms like the shelf fungi, puffballs and common button mushrooms sold in grocery stores.  Most spores produced from this group of fungi have not been found to be allergenic  or toxic.

Penicillium/Aspergillus- This group is considered common to indoor environments, it is widesrpead in the soil and on plants and is also considered a common contaminant of food.  It has a musty odor.  It is commonly being implicated in pulmonary disease in immunocompromised hosts.  It has also been reported to cause skin infections many species produce mycotoxins, which may be associated with disease in humans and other animals.  Toxin production is dependent on the strain  or on the food source on which it grows.  Some of these toxins have been found to be carcinogenic in animal species.  Several toxins are considered potential human carcinogens.

Stachybotrys-  This is a slow growing, dark mold that grows well on cellulosic (paper-containging) building materials.  It can produce a number of different macrocyclic trichothecenes that have been described as being toxic to humans and animals.  Individuals with chronic flu like symptoms, sore throats, headaches, fatigue, dermatitis, itching and burning sensations of the eyes and nose and general malaise.  This mold is rarely found in outdoor samples and it is usually not found in indoor air samples unless the colony is physically disturbed

Eurotium-  Rarely considered a human pathogen, rarely found in the air and is a slow growing fungus that requires low moisture availability.  Common in the natural environment.

Chaetomium-  Common everywhere growing on dung, dead leaves, wood.  Likes cellulose substrates, especially wallboard and wood.  Commonly associated with type I (hay fever and asthma) allergies, uncommonly seen infecting humans but some cases have been reported mostly on immuno compromised persons.  Produces chaetoglobosins and rarely sterigomatocystin

Smuts-  Commonly  found everywhere especially on logs, grasses and weeds.  Smuts don’t normally grow indoors but can occasionally be found on things brought from outside and stored in the house.  Myzomycetes can occasionally grow indoors but need lots of water to be established.  Type I (Hay fever and asthma) allergies,  smuts and myzomycetes are a combined group of organisms because their spores look so similar and cannot be reliably distinquished from each other.

At Certainty Home Inspections, we are EPA mold specialists serving the Southern Indiana and Louisville area.

Book your inspection online today!

What Causes Mold!

What Causes Mold, you ask? Mold cannot exist without moisture. Therefore, any moisture whatsoever,
whether it be from inadequate grading and drainage, a leaking roof, window,
or door, or moisture from a faulty exhaust vent, a condensate pipe, an evaporator coil,
or a component of a plumbing system should be serviced immediately, or the
potential for mold contamination will remain.

What’s The Concern: Mold is a microorganism that has tiny seeds, or spores,
that are spread on the air, land, and feed on organic matter.
It has been in existence throughout human history, and actually contributes
to the life process. It takes many different forms, many of them benign, like mildew.
Allergensare relatively benign but can provoke allergic reactions among sensitive people.
Pathogens adverse health effects on large segments of the population,such as the very
young, the elderly, and people with suppressed immune systems. Toxigens however, less
common represent a serious health threat.

All molds flourish in the presence of moisture,es pecially where there could be a water
source, including that from condensation. We look for any evidence of it throughout the
home inspection process. Interestingly, the molds that commonly appear on ceramic tiles
in bathrooms do not usually constitute a health threat, but they should be removed. However,
some visibly similar molds that form on cellulose materials, such as on drywall, plaster, and
wood, are potentially toxigenic. If mold is to be found anywhere within a home, it will likely be in the area of tubs, showers, toilets, sinks, water heaters, evaporator coils, inside attics with un-vented bathroom exhaust fans, and return-air compartments that draw outside air. Nevertheless, mold can appear as though spontaneously at any time, so you should be prepared to monitor your home, and particularly those areas that we have identified. Naturally, it is equally
important to maintain clean air-supply ducts and to change filters as soon as they become
soiled, because contaminated ducts are a common breeding ground for dust mites, rust,
and other contaminants.
specific identification of molds can only

be determined by specialists and laboratory analysis. We recommend that you
have your home tested for the presence of any such contaminants, and particularly if you or any member of your family suffers from allergies or asthma. Also, you can learn more
about mold from an Environmental Protection Agency document entitled “A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home,” by visiting their web site at: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html/, from which it can be downloaded
Certainy has certified mold inspectors serving Southern Indiana and the Louisville area.

History Of Mold

In Biblical times, it was known that indoor mold could be a health concern. Mold was identified as the cause of mysterious deaths of farm animals in the 1930′s. “Stachybotrys chartarum” was found growing on wet grain used for feeding animals. The industry now calls for greater regulations and keeps a better watch on the contamination of grains that are fed to animals. In the 1970′s, homes became more air tight and they began being built with drywall instead of plaster. Although the tighter the home, the less of an energy bill, this tightness does not allow the home to breathe creating more suitable conditions for mold to start growing. Usually, if you take care of the moisture problem your home has you will eliminate the likelihood of the mold concerns. Mold is an actual plant that thrives on wet conditions. Some types of mold are harmful and are capable of creating health problems. Other types of mold are beneficial to humans like the drug penicillin or in the consumption of food such as mushrooms and aged cheese.

Click  HERE  to order your air quality analysis on your home in the Southern Indiana, or Louisville area.