You might smell it. You might see it. Or, you might not suspect it at all.
Mold could be hiding in plain sight, right in your own home… right now. Here are the four signs that may point to the presence of mold, and what you can expect when our experts pay a visit for an inspection.
The 4 most common signs of mold growth
1. Visible mold
Mold can grow anywhere with poor airflow, damp spaces or high humidity. (Humidity? In Alberta? We know it sounds unlikely, but it’s more common than you think!)
Look for any visible signs of mold growth on walls, ceilings, floors and other surfaces in your home that can appear as fuzzy or slimy patches that are black, green, brown, or white… Yuck!
2. Musty odours
Something unpleasant is in the air — if you notice a musty or earthy odour in your home, it could be a sign of mold growth.
Mold produces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have a distinctive odour, often described as stale or similar to rotting vegetables or plants. Again, yuck!
But beware, you might still have a mold problem, even if you don’t catch a whiff of musty smells.
3. Water damage
Drip. Drip. Any area of your home that has experienced water damage in the past could be at risk for mold growth. This includes areas that have been flooded or experienced leaks.
Mold loves places with consistently high humidity like bathrooms. Look for mold growth on bathroom ceilings, walls, shower tiles, grout, shower curtains, and the vents of exhaust fans.
4. Health problems
Long-term mold exposure can cause a range of health problems, including respiratory issues, allergic reactions and headaches.
If you or your family members are experiencing any unexplained or ongoing health issues, including common allergy symptoms like watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching, coughing, difficulty breathing, headache and fatigue, mold might be the cause.
While black mold (officially known by it’s hard to say and harder to spell name: Stachybotrys) is considered to be the most poisonous, all types of mold can be harmful to your health and should be taken seriously.
Signs of mold? Learn what to do.
Now for the real test — have you noticed any of these signs in your home? You’ll want to catch any mold or fungus growth early, you know, before you find mushrooms growing in your closet!
Don’t forget that mold can grow almost anywhere:
- Wood & paper products
- Ceiling tiles
- Dust
- Paint & wallpaper
- Insulation & drywall
- Carpet, fabric & upholstery
It’s sneaky like that! If you suspect that mold is hiding in your home, it might be time for a professional mold inspection.
What to expect during mold inspection
A mold inspection starts with a thorough visual inspection of your home. We'll pay careful attention to areas that are prone to mold growth, like bathrooms, kitchens and basements.
A Rümi inspection includes assessment, moisture meter analysis and FLIR Thermal Camera images. This helps identify wet or moist spots where a water leaking or damage may have occurred.
Pro-tip: Be sure to share a detailed history of your home with your Rümi technician, including if anyone may be experiencing mold-related health symptoms and any previous water damage.
Our experts will test your home's air quality. We'll also look for signs of mold growth, moisture problems and water damage. We may even detect damage you are aware of.
Want to identify the exact type of mold in your home? If you'd like, we’ll also collect mold samples and send them for analysis at a third-party lab. This is a way to pinpoint the potential health risks in your home.
After the inspection, our techs will complete a full Mold Inspection Report for you. This report includes all findings and recommendations for mold remediation, if necessary.
If mold is found, it's important to take immediate action to prevent it from coming back. Mold removal and remediation will get your home air quality safety back on track!
Help is available! If you have mold, a Dry Fog treatment to get your home back on track. Dry Fog removes harmful spores and prevents them from returning.
What’s Dry Fog?
Rather than tearing down your drywall, which can be invasive and costly, Dry Fog technology will reach every inch of affected space, and you’ll only need to leave your home for a few hours — no cleanup or reconstruction needed! We’ll verify the success of the treatment with a follow-up air quality test, and you can once again breathe easy in your home.
You can ace the test!
Mold can be tricky, but now that you know what to look (and smell) for, you’ll be ready to ace the mold test any day of the week. With the help of our Rümi professionals, you’ll have no problem keeping your home mold free. But remember, if you can see or smell mold, you have mold — it’s as easy as that!
