Mold Detection Tips

9/27/2021 (Permalink)

Detect the root problem to have an effective mold cleanup in your Rocky Mount, NC building.

Not all mold problems are immediately apparent. Awareness often starts when employees complain about the air quality or a mold smell when they walk into the office. A musty odor is usually a sign that you have a fungus issue somewhere in your building in Rocky Mount, NC, but unless you can see it, it's hard to determine how big a problem it is. There are several ways that mold mitigation experts determine the cause, location, and size of an infestation.

Cause

The most likely culprit of the odor is secondary damage from a water loss somewhere in the building. A mold test kit from the local hardware store may tell you there is mold in the building, but it won't give you the specific information needed to actually do something about it. One of the reasons it's smart to hire certified environmental hygienists to test for mold is that they have the necessary tools to diagnose the details of the problem causing the fungus smell:

• Thermal cameras to highlight hidden water damage
• Moisture meters to detect levels within structural components
• Humidity gauges to test moisture in the air
• Borescope to reveal mold inside pipes or other enclosed pieces
• Rotameter to reveal the rate of airflow
  

While regular building inspections are necessary, they may not reveal hidden issues. Bringing in the professionals as soon as possible helps you identify the cause behind the mold smell so that you can stop the growth in its tracks.

Location

If there is a mold or mildew smell in your building, it may seem stronger in some areas than in others. Trying to find mold by the sense of smell alone, however, is not typically an effective method. The musty odor is the result of gases called microbial volatile organic compounds that are released as mold multiplies. The strong smell of these gases may indicate that the offending patches are nearby, or it could mean the vapors were transferred to your location through the air ducts or other airflow methods.

You need professional assistance to get an accurate location. Hygienists can test air samples to see where the most spores are present rather than just relying on subjective data from their physical senses. This speeds up the search process and allows the mitigation team to start work more quickly.

Size

The mold that appears on the surface of structural components seldom comprises the whole problem, especially if they are porous. Mold grows down into the material, which is why it can be so difficult to clean. Thermal imaging can help technicians see past the surface of the drywall or ceiling tiles to assess how much damage lies underneath. This helps them determine how much of the material they need to tear out and replace so that they don't have to remove more of the wall than necessary.

A mold smell in your building isn't necessarily good news, but at least it lets you know you have a fungus issue. As soon as the musty odor is reported, call professional mold experts who can properly inspect the building to get to the root of the problem.