Where can mold be that I can't see?

1. 97

   peeplesposted 12 years ago

   Where can mold be that I can't see?
   
   We bought a new house 2 weeks ago. Our daughter has had hives for the last week. We have ruled out everything and will see a specialist next week. We just heard from neighbors that the old people that lived here got out because of mold. I don't see any! Where could it be and how do I get rid of it?

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2. 61

   bobbycraposted 12 years ago

   In a lot of cases involving mold, the mold can be in between the walls of a house. Generally any place where moisture can build up such as in a bathroom around a tub and shower or the sink mold can grow in areas that are not visible unless the wall boards are removed.
   
   In some cases house hold bleach can be used to get rid of mold but in cases where it is extreme a professional may need to be called in so that the mold can be removed completely.

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3. 60

   duffsmomposted 12 years ago

   Black mold can be inside of walls were it can't be seen. I hope that isn't it.

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4. 79

   FreezeFrame34posted 12 years ago

   Definitely see a specialist. My daughter got sick when she was younger because we had mold in our bathroom in our apartment we were renting. It was until we threatened to call and report them for unsafe living conditions that they sent someone over that used Kill-Eze and painted over it. Didn't matter though, the mold came back. Did you get a home inspection? They shouldn't have been able to sell a mold-infested house to innocent people. Don't want to scare you, but black mold is known as a silent killer.

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5. 68

   ShootersCenterposted 12 years ago

   Leaks from outside especially around windows or doors may not show up where you can see. This can cause mold on the backside of your drywall or paneling. Plumbing leaks inside walls can do the same. Black mold should be removed completely, it's a serious health hazard. If the seller knew there was a problem and didn't disclose this you may want to seek advice from an attorney. Not all mold can hurt you but black mold can be deadly, I'd contact someone that has experience with it. I don't even remove it from my own construction sites, I use a specialist because of liability. Hopefully your neighbor is wrong.

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6. 61

   moldservicesposted 12 years ago

   
   
   It's been a while since you posted this question, but hopefully my answer will help people like you to select the correct course of actions in situation like yours.
   
   1) First of all, if you are going to buy a new house, its always a good idea to hire a home inspector who is a CMI (Certified Mold Inspector) as well.
   
   2) If the house had a known history of mold contamination which was remediated by a CMRC (Certified Mold Remediation Contractor) company, there should be a lot of documentations, protocols, certifications and written warranties to go along with procedures. Request those documents - they will describe exactly where was the mold found and eliminated in your house.
   
   3) If you suspect mold presence, there are few things you can do in order to try to discover the hidden mold:
   
   In order for mold to appear, next conditions has to be met:
   
   > Prolonged exposure to excessive moisture/humidity (Floods, leaks, etc)
   > A source of organic material for mold to grow on
   > Supply of Oxygen
   > Optimal temperature
   
   
   Think of the spots were these conditions could happen at once.
   Usually such places are:
   
   
   a) Bathrooms
   b) Kitchens
   c) Laundry rooms
   b) Basements
   d) Attics
   
   
   Next, after you narrowed it down, proceed to closer examining of these areas:
   
   
   a) Check under and around the sinks, water heaters, plumbing pipes
   b) Check around and behind bathroom tiles, windows
   c) Check under the carpeting/flooring
   b) Check behind the cabinets and in hard to reach spots
   
   
   4) In your particular situation it would make sense to hire a professional mold inspector:
   
   a) They will check the mold spore count by taking Air Samples
   b) They will will be able to detect hidden mold behind the walls without breaking them by using advance infrared cameras
   c) They will take a Swab Samples in cases where visible mold is present
   d) They will protocol all their findings and will make a custom-tailored Mold Remediation Protocol for your particular situation
   
   
   Hope this will help! And I hope that you were able to resolve your problem successfully.

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