All molds are fungi, but not all fungi are mold.  Mold has a purpose in nature, it decomposes organic matter.  If it weren’t for mold we would all be living under miles of leaf debris as the trees shed their foliage.  There are an undetermined number of different types of mold with estimates as low as tens of thousands up to three hundred thousand.  They reproduce asexually by releasing spores into the air which only require moisture and a food source to live and continue the reproductive cycle.  Molds generally like warm, damp, humid conditions.

Mold only needs two things to live: moisture and a food source.  Moisture is readily available in a variety of ways.  Water in any form is an obvious contributor to moisture as rain, condensation, puddling or standing water from a leak or uneven grading of a property, and humidity.  Humidity is the most consistent influence on moisture levels.  It’s how we measure the amount of water vapor in the air. We quantify the levels of humidity using a percentage.  This can be a little misleading because warm air can hold more moisture than cool air.  To explain this I’ll use a humidity of 70%.  In January, a 70% humidity reading would not feel the same or be as problematic as 70% humidity in July.  Think of it as, if you had warm air that can hold more moisture than cool air as being similar to a 5 gallon.  And then think of cool air that can hold less moisture than warm air as a 1 gallon bucket.  A 5 gallon bucket 70% full is not the same as a 1 gallon bucket 70% full.  Does that make sense?  The second thing mold needs to live is a food source.  As said earlier, molds’ purpose in nature is to decompose organic matter.  We live in a cellulose world where just about everything is an organic material, from the shoes in our closets to roofs of our homes and everything in between. 

Mold will become a problem in any environment that has excessive moisture.  Whether it’s standing water in a crawlspace, a roof leak in the attic, or the dampness under a compost pile, mold will grow and thrive with enough moisture.  By controlling moisture, you control the mold, it’s that simple.

Fortunately, the hardest part is already done when you move into a home with air conditioning.  Your HVAC system does several things that assist you in controlling the moisture levels in your home. First, it conditions the air.  It allows you to control the air temperature which is important because cool air holds less moisture than warm air.  Secondly, it creates air flow.  Moving air is cooler air and therefore holds less moisture.  Using your ceiling fans also helps in this process.  Thirdly, and most importantly, it is a dehumidifier.  It will extract moisture from the air if it is properly installed and maintained.  Ideally, you want the indoor humidity level to be less than 50%.  It can fluctuate up to around 55% and still be acceptable but as you approach 60% or higher then problems can begin to appear.   The next aspect of moisture control inside the home is allowing sufficient air flow.  By closing off rooms or over packing closets it restricts the amount of air flow into these spaces.  This will give humidity levels a chance to rise and could possibly result in condensation, another more substantial form of moisture.  Remember, moving air is cooler air and cooler air holds less moisture.

To the untrained eye mold growth can be misidentified or misunderstood.  The only way to have a mold situation identified is to have a certified mold inspector to do an analysis.  Most situations with visible mold growth present can be diagnosed by an experienced inspector as to what a potential cause could be and how to fix the situation.  However, with mold you can’t always see what you’ve got.  Taking air analysis is the best way an inspector can identify the types and levels of the mold present. 

The best places to look to see if you have any indication of a mold situation are: the crawlspace, the attic, the area where the water heater is kept, the laundry room, around the dishwasher, behind the refrigerator, under all sinks, in closets, behind furniture to close to the walls, around windows and chimneys, and around tubs and showers.

The industry standard is anything less than 10 square feet you won’t require the services of a professional.  Anything larger than 10 square feet you will need to hire a mold remediation specialist.   Any contractor that does not have the proper certification or insurance could potentially make a small problem into a big one.  There are standard protocols that all certified remediators will follow using the IICRCIS520 standards.  These standards detail the requirements of mold remediation to include the use of proper equipment such as HEPA filtration of the vacuums and air handlers, containment of the contaminated work area as needed, the use of fungicides, and the practice of obtaining air samples before and after the remediation.