Help! We Have Mold!

Slow down, mold isn’t always bad.

While mold is very common here in Palm Beach, Florida, many times it’s not a problem. The real issue isn’t whether there is mold or not, but what kind of mold. When Florida’s Favorite Home Inspections takes an air sample, we’re sending that sample to be tested at a lab for the indoor air quality. Black mold, such as Stachybotrys, can be toxic for your health, creating symptoms such as headaches, itchy eyes, and sinus issues. Other types of mold may cause no symptoms at all, while those sensitive to mold may have severe allergies. Indoor air quality testing can be particularly important for people with allergies, kids, or the elderly.

A good rule of thumb when ordering mold testing is one sample per 1000 square feet, or one air sample per 1500 square feet of unobstructed space. If you have an upstairs and downstairs, it’s recommended to do one sample per floor, as the two separated floors would be considered obstructed space. The closer your sample is taken to the area of concern, the more accurate the findings will be, so be sure to let the inspector know if there is an area of particular concern.

Once your air sample is sent to the lab, it’s tested under a microscope and a report is written about its findings, so you know the type of mold, the level that is present, and the general space it was found in. With this information, you can decide if it makes sense to take further action and hire a mold assessor or mold remediator.