HIDDEN MOLD
One of the most difficult concepts to grasp about mold contamination is that many times you cannot see it. Sometimes there is no visible growth on the walls or any sign that something is wrong. When mold is present, but undetectable to the naked eye, it is referred to as Hidden Mold or Invisible Mold.
Perhaps you and your family have been experiencing mystery symptoms such as foggy brain, hives, difficulty sleeping, or a wide range of other HEALTH SYMPTOMS. Your family members may even be experiencing different symptoms, since everyone has different gut biomes and immune systems, we all react to mold differently. These stories are common, and having doctors unable to pinpoint the cause of symptoms, only to discover mold as a possibility later, can result in much suffering and heartache.
You should also have your home tested for hidden mold if you notice a musty odor. Some molds and mildews emit chemical vapors, known as microbial volatile organic compounds, which give off a musty smell.
There are many places in the home or office where mold can grow unseen, such as your crawl spaces, basement and attic, above ceiling tiles, inside heating, ventilation and air ducts, inside walls, and under carpet and floorboards.
If you’re buying a new home, have had a recent flood or water leak, or are suffering mystery health symptoms, accurate MOLD TESTING is so important. It shows what type of and how many mold spores are in the air, even if it is invisible. Proper testing can also compare the number of spores to the outside air and in different parts of your house to help find the mold source.
How does hidden mold happen?
In this case, there is, or was, a water leak. Maybe it was the roof and it dripped down between the walls, or perhaps a plumbing leak that went unnoticed for a period of time until it was fixed and subsequently painted over, perhaps even before the mold growth was visible.
Unfortunately, sometimes landlords and homeowners will paint-and-pretend, as properly dealing with a potential mold problem can be scary and expensive. Some states also have disclosure laws surrounding mold due to its health effects, which can also encourage owners to sweep it under the rug instead of disclosing it to tenants and homebuyers and raising red flags.
This is unethical behavior, but that is why the Badger encourages MOLD TESTING during all home inspections, as you never know what a previous owner might have intentionally or unwittingly covered up.
