Mold can be a serious issue in Florida homes due to the hot, humid climate. While some mold is normal in any home, an excessive amount of mold growth can cause major problems for your health, home value and structural integrity. That’s why a professional Mold Inspection in Jacksonville FL is so important for Jacksonville area homeowners.
What is Mold and Why is it a Problem?
Mold is a type of fungus that grows in damp, humid environments. It reproduces by releasing tiny spores that are invisible to the naked eye. Mold eats away at whatever it’s growing on, whether that’s wood, drywall, carpeting or other materials. Over time, a mold infestation can cause extensive damage throughout a home.
According to the CDC, exposure to high levels of household mold may trigger asthma attacks, allergic reactions and other health issues. Mold also gives off musty odors and can lead to decay or degradation of the surfaces it’s growing on. Left unchecked, a serious mold problem will continue to get worse and can be extremely expensive or even impossible to fully remediate.
Some of the most common problems caused by mold include:
- Respiratory issues like wheezing, chest tightness and worsened asthma
- Allergic reactions, headaches, sneezing and runny nose
- Eye irritation
- Skin rashes
- Fatigue
- Sinus congestion, coughing and sore throat
Mold exposure has even been linked to more serious conditions like lung infections, autoimmune disorders and heightened risk for sepsis in hospital patients. Very high mold exposures can potentially be life-threatening for babies, elderly individuals or those with compromised immune systems.
Needless to say, mold is not something you want taking over your Jacksonville home. The longer you wait to inspect and address a possible mold issue, the worse it will get.
How Mold Spreads in Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville has a warm, humid subtropical climate that makes conditions ideal for mold growth. Both indoor and outdoor mold can thrive here year-round.
Outdoors, mold may grow on surfaces like wet leaves, compost piles, rotting logs, grasses and other vegetation. Spores from outdoor molds can enter your house through open windows or doors, AC intake vents, gaps along siding or foundations, even on people, pets or clothing. This brings additional mold right into your living space where it can multiply rapidly.
Indoors, mold needs a consistent source of moisture to grow. Some ways mold infestations start inside Jacksonville homes include:
- Leaks: Roof leaks, plumbing leaks, foundation cracks letting in water
- Flooding: Major flooding, broken appliances or pipes, laundry mishaps
- Moisture buildup: Bathrooms, basements and other humidity prone areas
- Condensation: AC units, windows, pipes or basement walls with condensation
- Water intrusion: Storm damage, open windows or doors in rain, poorly sealed siding
Once mold has moist conditions and a food source like wood, drywall, insulation or carpet to feed on, colonies can spread surprisingly fast. Any visibly wet or moldy areas likely indicate a much larger infestation hidden in walls or crawl spaces.
Health Dangers from Mold in Jacksonville
Damp conditions and mold create the perfect breeding ground for other dangerous organisms like bacteria, viruses, dust mites, cockroaches and rodents. Even if you don’t have a mold allergy, these health hazards combined with mold toxins and spores in your home’s air can make your family sick.
Some specific health effects of mold exposure include:
- Allergic reactions: Runny nose, eye irritation, coughing, rashes, hives
- Asthma: Wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing
- Respiratory infections: Repeated sinus infections, bronchitis, pneumonia
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: Flu Like illness from immune system response to mold
- Bleeding in the lungs: From fungal growth in lungs (rare cases)
Mold toxins and spores irritate and inflame the airways and lungs. For children, pregnant women, seniors and those with respiratory conditions, this can be especially dangerous. Even generally healthy people are affected after repeated mold exposures.
Your family’s health is too important to gamble with. Even if you don’t see or smell obvious mold, hidden colonies could be lurking and impacting your indoor air quality each day. Don’t wait until someone develops a chronic cough or worse health issues before you take action.
Signs There May Be Hidden Mold in Your Jacksonville Home
Mold is a sneaky problem because it often grows out of sight inside walls, under materials or in unseen crawlspaces. You would need to tear out drywall or lift flooring to reveal concealed mold. Even specially trained dogs have difficulty sniffing out hidden infestations.
Luckily, there are some red flags that indicate a possible concealed mold problem:
- Musty odor: If you smell a faint musty or “earthy” scent, mold may be lurking somewhere
- Water stains: On walls, ceilings, under windows or anywhere moisture could enter
- Peeling paint or wallpaper: May signal dampness and mold growth underneath
- Bubbling on walls or floors: Result of moisture trapped under the surface
- High humidity: Over 50% RH encourages mold growth in Jacksonville homes
- Condensation: On windows, pipes, AC coils and other areas prone to excess moisture
- Signs of water damage: Warped floors or walls, discoloration, crumbling drywall
Take note if any family members experience unusual respiratory issues, sinus problems, headaches or fatigue inside your home as well. Mold allergies can develop over time with chronic exposure.
While you may suspect a hidden mold problem, only testing by a qualified professional can identify the exact location and extent of contamination. Trying do-it-yourself mold testing is unlikely to reveal what’s lurking inside walls or under floors where you can’t see.
Benefits of Calling a Professional Mold Inspection Company
Mold growth can happen quickly, which is why time is of the essence for inspections and remediation. For homeowners who suspect mold in their Jacksonville house, calling a professional Mold Inspection in Jacksonville FL company provides many advantages.
The biggest benefit is being able to locate hidden mold growth you would never have found on your own. Professional inspectors use specialized tools to detect mold you can’t see or smell behind walls and under materials. This allows them to provide a complete picture of areas impacted by mold.
Other key benefits include:
- Accurate identification: Experts determine whether growth is mold or harmless lookalikes. They can also identify specific mold species.
- Moisture source detection: The inspector will try to pinpoint moisture sources allowing mold to grow. Stopping the water is key for mold prevention.
- Extent of infestation: A professional mold inspection uncovers the full scope of contamination throughout your home. Only then can proper mold remediation begin.
- Testing for toxins: Advanced mold testing can determine if toxic black molds like Stachybotrys or Aspergillus are present. These molds can seriously impact health.
- Remediation plan: The inspector gives homeowners a detailed, prioritized plan for mold removal and home repairs to correct the problem at its root.
- Third-party documentation: Inspection reports provide important documentation of mold contamination for insurance claims or real estate transactions.
Mold growth is a health hazard you shouldn’t ignore. For your family’s respiratory health and your home’s structural integrity, getting a professional Mold Inspection in Jacksonville FL is crucial.
What to Expect During a Professional Jacksonville Mold Inspection
A comprehensive mold inspection involves methodically examining your entire home for visible mold, moisture intrusion, water damage and hidden mold growth. The process includes several steps:
1. Interview – The inspector will ask about your home’s history, any water damage, family health issues and areas you suspect mold. This helps focus the inspection.
2. Visual inspection – The inspector looks for visible mold and evidence of moisture like water stains and condensation. All accessible areas are inspected closely. The attic, crawlspaces, basement or slab and exterior are included.
3. Moisture readings – Using moisture meters, the inspector will check for excess moisture in surfaces like walls and ceilings that can allow unseen mold to flourish. Elevated moisture requires further investigation.
4. Air sampling – Specialized air sampling cassettes reveal if elevated levels of mold spores are floating around your home. High spore counts often mean hidden colonies.
5. Material sampling – The inspector takes small material samples to test for contamination under carpets, in walls or ceilings. Lab analysis determines if dangerous molds are present.
6. Infrared thermography – An infrared camera detects temperature differences between wall surfaces. Cooler areas often signal moisture and potential mold growth.
7. Review findings – The inspector presents clear results and discusses the inspection findings with you. They will answer any questions and advise you on next steps.
A mold inspector takes the guesswork out of locating contaminated areas in the home. This sets the stage for effective mold remediation. Trying to clean up mold on your own without knowing the full extent of infestation is a recipe for disaster and wasted time and money.
Questions a Qualified Mold Inspector Should Answer
Any professional mold inspector you hire should be ready to thoroughly explain their inspection findings and address all your concerns. Here are some key questions they should answer:
- Where is the mold contamination located? Are the affected areas visible or hidden?
- What type of mold is present? Certain molds like black mold are more hazardous.
- What is causing the excess moisture supporting mold growth?
- How can the moisture problem be fixed to prevent mold from returning?
- Is the air quality acceptable or are spore levels dangerously high?
- Do swab or air samples indicate any highly toxic molds are present?
- How extensive is the contamination?
- Which areas should be addressed first?
- Do you recommend any immediate actions like cleaning or moving out?
- What personal safety precautions are needed during remediation?
- Can you provide a written remediation plan and official inspection report?
- Do you see any structural damage from moisture or mold growth?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. A reliable professional will take time to explain their whole process, walk you through the home and discuss the full inspection results in a way you can easily understand. If an inspector seems rushed or can’t thoroughly answer questions, they may not have adequately completed the inspection.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Unfortunately, there are untrained inspectors who lack the proper equipment, expertise and certifications to detect covert mold growth. To avoid frustration and ensure you get accurate results you can trust, watch for these red flags:
- Lack of specialized tools: At minimum, a mold inspector needs a moisture meter, infrared camera, air sampler and lab affiliation.
- Rushing through inspection: A complete mold inspection takes several hours to thoroughly cover all areas.
- No lab testing: Samples should be tested by an accredited lab to identify specific molds.
- No moisture readings: An infrared camera and moisture meter should be used to pinpoint hidden moisture allowing mold to thrive.
- No air testing: Air samples reveal if spore levels are dangerously high, requiring remediation.
- No concealed mold checks: Only testing visible areas misses most infestation hidden in walls and under materials.
- No remediation plan: You need an expert mold remediation plan focused on addressing causes and contaminated areas.
- No credentials: There are no government-issued licenses, but NAMPI, IICRC and ACAC certifications indicate advanced training.
Avoid “free” inspections as they are rarely thorough. Be wary of any inspector who claims to detect all mold from a cursory visual inspection alone. Mold often lurks out of sight.
Questions to Ask a Potential Mold Inspector
Don’t be shy asking in-depth questions before hiring an inspector. This helps verify they use proper processes and have the expertise to conduct a complete inspection. Important questions include:
- Are you certified by organizations like NAMPI, IICRC or ACAC? What type of training do you have?
- What inspection methods and equipment do you use? Do you have moisture meters, infrared cameras, air sampling cassettes, etc?
- Do you sample air and take swab samples for lab analysis to identify specific molds?
- How long have you been performing mold inspections in the Jacksonville area specifically?
- Will you inspect hidden areas like inside walls, attics and crawlspaces?
- Do you provide a detailed written inspection report and remediation plan?
- Can you explain the findings in a way that I can easily understand?
- Do you have references from satisfied Jacksonville customers I can contact?
Avoid any inspector who seems annoyed or put off by questions. Transparency is a sign of a reliable, ethical mold inspector who fully stands behind their processes.
Why You Should Hire a Mold Remediation Contractor After Inspection
Once an extensive mold problem is uncovered by a professional inspection, the next step is mold remediation. This involves removing all moldy materials, cleaning and sanitizing all remaining surfaces, then repairing any structural issues that allowed moisture accumulation.
Homeowners should not attempt large-scale mold remediation themselves. The work requires extensive containment to prevent spore dispersal throughout the home, specialized cleaning solutions and equipment, meticulous removal practices for contaminated materials, and expertise working safely with hazardous molds. Breathing in stirred up spores can cause severe health reactions.
Only a trained mold remediation contractor has the technical know-how to remove mold without exacerbating the issue and exposing your family to spores. They have industrial HEPA air scrubbers, protective gear and expertise to prevent mold from spreading from contaminated areas into the rest of the home during cleanup.
When hiring a remediation contractor, check that they follow the detailed mold removal processes outlined in IICRC S520. Also verify they have IICRC, NADCA or RIA certification. Followup air sampling after remediation ensures spore levels have dropped back to normal.
With an extensive mold problem, attempting to clean up mold on your own is dangerous and often ineffective. You need pros armed with the proper gear, solutions and training for safe, successful mold remediation.
Take Immediate Action If You Suspect Mold
If you notice any of the warning signs of mold growth in your Jacksonville home, schedule a professional Mold Inspection in Jacksonville FL right away before contamination can spread further. The sooner inspection and remediation occurs, the more effectively the issue can be resolved.
Left unchecked, mold infestations will continue damaging your home’s structure and your family’s health. Don’t delay – get qualified experts on the scene now. Avoid “free inspection” scams that use scare tactics to sell overpriced remediation. Work only with mold inspectors and contractors who have excellent references and proven expertise eradicating mold long-term.
The bottom line is you should never ignore unexplained moisture, musty odors or other red flags indicating mold may be invading your home. With prompt inspection and remediation, even serious mold infestations can be fully fixed so you can again have a clean, healthy home your family can safely enjoy. Protect your greatest investment and your family’s well being – call a professional Mold Inspection in Jacksonville FL service today!