What To Do When You Can Smell Mold But Can't See It

7/22/2019 (Permalink)

Sometimes the most accurate way to find mold is to use a thermal camera

What To Do When You Can Smell Mold But Can't See It

When a building has mold, you can usually see it. Mold comes in various colors and sometimes they blend into the wall, but upon close inspection, you can usually spot it. Other times, you may not be able to find the mold anywhere, but you notice a distinct mold smell. When this happens, what do you do? After all, you need to find it to clean it.

1. Check the HVAC Unit

One of the most common places mold remediation specialists find the source of a fungus smell is in the air ducts. Many people do not at first suspect the HVAC unit because it pushes out cool air or hot dry air. Neither of these provide the warm, damp environment preferred by mold. Even so, cool air leads to condensation, which may breed mold and lead to that mildew smell.

2. Use a Thermal Camera

Sometimes the most accurate way to find mold is to use a thermal camera. This detects moisture, which in turn can help to identify breeding grounds for mold. You may find that the mold smell is caused by a dripping pipe behind a wall, a wet spot under the carpet or even a drink maker in the break room. While not all areas with water may have mold, it is a good starting point.

3. Clean Up the Mold

The cleanup process depends on the type of affected area. Sometimes a biocide can be used to wipe the area clean. Other times, professionals may need to remove any affected porous material, such as carpeting or dry wall. After this, a HEPA vacuum will be used to clean up any remaining mold spores not visible to the naked eye.

When you detect a mold smell in Unity Village, MO it is important to act quickly. Failure to do so may cause the mold to spread, leading to the contamination of other areas.