What is the truth about Mold? Who can you trust? How do you find someone who is ethical to inspect a possible mold problem?

The fear of mold and the high costs charged by restoration companies have caused insurance carriers to cancel policies, raise rates, add no-mold clauses, or lower clean-up limits. Some insurance companies won't take on any new home policies in certain mold crazy states. The situation is out of hand. Our Federal government has not yet established any mold clean-up standards. The medical world is still out to lunch on the effects of mold. Is mold harmful or not?

There are no Federal guidelines concerning mold contamination levels. There are no proven medical reports that show mold is deadly to anyone except persons with advanced HIV, or a few other medical conditions. There are a few restoration trade associations who are busy trying to set standards for clean-up. Within the remediation industry prices for service are coming down. Marketing and advertising pieces are reflecting a more sensible no-panic message. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers some advice. They walk the middle of the road with their overall approach. Its better than nothing, at least the EPA advises to use eye protection, respirator masks and rubber gloves when cleaning mold. They indicate that anything under ten-square feet of mold can be self cleaned, over that they tell you to consult with an expert restoration company.

an example of black mold

There are more than 60,000 molds that have been studied and more than 25,000 have been named. Only a few produce spores small enough to work their way into our blood stream. These are the ones that pose a potential threat to humans. These are the ones that are called toxic molds. The truth is that these molds are only toxic under certain circumstances. They are not toxic all the time. What seems to be agreed upon by all experts is that mold is an allergen, similar to pollens, or dust mites. Most experts agree that if you see mold growing in your home, solve the moisture problem and clean-up the mold. Mold does not need to be a mysterious frightful or thing.

Before you invite an inspector or a mold remediator to visit your home there are a number of questions to ask.

• The first question, "How dangerous is mold?" If the person starts talking about serious health risks, life endangering conditions and doesn't present a more calm and balanced approach, pass this person up.
  
• Another question to ask, "What causes mold in my home?" If the answer is much more complicated than explaining the cause is ALWAYS excessive moisture, you have a person who is over complicating matters.
  
• Ask this, " Does the moisture problem need to be solved before mold clean-up is started?"( There are times when moisture problems and mold clean-up are addressed at the same time. Usually moisture should be addressed first.) If the person answering your question seems really eager to launch into the mold clean-up work, you may be talking to a "mold is gold hound."

You may want to ask the inspector or mold remediater to describe their typical report and typical mold project. Asking for business and client references is always a smart idea. If he doesn't provide references by all means pass this person up.

An ethical moisture and mold inspector will tell you that the majority of molds are not harmful. They should explain that the few harmful types of mold need to be present in large amounts to be of concern to persons with specific health conditions. The molds also need to be producing mycrotoxins to be considered dangerous. The honest expert will explain that the source of moisture must be stopped, otherwise the mold will be back within days or weeks. THE MOISTURE PROBLEM MUST BE SOLVED. Anyone who downplays the simple cause of mold and plays on your fears is not truely interested in helping you.

Any and all service plans for moisture drying and mold clean-up should be presented in writing with the prices clearly noted as per-item charges. (The costs of mold clean-up are coming down in the restoration industry because the public is becoming aware of the truth about molds. Mold scams are going away as people learn most molds aren't harmful. The insurance companies are closing their deep pockets making it less attractive to work in this arena.)

In the San Francisco Bay Area an ethical moisture and mold inspector is the author of this article, Clayton Barry.  He can be contacted at: servpro9332@gmail.com

Note: Joanne recommends Clayton Barry and his Servepro company as she has done business with Mr. Barry for many years and finds him to be the best at what he does!