Testing for mold might be a waste of money

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Testing for mold might be a waste of money

By Elliott (Contact)

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

TCPalm - West Palm Beach,FL,USA

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/jun/23/testing-mold-might-be-waste-money/

Homeowners wanting to test their homes for mold should usually just turn to

their nose and eyes, according to a new Florida Department of Health consumer

advisory.

Now is the humid season when summer rains foster mold growth — which many

Treasure Coast residents came face to face with following the 2004 hurricanes.

Rains poured in through broken roofs. Mold proliferated in dampened wallboard

and attics when air conditioning system weren't working.

As a number of owners found, mold can cause respiratory problems and skin

rashes, especially among those with allergies and asthma.

And homeowners wanted indoor air quality testing to either verify that they had

a problem or that it had been cleaned up by a contractor.

But state health officials looked into mold testing and found that it is often

unreliable and proves little in most cases, state reports show. Plus it can be

expensive: scientifically valid mold testing can cost $6,000 for a standard

home, according to the health department.Even then it is a " snapshot " of

conditions at a particular time, said Tim Wallace, a Department of Health

environmental health program consultant.

And some mold is always around, to some extent.

In the end, finding the species of mold in a home isn't that important, health

officials said.

Mold is mold.

So agency officials urge homeowners to consider skip testing and go directly to

cleanup and stopping the source of moisture fostering mold growth.

Brad Dunning is the manager of Certified Mold Solutions that does mold cleanup

in homes from Sebastian to West Palm Beach. He, too, advises homeowners to go

ahead and clean up if mold is visible, yet he said some insurance companies want

testing as part of mold cleanups.

A basic set of three tests for insurance companies, he said, costs about $300.

A regional testing lab, Pro-Lab, of Weston, advertises itself as being

accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association, an industry group. It

does testing of mold samples from the Treasure Coast. Company officials couldn't

be reached for comment about the state's recommendations.

Florida Department of Health officials said the signs of mold can be

discolorations in drywall and ceiling tiles and a tell-tale earthy, musty odor,

Wallace said.

Mold also can proliferate anytime from a pipe leak or drips from an air

conditioning line. It can show up around sinks or in showers.

" When mold growth becomes visible or mold odors can be smelled ... there is a

problem that should not be tolerated, " according to his department's Web site.

Cleanup can be as simple as " elbow grease, " soap and a scrub brush in instances

of small amounts of mold in a washbasin, Wallace said. Or a contractor may have

to be hired to repair a leak and replace dampened drywall where mold is growing.

In showers, water can seep into walls through cracks in tile grouting.

Still, some people want testing to see if mold is present and to guide cleanup.

Both, the health department says, are poor reasons for paying someone to do test

sampling in a home.

" Many people have unrealistic expectations of what mold testing can do and they

can be taken advantage of by those who perform testing poorly or for

inappropriate reasons, " according to the agency's Web site.

That money is better spent, Wallace said, on removal and repairs. In general,

the state says homeowners can do their own cleanup when mold is in an area less

than 10 square feet in size. If a cleanup company is hired, consumers are

advised to check references and work record.

State recommendations about mold:

• Skip mold testing and go directly to cleanup

• Money is better spent on cleanup than on testing in most cases. Mold is

naturally present to some extent, so tests will always show something.

• Homeowners can detect mold though smell and sight. Mold has an earthy musty

odor. And it appears as a discoloration in various colors: white, gray, black,

orange and greenish.

• Mold problems are caused by water leaks in everything from pipes and air

conditioning systems to roofs. Also, mold may grow at the bottom of washbasins

and showers.

• Small cleanups can be done with a scrub brush, soap and water. If chlorine is

used, don't mix it with anything other than water. Drywall may have to be

removed and replaced.

• For more information about dealing with mold go to the Florida Department of

Health Web site: doh.state.fl.us. At the site, do a search for mold. Then open

the Indoor Air Quality Guide to indoor mold.

SOURCE: Florida Department of Health

Government regulations are limited:

• There are no government standards for mold testing by laboratories or

standards for the amount of mold in residences or buildings in Florida. The only

exception is for testing of homes with children with asthma.

• Currently, mold-removal companies aren't required to be licensed by the state.

Beginning July 1, 2010, the state Department of Business and Professional

Regulation is authorized to start licensing companies doing mold remediation and

assessment. But no money has been appropriated for putting the licensing into

effect.

SOURCE: Florida Department of Health and Florida Department of Business and

Professional Regulation.