How To Find Mold Even If You Can't See It

12/8/2020 (Permalink)

Mold remediation services in Buford, GA

Ways To Help You Decide If You Need Mold Remediation Specialists

You're faced with a dilemma. You know that there's a mildew smell in the office, but you've checked everywhere you can think of and you still don't see any signs of mold. Do you shrug and ignore it, maybe run an oil diffuser and hope it goes away? That's an option, but just because you can't see mold doesn't mean that it isn't there. Noticing a mold smell is a pretty good indicator that something isn't right, even if you can't see it. Here are some ways to help you decide if you need a mold remediation specialist to visit your office in Buford, GA.

1. Smell
You know that a fungus smell likely indicates mold, but why? Mold emits gases at various stages of its growth. Mold itself is not smelly; it's the compounds that are released into the air by the mold that smell bad. If you're smelling a mold smell, you can be fairly confident that there is mold growing somewhere.

2. Sight
Mold doesn't just look like the black, blue, or gray spots you find on leftovers that have been in the fridge for too long. Mildew, which is just early-stage mold, might look to you like dirt. Especially in basements or storage areas that aren't regularly visited by your cleaning crew, don't just write off a dirty surface as just needing a wet rag. It might be early signs of mold.

3. Infrared
Sometimes, the only way to tell whether or not there is mold is to look behind walls. Thankfully, infrared technology makes it possible to check for leaks, the extent of any possible damage, and energy leaks that may be allowing moisture into the building without tearing down walls. Infrared doesn't identify mold, but it identifies mold-friendly conditions that are of concern to mold inspectors.
A mold smell in your facility likely indicates a problem. Hoping that the smell will go away probably isn't going to work. Instead, have a professional come to assess your building so that you can get the problem taken care of quickly.