Mold Facts

Mold can be found everywhere indoors and outdoors. It is part of our everyday life.

Mold spores cannot be seen without a microscope

Mold enters your home carried by the air or attached to items that enter your home.

Mold spores thrive on moisture and can quickly grow into colonies when water is present. After the colonies form, the mold can produce odors, allergens and irritants that affect your health.

Before mold remediation can begin, moisture and water sources need to be remedied or mold will return.     

Keeping your humidity level below 40% will reduce the likelihood of molds forming.

Mold growth, which often looks like spots, can be many different colors, and can smell musty. 

If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. 

You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home, and CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. 

Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk. 

Good sampling for mold can be expensive.

Standards for judging what is and is not an acceptable quantity of mold have not been set.