Mold making you sick?

   Whether you're buying a home, selling a home, own a home, own investment property, or rent your home, your health, and the health of your family, pets, guests, and tenants should be top of mind. Like the old saying goes, "If you haven't got your health, you haven't got anything." In addition to offering Certified Home Inspection services in Augusta GA and throughout the CSRA, we also offer Indoor Air Quality Testing and Surveys (investigations) for your peace of mind. If you think your home has mold, or if you or your family has experienced any of the symptoms listed near the bottom of the page, contact us for more information on mold and the services we provide, and contact your doctor, especially if anyone in your family is a child, is pregnant, is elderly, has asthma, or has a deficient or suppressed immune system, whether from medication & treatment (ie cancer patients), or from diseases (ie HIV / AIDS or other auto-immune diseases).

Some mold facts

   The US media has alerted the public to some of the facts and myths about mold, but they usually focus on "toxic mold" because it has the potential to do the most harm. However, the word "mold" applies to several thousand species & varieties of fungal organisms, ranging from basic mildew to the worst offender of all, Stachybotrys (toxic mold). The harmful varieties of mold are broken down into three categories: Allergenic Mold, which produce allergy-related reactions in humans; Carcinogenic Mold, which can cause or aggravate cancer in humans; and Toxic Mold, which produces poisons which can make you sick or worse, kill you. With that said, know that many molds are harmless at low levels, and some varieties are even vital to production of bread, alcohol, dairy products, and antibiotics. So make no mistake, we live with mold every day of our lives, but there are types of mold which have the potential to make you very sick, and in some cases, can be deadly. That's why you should know what kinds and amounts of mold you have in your home. So just because you see a mold-like substance in your home does not mean it is automatically the worst kind. The only way to properly determine what kind of mold you have, and in what quantities, is by direct laboratory examination. That's why we offer Mold Surveys (investigations) and Mold Sampling & Testing

What kinds of health problems can mold cause (or aggravate)?

Even small amounts of mold exposure may cause:
 * Itching or irritation of the nose, eyes, throat or skin
 * Mysterious rashes
 * Sinus infection(s) and/or congestion
 * Respiratory problems (sneezing, coughing)
 * Asthma and/or general difficulty breathing
 * Upper or lower respiratory infection(s)
 * Fatigue
 * Hallucinations
 * Frequent headaches
 * Trouble concentrating, memory lapses, confusion
 * Mood swings, anxiety, depression
 * Chronic aches & pains
 * Digestive problems

Air quality and mold sampling & surveying

   Because we all vary in our chemical and genetic makeup, one kind of mold that affects you may not affect someone else at all, or at least not as badly. If you or your family is getting sick for no apparent reason, or you keep getting sick and don't know why, your indoor air quality may be a factor. That's we offer Mold Surveys (or Mold Investigations). During the Survey, we look for "Red Flags" or indicators of mold and/or moisture sources which might be breeding mold. If and when the "Red Flags" indicate a need for further testing, we make recommendations to you, and with your permission, we are able to sample visible mold-like substances, as well as invisible areas like the air in the home, beneath carpets (which is non-destructive) and in some cases, behind the walls. Mold cannot grow without moisture. And a little water can go a long way toward major damage in a home. Water damage can become a big problem if not properly taken care of immediately. Mold can form in as little as 48 hours after leak or water damage occurs. In some cases the homeowner doesn't even realize water is leaking into their attic, basement, their ceilings or even their walls.
 
Much of the information found in this page is courtesy of PRO-Lab.