What to Do When You Smell Mold but Cannot See It

2/22/2021 (Permalink)

Mold damage to a Greeley commercial building's ceiling

Mold has a very distinctive fungus smell, meaning that often times its odor makes itself known before the mold itself is found. For a business in Greeley, CO the mold smell can be worrisome. Fortunately, there are a few things that can be done.

Where Mold Grows

Most people associate the musty mildew smell with places like basements, attics or crawlspaces. This is in part because environments like these are a good location for mold to settle in. In fact, there are some environments mold is more likely to grow in than others.

• Locations with water damage
• Cool damp areas such as a basement or crawlspaces
• Locations where condensation may collect
• Areas with regularly high humidity such as a restroom or pool area
• Areas where there has been recent flooding
• Materials that can soak in water such as wood, paper, plaster, cardboard, and/or ceiling tiles

Why Mold Smells

As mold grows it releases a secondary metabolite called a mycotoxin. This is the reason for the musty mold smell. Mycotoxins are common to the fungi kingdom and most fungi, including mold, undergo this process.

Ways to Locate Mold

Many mold remediation professionals have a few tools they can use to locate mold when it’s not visible. Mold tests can be used to test air samples or surfaces for potential growth. An infrared camera may also be used to locate cool area where water may have built up. Because mold grows best in cool, damp environments checking these locations may lead to locating the source of the mildew smell. Once the mold has been located it is important to begin the cleaning process as soon as possible.

Finding mold growth based off of a mold smell is possible, especially when you have the right tools and know where to look. Call the professionals at SERVPRO of Greeley/Windsor at 970-353-1388.  Our team of professionals are available 24/7/365.

Highly Trained Restoration Specialists

Our SERVPRO Professionals are highly trained in property restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO's Corporate Training Facility to regular IICRC industry certifications, our Professionals are equipped with the knowledge to restore your property. The SERVPRO training program includes the following:

• IICRC Training
• Employee Certification Training
• Initial Franchise Training
• e-Learnings
• Continuing Education Classes