How To Find Mold Lurking Behind Walls

7/17/2018 (Permalink)

Mold Damage lurking behind walls and on flooring

Whether you're the owner of a big leaky warehouse, an apartment building, or another rental property in Slidell, LA, it's essential to ensure areas used frequently by people are mold-free to maintain a healthy environment as well as structural integrity. Even with no visible signs, mold may still be lurking behind walls or in the floors. Have you noticed a mold smell—that familiar musty scent found in many basements and attics? Gasses called microbial volatile organic compounds are released by mold, causing this familiar fungus smell.

If you suspect there is mold in your building, it's better to take care of the mold now before it has time to spread and cause further harm. Here are some ways to determine where moisture might be leaking in and how bad the damage may already be.

1. Utilize Scent-Detecting Dogs

Believe it or not, some dogs are trained to track mold smell. However, they cannot tell you the quantity or what species is present. Air samples may still need to be collected and sent to a lab to determine how dangerous the situation really is.

2. Remove Drywall

If you're gutting a building, you'll already be removing drywall. Even so, a visual inspection of drywall is not very accurate, as mold isn't always visible to the naked eye. If you detect mildew smell in your home, contact a professional to avoid unnecessary cuts in your walls or spreading of spores.

3. Use a Thermal Camera

Using a thermal camera is the most efficient and cost-effective strategy. Having thermal images taken and interpreted in Slidell, LA, can save you a lot of time and hassle while giving you a complete overview of the entire building. These cameras can "see" moisture through walls and floors because it has a lower temperature than the building materials.

Mold might seem like a headache, but it can be managed. Utilizing these methods, you can get that mold smell out of your life in no time!

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