Basic First Aid

There are a few basic things you should know about mold and mildew odor. One, should you smell that musty odor which most people correctly identify as mold or mildew then there is most likely mold in the building. Typically it is not mildew if inside a home as mildew only grows on living plants. Two, never rely on your nose alone since some problem mold may not have a smell. Three, although some debate whether mold smells are dangerous we do know that they do indicate a problem. Four, if mold exists in your home you must find, remove and correct its cause. Five, costly mold inspections are not always necessary. Do-it-yourself kits are widely available but should in no way replace having a professional inspection periodically. And finally Six, eliminating mold may not always get rid of the mold smell as like many odors the smell might get trapped in other nearby materials such as carpet, upholstery (etc.).

Remember that there are many types of molds which may cause the odors to vary as well. The circumstances (how damp, how hot, how much light, what it is growing on etc.) causing the mold to develop will play a part in how (or if) the mold smells. Not only do the various types of mold differ odor-wise, they will vary visually as well (most typically color variances although some are hard to see at all).

When mold is found most likely whatever problem causing the mold has caused other hazards which may be giving off their own odors in addition to the smells produced by the mold–sometimes masking the smell of mold. A few examples could be the rotting corpse of a dead animal, sewage leaks, dangerous pesticides leaking, and deadly gases leaking from AC or Heating units (etc.).

Odor alone is not enough to determine the size of the problem not if the problem is toxic or allergenic.

When trying to pinpoint potential mold problems it can be key to know the buildings past. For instance if you know the roof leaked previously, may want to begin there when searching for problems.

It is important to note that everyone has their own sensitivity level when it comes to detecting odors. One person may sense an odor much more quickly than someone else.

To end out discussing always keep in mind that odors can be misconstrued if someone is sick or undergoing medical treatments. Sometime these conditions can have someone thinking they smell something when there is no odor there or conversely never detecting an odor when one is definitely present.

Filed under: Allergies