16 Signs That You Need Mold Testing in Your Home

There are 16 signs that you need mold testing in your home. Mold that produces and releases dangerous toxins into the air can affect a family's health. Many times we see only one family member affected. There are many things to look for if someone in your home is being affected by these toxins.

Why is Mold Testing Necessary?
Testing for mold is important because mold spores can cause or aggravate many illnesses, including asthma and allergies. Some molds can cause very serious lung infections.

When should Testing Take Place?
Mold testing should be done if anyone in the household is feeling effects associated with fungal contamination. Some symptoms may include:

1. headaches
2. dizziness
3. difficulty paying attention
4. and lack of concentration.

If you see any of these signs please give us a call for an inspection because American Mold Experts is based on the belief that your safety and security comes first. American Mold Experts is focused on providing high quality inspection, mold testing, results, cures and restoration for various types of mold including toxic black mold – we will do everything we can to meet your expectations when it comes to mold removal in your home or business.

What is the best way to get rid of mold?

 Our treatment uses the MTR94 enzyme to clean and destroy mold within 24 hours. Safe, clean and natural!

Thermal imaging services available call us today for an inspection.

What should I Look for?

The following are signs that mold could be growing in your home and needs to be eradicated:

1. High humidity – areas that are prone to high levels of humidity retain moisture for longer amounts of time, fostering mold growth.
2. Pipe or water leaks – surfaces that are consistently wet provide a home for mold, and leaks can be difficult to detect.
3. Flooding – large scale water damage to a home is very conducive to mold growth.
4. Musty, moldy odors – odors are a good indication that mold is present.
5. Increased respiratory problems or allergies – a Mayo Clinic study, completed in 1999, found that most chronic sinus problems were caused by mold in the home.
6. Symptoms of toxic poisoning – signs that family members are being affected include dizziness, headaches, and difficulty concentrating and maintaining an attention span.
7. Leaky Roof – the attic will show signs of water damage.
8. Damp basement or crawlspace – moisture in dark environments encourages mold growth.
9. Rusting or condensation – can be signs of a leak.
10. Discoloration or water stains on walls – water stains will indicate locations of leaks, while
discolored spots may indicate locations of mold.
11. Peeling paint – the mold could have had a chance to grow before the wall was painted, causing the current peeling.
12. Warped wood – this is a sign that moisture is present in sufficient levels to allow mold to grow.
13. Growth of mold in bathroom tile areas – this is a very good indication that mold is growing in other areas of the house.
14. Visible mold growth – indicates a strong presence of mold elsewhere in the house.
15. Poor ventilation – if moisture from the home, including appliances, isn’t vented, it can facilitate mold growth.
16. Wet materials inside the house – any areas of carpet or flooring that are wet frequently can also house mold.

While being unsightly and sometimes difficult to clean, mold should be removed from the home. It causes damage to the home itself, but the most intense effects are upon humans. Breathing mold spores can be very dangerous, especially for the very young or those who are advanced in years or adults with compromised immune systems. If you locate any of these signs in your home, it's time to conduct testing for mold to see how extensive the problem has grown.

Why Hire American Mold Experts?

“I have had mold allergies and asthma since I was a child.  It has been well controlled for years on medication.  But recently after experiencing a leak in our bathroom plumbing we discovered mold in our bathroom and my daughter’s bedroom closet.

Night after night my 3 yr old daughter was experiencing a hacking cough that disturbed her sleep.  And I ended up in the hospital with an asthma attack when I was seven months pregnant.  I told my physician we were experiencing mold at home and he ran a mold sensitive panel (blood test) which came back showing extremely high mold counts.

American Mold Experts were called in for remediation and we only had to be out of the house several hours.  The next day I was feeling so much better and I moved my daughter back into her room.  She is sleeping soundly at night with no more night coughing and I have had no more asthma problems! 

It’s incredible the change in how much better we are feeling thanks to American Mold Experts.”
Victoria Brown, Indianapolis, IN

Tips for a Safe Home

To have an Eco-healthy home, we want to provide a few tips for you so that you can ensure a wonderful summer season in your home.

Preventing Mold Growth
•Site Survey: Make sure draining gutters and downspouts point away from the foundation, and ensure that automatic lawn sprinklers do not point toward building walls.
•Check Exterior Siding & Bricks: if there are any cracks wider than 1/16 inch, seal them with clear silicone to prevent water from entering your home during the winter. Protect your home exterior by fixing cracks during warm months.
•Laundry Rooms: Any moisture generating appliances, such as washers and dryers should be vented to the outside.
•Bathrooms: Install a fan in the bathroom to allow venting and ensure that you use a nylon shower curtain (instead of vinyl).
•HVAC: Change your filter at the start of summer season and on a regular schedule. Inspect interior duct linings for signs of moisture or mold growth. Keep drip pans clean and unobstructed.
•Kitchen: Review your under appliance drip pan to remove excess water. And clean to discourage mold growth.
•Basement: Fix any issues with standing water and use a dehumidifier if necessary. Use non-porous carpeting. And ensure that you use paperless drywall during a finished basement renovation.
•Dehumidifiers: make sure that your dehumidifier pumps to the outside or change the storage tank daily.
•Purchase several Humidity Meters. These can be inexpensive ($8 at Wal-Mart in the same department as temperature thermometers). Place throughout the house and monitor. The readings should be less than 60% to prevent mold. Even without a leak mold spores can extract moisture from the air to grow and multiply.

American Mold Experts performs Inspections with Licensed Inspectors ONLY so call us today if you suspect you may have a problem.

Mold Removal Method Comparison

American Mold Experts is YES on all of these, what about the other guy?
Treatment is Natural versus Chemical There is No Need for Ozone Air Purification Machines No Structural Tear Outs Required in most circumstances Routine Air Duct treatment included Effective on Porous Surfaces such as carpet, ceiling tiles Effective against "Hidden" Mold One Day Treatment Typical After Testing Included by Independent National Lab One Year Warranty 100% Money Back Guarantee Visit our More Information website page to review our Mold Remediation Method Comparison

American Mold Uses a Natural Enzyme to Clean Mold

Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions. If you leave a blob of protein in a Petri dish, will it just break down to the amino acids? No. But add enzymes. Enzymes are the biological substance (proteins) that act as catalysts and help complex reactions occur everywhere in life.


When you go home at night and the door is locked, can it open itself? No. You need a key that is just the right shape to fit in that lock. Otherwise, you're stuck in the cold. Enzymes work in a similar way (locks and keys). Enzymes complete very specific jobs and do nothing else. They are very specific locks and the compounds they work with are the special keys. In the same way there are door keys, car keys, and bike-lock keys, there are enzymes for neutral cells, intestinal cells, and your saliva.

There are four steps in the process of an enzyme working.

1. An enzyme and a substrate are in the same area. The substrate is the biological molecule that the enzyme will attack.
2. The enzyme grabs onto the substrate with a special area called the active site. The active site is a specially shaped area of the enzyme that fits around the substrate. The active site is the keyhole of the lock.
3. A process called catalysis happens. Catalysis is when the substrate is changed. It could be broken down or combined with another molecule to make something new.
4. The enzyme lets go. When the enzyme lets go, it returns to normal, ready to do another reaction. The substrate is no longer the same.

There are many factors that can affect enzyme activity, including temperature, activators, PH levels, and inhibitors. This is how the enzyme cleans the mold from your home.

Contact us if you have any questions about or process or to discuss the mold issues you are having. 

Understanding Mold Informational Booklet

We provide some great information in the American Mold Experts: Understanding Mold Informational Booklet but we ask that you sign-up for our e-newsletter.  Our e-news is full of great articles and information about mold, mold issues, treatment and testing.  

Visit our website today and sign up, once you click subscribe you will be taken to a website page with a link for the "Understanding Mold" booklet.