The Presence of Mold in Orange County Homes
With over 100,000 species of mold identified so far, this fungus can be found in most areas around the world. Every unique species reproduces by creating microscopic spores that are released into the air and ride that current to wherever it leads, oftentimes right through the doors of Orange County homes.¹’²
A spore only requires two main components to begin growing: food and moisture.³’⁴ Given these elements, all it takes is 24-48 hours for a spore to transition into a thriving colony within Orange County homes.
Their ability to maneuver into nearly any space and the ease with which they can begin growing makes any mold issue in Orange County homes a unique problem that requires in-depth and thorough analysis. The species itself could be toxic, there could be hidden mold problems elsewhere in the home, and other contaminants such as mycotoxins may be present as well.⁵ Every situation is different and for hypersensitive individuals, figuring out what’s actually going on in the home is crucial.
Determining the state of the space and what steps are needed to remediate the home properly requires a qualified mold inspector in California.
The Importance of the Right Mold Inspector in Los Angeles Homes
Whether in Los Angeles homes or other homes across the state, indoor mold growth can trigger a long list of adverse health reactions, particularly for those who are hypersensitive.⁶’⁷’⁸’⁹ This indoor contaminant can also work in tandem with other autoimmune conditions such as Lyme disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome.
The popular misconception that since mold exists everywhere, it can’t cause harm is simply untrue. While every owner of Los Angeles homes encounters a few mold particles throughout the average day, this pales in comparison to the number of particles encountered in a Los Angeles home with mold growth. As the mold continues to grow unchecked in the home, it continues to release spores (and potentially mycotoxins) both into the indoor air and onto surfaces throughout the space. That leads to a high level of foreign particles within the body which can cause the immune system to get overwhelmed and malfunction, triggering that list of symptoms, particularly for hypersensitive individuals.
In order for the body to heal from this exposure, the contamination in any Los Angeles home must be eliminated properly and the source resolved that led to the issue in the first place. To achieve this, a qualified mold inspector in California must come into the home to determine the state of the indoor environment by completing a comprehensive and thorough examination of the space. Unfortunately, not all mold inspectors are aware of the proper procedures necessary to ensure that indoor space once again becomes a healthy, habitable environment for the hypersensitive individuals living inside.
What to Expect From a Mold Inspector in San Diego
Determining the extent of contamination within homes in San Diego or elsewhere requires a detailed process. The individual must determine if any hidden issues are present, what source led to the mold growth, and exactly what contaminants exist within the home.
When looking for a mold inspector, whether in San Diego or other cities in California, make sure to ask a series of questions to assess whether or not they’re right for the job. First and foremost, your health and consideration of your hypersensitivity should be their utmost priority. From there, ask how long their process takes. Expect a minimum of two hours; anything less, and they are likely not performing a thorough and comprehensive inspection.
Asking detailed questions, such as what experience they have in assisting hypersensitive individuals, what their inspection process includes, and if they’ll test for contaminants such as mycotoxins, is also crucial. Any mold inspector in California and the San Diego area should understand the need for the scope of work needed so that the remediation team can come in and use the data and protocol suggestions to create a safe and healthy environment for you and your family.
Which Mold Inspector to Hire for Indoor Mold Growth
When looking for a mold inspector in California, those of us at The Mold Guy are here for you. Our thorough inspection process occurs in a specific set of phases to ensure we create an accurate snapshot of the state of your home. We’ll delve into the building history, spend hours investigating both inside and outside of the home, conduct an extensive series of tests, and walk you through the resulting data and steps we suggest for remediating the home.
At the end of the day, being the best mold inspector in California is an enormous part of our goal, but our ultimate mission is to help ensure every home in California is a safe environment for those living inside. Everyone deserves to live in a home that promotes their health.
- Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Mold. EPA. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/mold.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Basic facts about mold and dampness. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm.
- Lstiburek, J., Brennan, T., & Yost, N. (2002, January 15). Rr-0208: What you need to know about mold. Building Science Corporation. Retrieved from, https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0208-what-you-need-to-know-about-mold/view.
- Tsongas, G. A., & Riordan, F. (2016). Minimum conditions for visible mold growth. ASHRAE Journal, 58(9), 32.
- World Health Organization. (n.d.). Mycotoxins. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mycotoxins.
- Curtis, L., Lieberman, A., Stark, M., Rea, W., & Vetter, M. (2004). Adverse health effects of indoor molds. Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, 14(3), 261-274.
- Bush, R. K., Portnoy, J. M., Saxon, A., Terr, A. I., & Wood, R. A. (2006). The medical effects of mold exposure. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 117(2), 326-333
- Fisk, W. J., Lei-Gomez, Q., & Mendell, M. J. (2007). Meta-analyses of the associations of respiratory health effects with dampness and mold in homes. Indoor air, 17(4), 284-296.
- Wild, C. P., & Gong, Y. Y. (2010). Mycotoxins and human disease: a largely ignored global health issue. Carcinogenesis, 31(1), 71-82.