Where Does Indoor Mold Contamination Come From?

A frequent question posited by clients is where their mold issue stemmed from. Often, if there is a mold issue relating to an elevated humidity issue in a property, such as is often found in properties by the sea, there is a bafflement as to how the mold started. The following points outline where the mold has come from: 
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• Mold spores are naturally present in our environment, most notably outside. The most commonly found mold outside is the Cladosporium genus. What often happens is the mold spores latch onto shoes, clothing, animals fur etc., which is how they make their way indoors. Furthermore, they can enter the property through intake and exhaust vents. 
• What then occurs, in the case of a property with elevated humidity (i.e. humidity greater than 60% is conducive to mold growth), the mold spores find themselves in an area with a natural moisture source. One will notice that after they shower, the moisture percentage on the drywall is much higher than in its natural state. What then occurs, in a room with naturally elevated high humidity, the spores will find a sufficient moisture source on the humid drywalls, as well as a sufficient food source (drywall/cellulose). 
• To combat this issue, such as with an elevated humidity level in a room, it is recommended having a commercial grade dehumidifier installed in the room/property. 

When a mold professional is performing an air quality test in your property, ensure they are documenting all of the current conditions i.e. AC on/off, open windows, heavy foot-traffic, mold recently disturbed in a any way. All of these conditions can potentially affect the air quality test results.