Testing a home for mildew/mold

[stateofmind]

My wife is annoyingly sensitive to sound and smells. And she is beside herself that there is a smell to our home. That is not noticeable to anybody but her for the most part.

There are a couple of factors I think. The air conditioning coil gives off an odor when the A/C turns on. But we can't find anybody willing to clean it. If I can't get to the bottom of this I will be forced to replace the unit. The house is only 10 years old.

We also took in a little bit of flood water in the biblical flood of June 30th. We replaced any carpet pad that was wet, had the carpet disinfected and cleaned. I drilled 1 inch holes behind the baseboard between each stud cavity. It had a fan on it for a week, also sprayed with disinfectant, then filled with spray-in foam insulation and sealed back up.

But if our home gets over 40% humidity it starts to smell.

Has anybody else have this issue and have you done something to remediate? Who did you use? Any other ideas?

 

[Cyclonepride]

I know the guy that owns Iowa Mold Removal really well. Good guy, will do a good job.

 

[CtownCyclone]

40% humidity is on the low side. I don't know if your AC coil will get the air that dry - typically they remove humidity down to around 50-53 degree mark.

I'm not sure why you can't find anybody to clean your coil - my twice-yearly HVAC tune up includes coil cleaning.

Concrete can soak up water, so maybe that's a bit of what's going on? New carpet/pad absorbing moisture from the slab?

 

[Cyclonepride]

Honestly, I'd replace any carpet that has been flooded, as water can break down the bond to the backing.

 

[discydisc]

Do you have a moisture barrier between the pad and concrete?

 

[stateofmind]

I know the guy that owns Iowa Mold Removal really well. Good guy, will do a good job.

Do they have a test that they can run to identify if there truly is something somewhere in the home?

40% humidity is on the low side. I don't know if your AC coil will get the air that dry - typically they remove humidity down to around 50-53 degree mark.

I'm not sure why you can't find anybody to clean your coil - my twice-yearly HVAC tune up includes coil cleaning.

Concrete can soak up water, so maybe that's a bit of what's going on? New carpet/pad absorbing moisture from the slab?

Anything is possible. We had ServPro certify everything was dry before we reinstalled.

Honestly, I'd replace any carpet that has been flooded, as water can break down the bond to the backing.

The carpet barely got wet, it wasn't under water. My wife and I had two shop vacs sucking the water as it came in through seeping. Less than an hour.

Do you have a moisture barrier between the pad and concrete?

No.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Do they have a test that they can run to identify if there truly is something somewhere in the home?


Anything is possible. We had ServPro certify everything was dry before we reinstalled.


The carpet barely got wet, it wasn't under water. My wife and I had two shop vacs sucking the water as it came in through seeping. Less than an hour.


No.

Yes, I think they can fully test the air, surfaces, etc. Vince is a really good guy and knows his stuff.

 

[CloneSt8]

Air samples can be taken to identify types and quantities of mold. See if you can find an independent company that is not selling the remediation services

 

[stateofmind]

Air samples can be taken to identify types and quantities of mold. See if you can find an independent company that is not selling the remediation services

I've reached out to Weimann Home Inspection as they are friends of mine. They do testing, not remediation. I'm going to reach out to Iowa Mold Removal now.

 

[stateofmind]

Yes, I think they can fully test the air, surfaces, etc. Vince is a really good guy and knows his stuff.

He doesn't, but referenced me to Midwest Indoor Air Quality. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Cyclonepride]

He doesn't, but referenced me to Midwest Indoor Air Quality. Thanks for the tips!

Hmm, I thought they did. Maybe they can test for moisture, but not mold?

 

[Gunnerclone]

Set up a 3 or 4 plant marijuana grow and that will take care if the entire house.

 

[NickTheGreat]

Are you saying you had a flooded basement and didn't replace the carpet and drywall? Maybe I'm misreading what you meant by 1" holes behind baseboard?

 

[CYdTracked]

Hank Hill is not too thrilled about mold inspections:

 

[CyCrazy]

Are you saying you had a flooded basement and didn't replace the carpet and drywall? Maybe I'm misreading what you meant by 1" holes behind baseboard?

Carpet was replaced, but not drywall is what I gathered. I had this happen last summer and had to cut the bottom four inches out and replace. If there is drywall that is the first thing I would look at.