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ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY

MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE to TEST CLEAN PREVENT

ACCEPTABLE MOLD LEVEL
ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD
ACTIVITY of MOLD in buildings
AIRBORNE MOLD SPORE COUNT ACCURACY
AIRBORNE PARTICLE ANALYSIS METHODS
ALLERGEN TESTS for buildings
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ATTIC MOLD

BASEMENT MOLD
BASEMENT MOLD WATER IMPACT

BIBLIOGAPHY for ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MOLD, IAQ
BIOGAS PRODUCTION & USE
BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS
Bisphenol-A, BPA

BLACK MOLD, HARMLESS COSMETIC
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BLEACHING MOLD, Advice about
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BOOK MOLD, Moldy Book Cleaning
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CACTUS FUNGI / MOLD
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CAT DANDER
CRAWL SPACES
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  Electrical Inspection Safety
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  CRAWLSPACE MOLD ADVICE
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MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE to TEST CLEAN PREVENT
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ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE
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RENTERS & TENANTS GUIDE TO MOLD
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More Information

Photograph: typical mold on floor joists and subflooring over a wet crawl space -  © Daniel Friedman Crawlspace Mold: How to Find, Test, & Prevent Mold in Crawl Spaces
InspectAPedia®  -      

  • How to find, test, prevent, or remove mold from building crawl spaces
  • Questions & answers about the cause, health hazards, clean-up, and prevention of mold in building crawl spaces

This article explains how to find and deal with mold in building crawl spaces. We explain how to spot crawl space mold contamination, when mold testing is appropriate, the risk of mold-contaminated crawl space insulation, the causes of crawl space mold, and how to clean or remove crawl space mold as well as how to prevent moldy crawl spaces in the first place.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.

This article is part of our series: FIND MOLD in buildings, HOW TO which describes how to find mold and test for mold in buildings, including how and where to collect mold samples using adhesive tape - an easy, inexpensive, low-tech but very effective mold testing method. (See MOLD TEST KITS for DIY MOLD TESTS for details).

Readers dealing with a moldy crawl space should be sure to read CRAWL SPACE DRYOUT PROCEDURES.

© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

CRAWLSPACE MOLD: finding the problem mold, allergens, or other particles in crawl spaces

This crawl space inspection procedure for mold helps identify the presence of or locate the probable sources of mold reservoirs in buildings, and helps decide which of these need more invasive, exhaustive inspection and testing. If your crawl area or basement has a dirt surface, see MOLD ON DIRT FLOORS. Readers should also see ATTIC MOLD, see BASEMENT MOLD, and BASEMENT MOLD WATER IMPACT.

The photograph at page top shows extensive fungal growth on the underside of subflooring and on wood framing supporting a wood floor over a very damp crawl space. Depending on the mold genera/species, if an airborne fungus is present at high levels in a crawl space, spores of that mold may move easily to upper levels in the building.

Photograph moldy fiberglass insulation which has fallen onto the concrete surface of a wet crawl space -  © Daniel Friedman
We very often find that insulation in crawl spaces has become a problem mold reservoir. Some of these molds move easily from the crawl area up into the living space.

For example, Penicillium sp. or Aspergillus sp. spores, which can be as small as about one micron in diameter, are so tiny and light that they can move much like a gas in a building.

These tiny spores rise in upwards-moving air currents as warm air, rising to upper building levels, creates a slightly lower air pressure in lower building areas such as basements and crawl spaces.

Depending on the tightness of construction, and the presence or absence of hot air or central air conditioning systems which themselves may increase indoor air particle movement, the rate of movement of particles from a moldy crawl space can vary widely.

In some instances we have found rather high levels of airborne mold spores and mold spores in settled dust that tracked directly to the moldy crawl space.

In other instances we found that there was not much air and particle movement upwards from a crawl space or basement, until specific triggering conditions occurred.

These included opening of a basement door, or in the case of crawl spaces, opening upper floor windows or turning on a whole house exhaust fan. These conditions led to a significant increase in movement of crawl space (or basement) mold from lower building areas into the living space.

First aid for moldy crawl spaces - what to do about mold in a crawl space

  • Do not enter or work in a moldy area without wearing proper respiratory and other personal protection. See CRAWL SPACE SAFETY ADVICE
  • Evaluate the history of water entry, dampness, ventilation, listing the factors conducive to fungal growth such as:
    • Present or past wet conditions, whether "once", episodic, or recurrent water entry
    • Marginal or no ventilation. Actually I prefer to stop trying to vent crawl spaces since when we want venting it's usually inadequate, and depending on weather conditions venting a crawl space can actually increase its moisture level and make matters worse. A preferred approach is to dry out, enclose, and seal a crawl space under a building, making it into conditioned space.
    • Exposed dirt. If the crawl space has a dirt floor, put down 6-mil plastic over the dirt to reduce moisture movement from the soil into the crawl space. Also see MOLD ON DIRT FLOORS
    • Presence of fiberglass or other fibrous insulation
    • Fix outside conditions that are causing wet crawl space conditions such as roof gutter or downspout spillage by the building foundation.
    • Fix inside conditions that wet crawl spaces, such as plumbing leaks or improper ventilation.
  • Look for visible mold:
    • Inspect the exposed sides of all framing, joists, girders, posts
    • Inspect the exposed under-side of subflooring of the floor overhead. See our warning about mold growth on pine boards discussed at Attic inspections above.
    • Special screening tests may assist in evaluating the condition in inaccessible crawl spaces.
    • See HOW TO LOOK FOR MOLD and HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND
  • Prevent mold movement into the living area: As with a moldy basement, keep openings between the crawl space and living space closed as much as possible.
  • Remove wet or mold-suspect insulation.
  • Test representative samples of mold before going to a major expense to be sure you're not just looking at cosmetic mold on framing lumber, or at something else that is not even mold.

    If a large area of visibly moldy material is present (more than 30 sq .ft.) professional cleaning and remediation are probably in order. In that case, a building inspection and preparation of a mold remediation plan is a good idea - that work should be performed by someone who has no conflicts of interest - in other words, not by the mold cleanup company or their agent.

    Follow any costly mold remediation job with a clearance inspection and test before you make final payment.
  • Review MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE Correct the Causes of Mold and Prevent Indoor Mold or other indoor environment problems

Risks of Mold Contamination in fiberglass insulation in a crawl space

Photograph moldy fiberglass insulation which has fallen onto the dirt surface of a crawl space -  © Daniel Friedman

These photos show crawl space fiberglass which had fallen onto the dirt crawl space floor.

We can pretty much count on this material to be mold contaminated unless the building was in an arid climate.

You can expect to find rodent contamination as well in insulation in this condition.

Photograph moldy and rodent infested fiberglass insulation can be expected where fiberglass isused in an open crawl space -  © Daniel Friedman
This photo shows crawl space fiberglass which the installer supported by chicken wire. The crawl space was pretty drafty which we might hope would keep it dry and less moldy.

However we might expect to find a nice mouse colony here, and depending on weather variations and crawl space flooding, this insulation too is at risk of becoming a mold reservoir.

We'd have preferred to use a solid foam insulation in conditions like this.

Key building water entry diagnosis and cure articles:

  • BASEMENT WATERPROOFING - use of sealers to help keep basements and crawlspaces dry
  • BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR - where and how water gets into basements and crawl spaces
  • CRAWL SPACE DRYOUT PROCEDURES - details about curing wet or damp crawl spaces.
  • EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits - these white deposits are a great indicator of where moisture is penetrating a foundation
  • HUMIDITY CONTROL & TARGETS INDOORS - so how dry should a building be for comfort and mold prevention?
  • MOISTURE CONTROL in buildings - master list of detecting and controlling building moisture levels
  • MOISTURE PROBLEMS: CAUSE & CURE - moisture and building energy loss
  • SUMP PUMPS GUIDE - how and where to install a sump pump as an emergency backup against basement or crawl space flooding
  • WATER ENTRY in buildings - causes and cures of un-wanted building leaks in all areas
  • WET BASEMENT PREVENTION - how to stop basement flooding

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Questions & answers about the cause, health hazards, clean-up, and prevention of mold in building crawl spaces

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Technical Reviewers & References

  • InspectAPedia.com® - Daniel Friedman - Publisher & Editor.
  • InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also include a list of recommended books for the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
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  • Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

ATTIC MOLD

BASEMENT MOLD
BASEMENT MOLD WATER IMPACT

CRAWL SPACES
  CRAWL SPACE DRYOUT PROCEDURES
  CRAWL SPACE SAFETY ADVICE
  CRAWL SPACE VAPOR BARRIER
  CRAWLSPACE MOLD ADVICE
  MOLD CLEANUP by MEDIA BLASTING
  MOLD ON DIRT FLOORS
  SUMP PUMPS

Insulation Mold how where and why to test building insulation for mold contamination
Fiberglass in Indoor Air, HVAC ducts, and Building Insulation
The Mold Information Center - What to Do About Mold in buildings

  • Recognizing Mold: What mold looks like mold identification photos to help identify mold - choosing what to sample in buildings
  • Recognizing Allergens: What various indoor allergens look like - identification photos to help identify pollen, dust mites, animal dander, toxic or allergenic mold - Common Mold and other Allergens, Irritants, Remedies & Advice
  • Stuff that is not mold but is often mistaken for it - things you may not want to test. Also, not all "black mold" is toxic - here are examples of harmless black mold.
  • Mold Action Guide: an easy step by step outline of what to do about mold
  • How to find mold without hiring anyone, for do-it-yourself'ers
  • Associations: Sick House, Sick Building, SBS - Air Quality, Government, Private Associations and Information Resources
  • Mold Test Kits - How to Collect and Send Your Own Mold Sample to our mold testing lab
  • How to find a mold inspector or test consultant: Directory of IAQ,Sick Building, Mold Allergen Testing, Building Investigation Service Providers
  • Meruliporia: the house eating fungus or "poria"
  • Mold Investigation Tips for Home Inspectors how to find mold, where to look, what is likely to be important. Advice to building inspectors intending to inspect or test for toxic or problematic mold indoors, mold inspection methods, and mold test methods which are valid or invalid
  • Mold Risk Levels in buildings Based on Visual Inspection - simple visual clues help decide on action
  • Mold in Fiberglass Insulation© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation - DJF
  • MOLD FAQ's -- check this FAQ list & IAQ Site Map to see if you can find a quick answer to your mold concern
  • When to hire a professional to inspect for toxic mold or other allergens
  • ...

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
  • Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
  • Adkins and Adkins Dictionary of Roman Religion discusses Robigus, the Roman god of crop protection and the legendary progenitor of wheat rust fungus.
  • Kansas State University, department of plant pathology, extension plant pathology web page on wheat rust fungus: see http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/path-ext/factSheets/Wheat/Wheat%20Leaf%20Rust.asp
  • "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
  • US EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [Copy on file at /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
  • US EPA - Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [Copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - en Espanol

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