Identifying Black Mold?
ExoticPetGal asked:
Hi there – in October 2007 my husband and I moved into this cozy basement suite. Two weeks after moving in, the sewage pump backed up (a tree root was blocking it) and gross water leaked into our suite and took almost 8 hours to clean out. A couple months later it happened an additional 2 more times within a week of each other (total of 3 leaks).
Hi there – in October 2007 my husband and I moved into this cozy basement suite. Two weeks after moving in, the sewage pump backed up (a tree root was blocking it) and gross water leaked into our suite and took almost 8 hours to clean out. A couple months later it happened an additional 2 more times within a week of each other (total of 3 leaks).
Since October I’ve noticed in some spots on our linoleum floor where the water reached there are black-shadow-like spots dotting areas of the floor. Could this be black mold? Is there a way I can identify this?
Any help anybody can provide me is greatly appreciated.
Black Mold
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They sell mold test kits at Lowes. Try that. It sounds like it could be mold! Yikes!
Black Mold
What a awful situation with the leaks! That much water and backup is bound to start the production of mold, as the first poster said, they sell mold kits at many home improvement stores. Typically you can just tell its mold by a few things. 1. There are black stains that were never there before 2.The room or area affected has a damp, musty odor. If its on the floor (linoleum) its probably not just surface, likely underneath the backing and in that case would need to be ripped up (it’ll just stay there and spread) …and the surface cleaned thoroughly with bleach solution.
Hire a plumber or have the sewege/water dept. come out to your residence, if its leaked 3 times, there might be bigger problems ahead.
If you can afford to, install a floor that won’t mold or that isn’t likely to be damaged by water, like a thick tumbled tile.
Hope this helps.