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How much mold is too much?

April 17, 2003

Mold is a normal part of nature. There will always be mold spores in the air.

When I had mold growth on my bathroom ceiling, I wanted to do a mold test to determine what types of mold were in my home. I also wanted to know if the mold levels in my home were dangerously high.

You can see the results of my mold test here.

I was told by a representative from a local mold renovation service that the mold counts indicated on the petri dishes from my mold test were not alarmingly high.

He explained to me that the problem is when the mold count in your home begins to be higher than the outdoor mold level. A professional will test the outdoor mold level and compare it to the indoor mold level.

Petri dishes can give us a general idea of the type and amount of mold that is in our homes. The mold specialist I spoke with told me that two or three colonies is not unusual. A high colony count would indicate a high mold level.

Experts warn that a low mold count on a "do-it-yourself" mold test kit should not be considered proof that there is not a mold problem in the home. Several factors are involved, that could give false low results.

However, if you want a general idea of what type of mold is growing in your home and how much, as I did, the mold test kit is a good way to find out. The mold test kit I chose is economical and easy to use. See it here.

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