A minor mold problem was detected and PowerBees contacted in early July in the town of Foxboro, MA.  The homeowners and their small children are currently living in the colonial style home build approximately 85 years ago.  The clients have occupied the property since 1997.  One of the residents became concerned after noticing an odor on the first level kitchen.  The odor was intermittent during the summer but reportedly worsened in the last few weeks.  There was no reported history of significant flooding.  They recently converted from oil to gas heat and had both the chimney and old furnace removed.  The partially finished basement consists of old plywood paneling and new sheetrock in a recently partitioned office.   They expressed concern about possible microbial growth in the basement and requested that mold testing be conducted.  The results from the samples showed high levels of airborne Penicillium/Aspergillus spores in the basement.

After a mold problem was discovered, the residents of a property in Medfield, MA, a PowerBees inspector was deployed to perform mold testing.  The owner reported a musty odor in a rear hallway and reported allergy symptoms commonly associated with exposure to mold spores, e.g., congestion and sinus issues.  Concern was expressed about the possibly colonization of mold in the back hallway and a bedroom closet located in the basement.  This five story town house experienced water intrusion into the first and second levels during the March rains.  The water came in mostly through the window casings and framing, mostly in the 2^nd level living room a second level bathroom. Water also came in through the window casings in the kitchen, where defective flashing is likely responsible. Additionally, there was a report of water intrusion into a basement bedroom closet.  Eight non-viable air samples were taken at the property.  The first air sample was taken in a rear entrance hall. There were high Penicillium / Aspergillus counts in this area. A second air sample was taken in a closet, where the Penicillium / Aspergillus levels were slightly elevated. The third air sample was taken in the Front hallway near the stairway – and the spore counts were normal. A fourth air sample was taken in the kitchen where the Cladosporium counts were high.  A fifth air sample was taken in the office, where the Cladosporium count was slightly elevated. A sixth air sample was taken in the living room, and the counts came back as normal. A seventh air sample was taken in the master bedroom. Again, the Cladosporium counts were slightly elevated.  An eighth air sample was taken outside. There was a preponderance of Penicillium / Aspergillus in the lower part of the house (rear entrance hall and basement area) while there was higher levels of Cladosporium in kitchen, bedroom and office.  Both spore groups are commonly associated with indoor water damage, and the elevated counts in the office may be a result of the higher counts in the kitchen, which is in close proximity.

A mold inspection took place in Southborough, Mass recently.  Upon inspection of the attic, visible mold was not identified on the plywood sheathing, rafters or floor joists.  However, the bathroom exhaust fan from the level below was not properly attached to its duct venting outside.  That might be easily reattached to the roof vent. Water Damage was not found by the PowerBees inspector.  Visible mold was not identified on the first level, although there was evidence of water staining in the daughter’s bedroom on the ceiling close to an exterior wall.   The source of the water staining was unknown and could not be identified, although ice dams and or deteriorated shingles are suspected as the cause.  There are no current leaks.  There was no visible mold in the basement, although water staining and evidence of leaking from an upstairs laundry area was observed in the lower level bathroom.   The basement bathroom fan was vented only into the drop ceiling.  This bathroom is used frequently and should be repaired soon, otherwise there will be microbial growth.  Upon inspection of the ceiling tiles in the drop ceiling, no evidence of microbial growth was noted.

PowerBees was recently contacted to perform mold testing in a home in Brookline.  The client and her children have been sick recently with headaches and nausea.  There had apparently been carbon monoxide in the house.  The children’s physician suggested that mold spores may be playing a factor in their degraded health as well.  The homeowner reported a history of plumbing leaks at the property and possible leaks around the chimney, which were noticed during recent repairs to the chimney. One of the plumbing leaks had been from an upstairs laundry room into a lower level bathroom. The homeowner also stated that she uses air purification systems to filter out contaminants.  Two non-viable air samples were taken at the property.  One air sample was taken in the basement family room, a second air sample was taken from the 1^st level hallway.  The results from the samples showed normal levels of airborne spores in the lower level family room and 1^st level hallway.

After a home inspector found mold in an attic in Sudbury, MA, a visual mold inspection was recommended to facilitate the sale of the property.  PowerBees was contacted and a certified mold inspector was dispatched to the property.  Upon inspection, a musty odor was not discernable in the master bedroom or in the attic.  The master bedroom is cathedralized and part of the ceiling extended up through part of the attic. Water staining was visible on the ceiling in the master bedroom around the skylight and on the plywood sheathing on an end-wall in the attic.  Discoloration was visible on the upper part the exterior wall (gable side).  The sheetrock covering the underlying studs behind the upper part of the bedroom wall is discolored along the stud lines.  The gable vent itself is partially covered by the bedroom wall.  Moisture levels, measured with a Delmhorst moisture meter, were normal in all surfaces probed throughout the bedroom and attic.   Visible black mold was identified on approximately 50% of the plywood sheathing and 10% of the rafters in the attic.  The mold is most likely the result of insufficient ventilation—some of the soffit vents appear to be covered by insulation and there may be too few of them.  Visible mold was not identified in the bedroom on any surfaces inspected.  The discoloration in the bedroom appeared to be related to fluctuating temperatures and perhaps poor insulation in the exterior wall and possibly a failing vapor barrier.