Survey reveals homeowners underestimate mold risks

A quarter of Americans are concerned that their home isn’t safe for their health (26%), according to new research.

A survey of 2,000 adults explored their knowledge and concerns about mold within their homes.

Despite being concerned about some facet of their home, most still consider their living conditions “up to code” (80%), with homeowners being more likely to express this than those who rent (86% vs. 73%).

The average respondent estimates that 37% of homes in America contain mold in some way, with 43% being under the impression that fewer homes contain mold. However, the actual number is 47%, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Yet, the survey conducted by Talker Research for Rainbow Restoration, a Neighborly company and a provider of restoration and mold remediation services, found that when it comes to their own home, 77% claim they have never had mold.

While three in four feel confident in their ability to identify what mold looks like in their home (76%), only a quarter of respondents were able to correctly identify the most common types of mold.

And while most say they’ve never seen mold in their home themselves, a quarter have confirmed spotting two of the most common types of mold: stachybotrys chartarum (25%) and alternaria (23%).

Respondents also shared some of the common signs of mold they’ve noticed around their home, like water stains (21%), peeling paint (20%) and musty odors (19%).

One in five are under the impression that they don’t think they need to inspect their home for mold every year and even more (39%) admit they don’t do so.

When asked about where they believe the most common areas in the home that develop mold are, respondents named the bathroom (63%) and basement (44%), while the living room (40%) and bedroom (30%) are thought to be the safest.

“Mold thrives in damp and poorly ventilated areas in a home. Areas highly susceptible to mold growth are bathrooms, kitchens and basements, as well as around any windows or doors,” said Josh Miller, president of Rainbow Restoration, a Neighborly (https://www.neighborly.com) company. “Mold can cause serious health problems if left untreated, so it’s important to be aware of indicators your home may be infected.

“This includes smelling a musty odor in a room with no clear cause, noticeable signs of water damage like peeling paint or damp surfaces, as well as seeing visible traces of mold around walls and corners of the home.”

Results found that respondents were keen on some of the clearer symptoms of mold exposure like coughing (44%), wheezing (39%) and sneezing (36%), but less aware of symptoms like change in weight (5%), ringing in the ears (5%), extreme numbness and tingling (7%), hair loss (8%) and abdominal or muscle pain (9%).

The survey also delved into sentiments about prioritizing mold prevention in the case of emergencies.

Of those that have an emergency preparedness plan, one in five admit that mold prevention tends to fall as a low or non-priority (21%).

When thinking of emergency preparedness planning, the top concern that comes to respondents’ mind is fire (19%) — followed by storm damage (14%) and blackout or electrical failure (11%).

Just 7% think of mold first, although nearly three times that percentage learned that they had mold in their home after experiencing a natural disaster this past year (18%).

“Mold growth is a side-effect of natural disasters, such as extreme flooding and torrential rains. It can spread rapidly if untreated and owners should take immediate action if they experience any kind of water damage,” said Miller.

“While 49% of respondents said they would immediately call in a professional for mold concerns, 40% would try to handle it themselves. DIY mold removal methods are ineffective and the only way to remediate the problem is by working with trained professionals who can safely eliminate the mold completely and prevent it from returning.”