Mold Testing in Mountlake Terrace, WA

Local conditions

Mountlake Terrace began in 1949 as a planned postwar community and grew as a bedroom community for Seattle commuters. Many houses have been remodeled several times, which can bury old water damage behind newer finishes. Lake Ballinger, about 100 acres in the southwest part of the city, is fed by Hall Creek and drains to McAleer Creek toward Lake Washington, and other parts of the city drain through the Lyon Creek and Swamp Creek watersheds. For most homes, though, the driver is the long wet season: condensation on single-pane or aging windows, crawl spaces that stay damp for months and bathrooms that never dry out.

Do-it-yourself kit or professional sample?

A dish that grows mold proves little, because spores are in every home. Professional sampling costs more but tells you where to look.

Signs that point to hidden moisture

• A smell that's strongest when the furnace starts.
• Rust or water marks around the water heater or furnace base.
• Paint bubbling on a ceiling below a bathroom.
• Dampness or a white crust on basement or crawl space walls.

Seasonal timing

A test taken in midwinter, with the house closed up and heat running, reflects the conditions that matter most. If you suspect the furnace or ducts, ask about an HVAC sample, and per EPA, avoid running a system you think is contaminated. If cleanup leads to new drywall, Mountlake Terrace Community Development's permit staff handle building permits. Code Compliance covers building and property code issues, and the Snohomish County Health Department does not test for mold.

Making the results useful

Before samples are taken, ask the inspector to explain what each one is meant to answer and how the results will be compared, since EPA has set no federal limits for spores. A report you can act on lists sample locations, includes the outdoor control, records moisture readings room by room and ends with a recommendation. If the numbers look like outdoor air and the moisture readings are normal, the smell may come from something simpler, such as a dry drain trap or an old carpet pad.