How Does a Mold Alarm Work?

Spore Content

• Mold travels and propagates through spores that are carried through the air. These spores, many of which are too small to see, are released in the thousands by mold and can seriously damage the quality of the air if not kept in check. A mold alarm detects mold by constantly monitoring the air as it flows past the detector. Tiny amounts of spore content in the air are not unusual; and because of this, a mold detector only activates when the safe level of mold in the air has been exceeded and the danger of respiratory problems increases.
  
  

Indicator

• Mold alarm indicators vary greatly according to their purpose and manufacturer. Because mold, in most cases, is not as life-threatening as a fire or carbon monoxide leak, most mold alarms do not indicate contamination with a loud siren but instead use beeping or chimes akin to an alarm clock. Tabletop mold detectors often light up to indicate when the amount of mold spores in the room surpasses safe levels. Several mold detectors also include meters that display the time of day, temperature and ambient air spore content.
  
  

Placement

• Placing a mold detector near areas where mold may enter the home is essential for detecting mold before spores can infect the entire home. Place mold detectors in areas where moisture is prevalent, such as the bathroom, basement, laundry room, mud room and kitchen. These are areas that feature not only moisture, but also cotton, food, paper and human waste, which are all food for an established mold colony.
  
  

Limitations

• While mold detectors are helpful in determine the severity of a mold spore problem in the ambient air of a home, they do not counteract mold, and they cannot detect mold from all sources. Enclosed areas, such as the pantry and refrigerator, can harbor mold that will not be detected until exposed to the mold alarm's detection system, usually when the door is opened. Keep mold under control by ensuring that food is fresh, areas are cleaned regularly and stagnant moisture is dried quickly.