Tucson is full of unhealthy mold houses

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - Without knowing it, a lot of people live in unhealthy houses in southern Arizona due to mold.

Experts say the desert produces just as much mold – if not more – than wet climates.

13 News talked with Steamy Concepts, a mold removal company. The owner, Matt Horn, says many homes in Tucson aren’t built for freezing temperatures and excess rain.

So, when pipes burst or water seeps inside the house they’re often not serviced or dried properly. That’s when mold starts to grow and multiply.

“Less than a square foot could actually contain tens of thousands of mold spores. So if somebody has allergies or if they’re immunocompromised it could affect them seriously,” said Horn while giving 13 News a tour of his warehouse.

“So all the ones on the bottom are dehumidifiers. That’s what we use in a typical water damage scenario. Mold in particular we use air scrubbers, we keep those in another room,” said Horn.

“Everybody has heard of black mold. But really that’s referencing mold like stachybotrys and cladosporium and those have mycotoxins in them. Those are the ones people are concerned about in their homes. We would see those usually under cabinets, near water heaters, or anywhere you’ve had water damage,” said Horn.

But he says not every home requires professional treatment – unless it’s a recurring issue deeper in the wall.

“We go to jobs all the time and we’ll tell them that’s just mildew, clean your shower. Because it will grow after a long period of time.”

If you’re renting a home or apartment and suspect mold after you’ve cleaned and dried the area – take pictures and video.

Then notify your landlord in writing that for health and safety reasons you want them to fix it.

Under the Arizona landlord tenant law they are required to maintain the rental.

For more on renter’s rights and tenant help programs, check out the links below.