Get to Know: The Mold Scout
Mold is solvable. But only if you know where to look. We sat down with Adam McDermott of The Mold Scout in Los Angeles to talk through what detection actually looks like, how to find what's hidden—and why his dog, Kirby, is often the key to answers that visual inspection and equipment alone can’t provide.
Let’s start simple: Introduce yourself!
I’m Adam, and I got into this line of work after mold affected my own home and my family’s health. Since then, I’ve learned a ton and became a certified microbial inspector with additional, formal training in building science and mold remediation protocol. As one of the few certified canine mold detection services in the country, I’m proud to offer this rare and highly effective method to clients who want to pinpoint the source of mold in their home.
What does a mold dog actually do?
In the simplest terms a mold dog is trained to smell for mold and follow that odor to its source.
How accurate are certified mold dogs? And what does certification really mean?
In live inspections there is no way to establish accuracy. Simply, you don’t know what you don’t know, and you only truly know when you start ripping open walls. In training where we can verify accuracy, Kirby is 90%-100% accurate.
Unfortunately, there is no established industry standard for certification of mold dog/ handler teams. My first dog that came out of the well-known Florida K9 Academy, but didn’t have any 3rd party certification. It was simply the trainer declaring the dog was ready to work. More importantly, the Florida K9 Academy didn’t evaluate and certify the handler. The handler is half the team, and a successful team relies on the trainer being able to read the dog’s subtle cues.
Kirby, my second dog, was trained in Southern California and our certification was performed to the standard of the NACSW (National Association of Canine Scent Work). To eliminate bias, NASCW certification requires a double-blind test administered by an independent assessor. The test is conducted in an environment that is new to both dog and handler, and the team must locate at least 80% of the hides to pass. We rectify on annual basis.
What made you trust a dog more than a drill?
A dog is the most accurate, economical and least invasive method to survey a large area. The drill, by its nature damages the property… to effectively lab test an entire home for hidden mold would be financially crazy, essentially drilling a hole in each stud bay, every 16 inches. Also, traditional methods often rely on locating a water source, however in California we have long dry periods between rains, and the water and mold inside a wall can dry out. Kirby can detect both wet and dry mold, so he can locate problems when a moisture meter or thermal camera can’t.
Walk us through an inspection day. What happens from driveway to diagnosis
I start with a visual inspection of the exterior and interior looking for potential vulnerabilities and water issues. The visual inspection is about getting eyes on every square inch of the property, landscape grading, checking all exterior walls and plumbing lines with a moisture meter and thermal imaging camera. After my inspection, Kirby searches for hidden mold. He presents some cues when he is detecting odor, changes in his breathing cadence and body language. When he locates the strongest concentration of odor or source he will freeze and press his nose to the location, in what’s called a trained final response. Where he finds mold it’s then a conversation with the client if they want to do further testing to identify the species ( toxigenic or common household mold) and the severity.
What are the most common places mold hides that homeowners never suspect?
People often look above to the roof for water entry but sometimes it comes from below. I often see problems with slab foundations where the water barrier is failing or nonexistent, and landscaping is graded toward the house. Moisture can come up through the foundation and settle in walls or under flooring where mold will grow.
What does mold actually need to grow?
Water or humidity , Food (cellulose – wood, paper, dust), Temperature (mold likes temperatures between 60-80 degrees, just like us!) .
You’re NORMI-certified. Why should a potential client care about this?
NORMI is a national standard for remediators and mold inspectors. In states that require certification, NORMI is a recognized body. Also NORMI is a resource for me to continually learn and expand my knowledge base.
How do you distinguish between “harmless” mold exposure and something that requires immediate action?
Lab testing is required to truly identify a mold species. However, about 24% of the population are genetically sensitive to mold of any species, and can experience adverse symptoms in environments that have elevated levels of mold, harmless or not.
The real issue is you don’t want mold growing in your home, continual exposure to elevated levels of mold is taxing on your immune system. Prolonged exposure can develop allergies. Also mold actively growing in your home means you have a moisture problem, which health concerns or not, will damage your property.
What’s the biggest myth about mold?
I think most people think they can eradicate mold with bleach, or biocide, or cover it in paint. Very often this just makes the problem worse. One, you’re adding additional toxins into your living environment, mold will continue to grow under paint and sometimes make it worse because now that substrate can’t breathe, and finally by stressing mold you can stimulate the production of mycotoxins.
You’ve lived through mold in your own home. How does that impact how you work with clients?
In homes with moisture problems, mold can be very persistent and difficult to root out. It taught me to be extremely thorough in my inspections. I understand the stress of questioning whether your home may be making you sick, along with the financial uncertainty that often follows. With the right information and a clear plan, mold is a solvable problem. I’m here to help you understand what’s happening in your home and move forward with confidence.
What signs should people not ignore — even if they feel subtle?
My role is to diagnose the home, when it comes to diagnosing the body and related symptoms I defer to practitioners like [Boketto Founder and Acupuncturist] Jelena. If clients are feeling unwell, and suspect that it’s mold, a QPCR test (or ERMI) is a good starting point. This will tell you if the environment as whole is at an acceptable or unhealthy level of moldiness.
When you find mold, what’s the first thing you tell a worried homeowner?
There are many degrees of mold problems, from simple cleaning to ripping out kitchens. I try and help the homeowner understand the extent of their problem and what next steps to take.
Does Kirby ever surprise you?
Yes, often. The dog will alert me to a place I haven’t considered.
What’s the most dramatic find you’ve encountered?
The one that shocked me the most, was inside a kid’s bedroom. Kirby alerted along a wall behind the bed, it came up dry on a moisture meter and it looked perfectly fine, but when the client opened the wall it was full of black mold.
The #1 thing someone should ask before hiring a mold inspector?
If they are using a mold dog, my first question is how are you certified and did your dog eat breakfast? Some trainers will withhold food to motivate their dogs, I have an ethical problem with motivating dogs through deprivation.
Finish this: “Mold is solvable when…
…you are patient, thorough and build a sound plan with a good team. I’ve seen a lot of people rush in to fix it and often make the problem worse or expose themselves to unhealthy levels of spores.
If this Q&A resonated, and you’ve wondered what undetected mold might be hiding in your home, we share more on The Journal. And if you’re in Southern California, we recommend The Mold Scout.