The Closet That Gave Her Migranes

Client Case Study

A mother's decade-long puzzle of headaches, a falling apart shoe shelf, young kids, and an asymtomatic husband. Finally has an answer hiding in the master closet walls.

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Her Story

She reached out to us with a concern that's deceptively easy to dismiss: a funny smell in her master closet. But as she described her situation, a much fuller picture emerged. There had been a few roof leaks over the years, manageable at the time, patched and forgotten. Then came the headaches. Not everywhere, not all the time. Just in that closet.

She knew something was off. The kids were growing up in the home, and her son had developed increasingly bad allergies.

The last time she'd had the air tested was before the kids were born. A lot had changed since then. It was time to look again.

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What We Found: The Assessment Told a Clear Story

We conducted a full mold assessment including:

• Infrared thermal imaging
• Moisture readings
• 4 indoor air samples and 1 outdoor control
• ERMI dust sampling on the second floor

1. Air Testing Results

The outdoor air measured 300 spores per cubic meter. Her master walk in closet measured 940 spores per cubic meter, roughly 3 times the outdoor level.

More importantly, we detected Chaetomium in the closet air. Chaetomium is not a typical background mold. It is one of the major red flag molds associated with water damaged building materials. It is often grouped with Stachybotrys and Fusarium as an indicator species. When we see Chaetomium in air samples, especially in a home with a history of roof leaks, we take that seriously.

Other rooms in the home did not show the same level of concern. This was localized to her closet.

2. Physical Clues in the Closet

The shoe shelf backing in the closet was visibly deteriorated. There had been prior water intrusion in this area. We also learned that the closet used to be a patio that had been enclosed.

We also observed:

• Deterioration on the backside of drywall above the closet
• A break in thermal protection in the attic above the closet
• Missing insulation in the attic
• Gaps around pot lights allowing attic air into the living space

The attic space over the closet had been spray foamed, but it was directly exposed to the unconditioned attic around it. That creates temperature fluctuations and temperature fluctuations create condensation potential. Condensation plus organic building materials equals mold risk. Even without visible mold on the surface.

The ERMI Results Told a Bigger Story

Air samples tell you what is floating right now. ERMI tells you what has been accumulating in the dust over time.

Her ERMI score was 24.2 More concerning than the number were the species. Chaetomium globosum was detected at extremely elevated levels in dust. Stachybotrys was also detected. Multiple toxigenic Aspergillus species were elevated.  Chaetomium concentration was extremely high and indicates a likely mold colony within wall or ceiling cavities.

No visible mold was observed during the non invasive inspection, but the data strongly suggested hidden growth.

Why She Was Getting Headaches

We cannot diagnose medical conditions, but we can explain exposure dynamics. Chaetomium and certain Aspergillus species are classified as allergenic, pathogenic, and toxigenic in the report

In some individuals, exposure can correlate with:

• Headaches
• Neurological symptoms
• Fatigue
• Respiratory irritation
• Heightened fragrance sensitivity

The closet was an enclosed space with repeated exposure while getting dressed every day.That combination is enough for some people to feel it quickly. Her husband may not feel anything. That does not invalidate her experience. People respond differently to the same exposure.

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What We Recommended

We recommended:

1. Remove all contents from the closet and launder them.
2. Seal off the closet from the bedroom.
3. Remove the deteriorated shelving.
4. Open the wall cavity behind the shoe shelf for exploratory investigation
5. Engage a licensed mold remediation contractor if active growth exceeding 25 contiguous square feet is discovered.
6. Post remediation clearance testing.

We also recommended addressing:

• Attic air sealing
• Vapor barrier deficiencies
• Insulation gaps
• HVAC filter maintenance

If This Sounds Familiar

You are not alone. One person in the home having symptoms is pretty common and worth looking into to either confirm or rule out mold as the cause.

If you are in Austin and want a thorough mold inspection rooted in building science, that is what we do.

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