NORRISTOWN, Pa. -- Mold can be a dangerous health risk when one is exposed to its invisible spores and many people often live in a moldy environment, unbeknownst to them.

But there is now a new way to find the hidden mold in your home; it's named "Hunter."

Hunter is a 2-year-old lab mix that was rescued from a Florida canine shelter and he’s got a nose for mold. Hunter is one of 80 dogs who are trained for thousands of hours to sniff out what we often can’t see: mold.

"To him, it’s a game," said his owner Craig Camel. "He loves doing it."

We watched Hunter on the case in a Norristown, Pa., home where a hot water heater had leaked and caused mold damage. The family has hired Hunter to find out if the mold has spread.

"I knew right away it could be serious because it's black mold," said homeowner Aida Bickert. "So at that point I wanted a professional to come in and make sure we caught it all."

NBC 10 cameras followed Hunter as he led his investigation throughout the house. Sure enough, the dog alerts his owner to the fact that some wood in the living room has signs of water deterioration, and barks louder the closer he gets to the water damaged area.

Hunter’s nose costs about $400 for an average-sized house. The price of the mold investigation can rise with sampling and lab fees.

A Swedish study claims dogs are a good method for locating hidden microbial damage. The study also stresses that the dogs must be correctly trained for the process to be effective.

A local veterinarian told NBC 10 that dogs can be trained to do just about anything specific. The veterinarian said that there have been no studies on the long-term effect seeking out mold could have on a dog.

But remember: Finding the mold is just the first step. It has to be removed to make your home healthy for you and your family.

Related Resources:

Advanced Mold Diagnostics: Using Dogs To Sniff Out Mold

Protect Yourself From Mold

CDC Information on Mold