Mold Testing and Remediation
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009If you have reason to believe you have a mold problem in your home, you may need to consider getting professional help.
Investigating your own home for mold problems is certainly a step you should take, but if your sleuthing does not come up with solid evidence then you will need to get some testing done. Though it is an expense most homeowners would prefer to avoid, it can be a serious health issue and should not be taken lightly.
Investigating on your own before bringing in a professional is fine, so long as your investigations do not end up disturbing the growth and spreading the dangerous spores into the air.
> Remove spores with air purification
The easiest way to begin searching is to follow your nose; mold and mildew have a distinctive smell, which is generally associated with damp surroundings.
Indeed, it needs moisture to survive, so the best place to start is any area where you know there has been water leaking or seeping into the home. This could be something as large as a roof or plumbing leak, or simple condensation from constant steamy showers or an improperly tuned air conditioning unit.
Surface mold is easily detected, and generally easy to dispose of. Many commercial mold killers exist on the market and most do a fine job. The more insidious types, however, are often hidden behind walls or under carpets, and this is where specialized testing comes in.
Professional testers have the tools and expertise to uncover any evidence hidden in many parts of the household. Often they will take cultures and grow the spores in a lab, to discover what kinds of mold are growing, and whether they are benign or dangerous. Though scent is a good indicator, it is not always practical to sniff around the entire home, and sometimes areas are missed. Also, some types are less ‘nose-worthy’ than others, though no less damaging to your families health.
If you have had a leak or flood or other water intensive problem in the home, there is a good chance that mold has had a chance to grow. The spores simply float around in the air, and it doesn’t take much to allow them to thrive.
However, unless the area remains moist, it will dry up. This doesn’t mean the problem is necessarily solved, as the spores still end up airborne, and ultimately breathed in.
If your own investigations have proved fruitless, but you are still convinced there may be moldy growths in the home, then testing is imperative. The cost can be significant, however, so it is best to try and find out as much on your own as possible. However, the cost is often worth it, when hidden problems are discovered in places you might not have expected.
It is also a good idea to have testing done when buying a home, as part of the general building inspection, as the history of the home is not always disclosed. In the event of a flood, professional mold removal services can be quite ruthless, often cutting out large pieces of wallboard to remove and sanitize breeding grounds. Some homeowners prefer to avoid the expense of this kind of large-scale disaster relief, but the result can often be hidden in the walls. As a home buyer, you want to be sure that you are not buying hidden mold as well.
Though testing can be expensive, if you suspect there may be mold but you have not been able to find any, it may be worth it. It can cause many serious illnesses, particularly respiratory sickness, so removing any signs is imperative. The cost of not testing for, and removing mould will ultimately be born by the health of your family.
By: Brent Craig
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
For more information on mold testing and household mold, please visit:
www.HealthyHomeFacts.com
Brent Craig is a writer and researcher with an interest in healthy home options.
More information can be gained about testing and remediation by following the related blog posts below …
How To Choose The Right Mold Testing Firm
Will your testing firm leave you with simple lab results?, or a detailed legally defensible mold inspection report that your allergy doctor, insurance adjuster, and attorney will find helpful complete with digital photos
Mold Inspection A Significant Part Of The Home Selling
What sets inspection apart is that it requires assessment of moisture in the home, visual examination and sample testing, and review of past remediation documents whenever possible or if there are any history of mould
Why Get a Mold Inspection Cleaning Services
Professional inspectors test in several ways. First, the professionals visually inspect each area of the house for obvious signs of growth. Inspectors also test moisture levels in the air to determine if the home is a …
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They can also cause allergic reactions such as bronchial irritation and asthma attacks. The common types seen in most home and work environments can actually become a major issue if not addressed quickly.
Stachybotrys chartarum, an infamous type of toxic black mold that has a slightly greenish-black color, is often found in wet walls. Unlike your shower mold, which is non-toxic, this mold grows often in building materials.
Look close up at the dry parts to see if there’s mold hiding out behind it. You can just take off a small piece of the wall near the moldy area and check. In areas where the walls are wet, there is a good attempt that the adjacent dry walls will also have mold growing.