The Benefits of Mold Testing For Your Home
If you are worried
about the possibility of mold in your home, you may have already hired a mold
inspector, only to find out that he or she says the air inside is fine. So what
do you do? You hire a second opinion inspector. This inspector collects more
mold samples and tells you to evacuate. What is the best way to deal with this
situation? You may want to check out Mold testing for more. Below are some tips. Read on to discover the benefits of mold
testing for your home.
Having a mold test done in your home is important for several reasons. First, mold testing helps you identify the species of mold you are dealing with. Some molds are toxic to humans, while others can cause infections. For example, Stachybotrys is toxic black mold, and Aspergillus is a fungus that can cause infections. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is time to seek mold testing.
While mold growth on
the outside of a building will not affect your indoor air quality, the moisture
levels inside can. Fresh air ventilation is essential to avoid persistent
dampness. If the humidity level is below 65%, mold will not grow. But you can
buy a humidometer on the Internet to test for humidity in your home. You can
even buy a cheap model online. A quality mold testing service will provide you
with a report of your home's air quality.
A reliable mold
testing company will also send you the samples you need to collect. They should
have the samples within five to seven days. You should purchase a mold testing
kit with enough supplies to collect several samples. Some testing kits only
include the analysis fee for a specified number of samples. You will have to
pay extra if you need to collect more samples. If you find mold growth, the
test results will tell you what type it is and how much it is present.
There are two basic
types of mold testing. The first is the "inside comparison" method,
which requires the removal of a small portion of mold from a surface in an
unaffected room. This method is helpful when your entire home is dirty, as you
might find that the whole house has elevated levels of mold spores. If you
don't know the location of the mold, you will have trouble passing a clearance
test, and the remediation project could fail.
Another way to test
for mold is to buy an at-home mold testing kit. You can test for mold in your
home for as little as $35. However, you should send the samples to an
AIHA-accredited lab. These kits are much cheaper than hiring a professional to
perform the testing. Afterward, you can see whether or not you're allergic to
mold. If you have any of these symptoms, you may want to hire a mold testing
company to confirm your suspicion.
You should also know
that mildewed surfaces are almost impossible to distinguish from dirty ones.
Luckily, household bleach can be used to test for mold. It will lighten any
blackened areas within a minute or two. However, this method is not as accurate
as air sampling. It's important to note that these surfaces may not have mold
growth, but they are contaminated with dirt. To be safe, you should hire a
professional. And remember that it's worth the money to have mold testing done.
