The Importance of Mold Testing- A Guide
While there are no
federal limits for mold, you can still benefit from a mold test in many
situations. For instance, if you suspect there is mold in your home, it is
important to document the area in question. You can document the extent of the
mold growth in any room, and whether it has been cleaned up or remediated. Mold
testing should be performed by professionals, and sample analysis should be done
according to professional organizations' recommendations. Mold-testing is a
crucial part of a successful remediation and is often a necessity for those who
are particularly sensitive to mold.
A mold testing kit can be used to determine the level of mold in the air in your home. It is a convenient method to collect samples, which can be analyzed by a professional laboratory for $35 per sample. The results will tell you which types of mold are present and their relative concentration levels. In addition to mold spore counts, you can also determine if you are allergic to mold by using an expanded profile. A mold testing kit will also identify any dust mites, fibers, or skin cells present in the area.
A mold test kit is
usually comprised of a petri dish made of glass or plastic and labeled for easy
identification. The sample collection kit should provide sufficient supplies to
collect the sample. Some kits may include an analysis fee for a certain number
of samples. Additional samples will require an additional fee. A mold test kit
will identify common types of molds, including aspergillus, cladosporium, and
stachybotrysatra, or black mold.
While there are no
universal rules about the amount of mold, certain conditions may require a mold
test. Coastal areas, for example, are particularly susceptible to high levels
of rainfall, which means that mold and its spores are more common in coastal
areas. For example, Hurricane Sandy left many buildings utterly destroyed, and
even those that survived are still at risk for dangerous levels of mold. And
while this disaster may be a one-time event, a mold test can help you identify
the cause of the problem.
The cost of a mold
inspection varies from one region to another, and can be as high as $300 to
$400 for a medium-sized house and upwards of $700 to 900 for a large home.
Neither of these costs includes testing. And while mold testing is a critical
step for determining whether your home is contaminated, it shouldn't cost the
same as a standard home inspection. A mold inspector will take a sample of the
air and surface to determine whether it is infected.
If you suspect you're
suffering from mold in your home, it is essential to conduct mold testing as
soon as possible. The results of a mold test will help you decide how much
remediation will be necessary, including any additional testing that may be
necessary. Mold can grow in hidden places, and a mold inspection will be able
to identify those areas. In some cases, the mold can be remedied by removing
the mold, repairing or replacing the affected areas, and even installing new
insulation and heating systems.
No comments:
Post a Comment