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Mold testing is done to find out if you have a problem with mold in your home. Mold tests identify the hidden mold in the house, evaluate the indoor air quality and identify the type of the mold that is growing. It is very important to get mold testing done by a professional mold tester, preferably one who has years of experience in collecting and analyzing mold samples.
Signs of Mold
It is easy to identify mold. Molds have a peculiar smell that is hard to miss. You can be sure they are hidden somewhere when you get that smell in the house. If there has been an eruption of allergic symptoms among your family members recently, then there is every reason to believe that it is because of mold growth in the house. When kids in particular breathe in the mold spores present in the air, allergic reactions such as runny nose, sore eyes and sneezing are only to be expected.
When should you get Mold Testing done?
There are quite a few reasons to get mold testing done. You may have noticed a mold smell in the house or have seen symptoms of mold growth. Mold testing allows you to identify the various species of the mold that are growing in the house and tells you just where they are growing. should be done to examine the indoor air quality as well as the amount of spores in the air. Mold testing tells you if the mold has indeed been completely removed or not.
Types of Mold Testing
There are three types of mold testing…
Air Testing – Air testing checks the concentration of the mold spores in air. During air testing, samples are taken from the surrounding air, and closely examined using a microscope. Air testing gives you a good idea of the presence of spores in the air, but it may not give you an accurate picture.
Surface Testing – In surface testing samples are taken from household surfaces and examined for mold growth. This involves swabbing, tape lifting and other techniques. Surface testing cannot give you an accurate idea of the concentration of mold spores in the air.
Bulk Testing
In bulk testing, materials are collected from home and sent to a laboratory where extensive tests are done. Bulk testing gives a much better idea of the exact concentration of the mold spores in your house.
To be sure, all three types of mold testing should be performed as all tests have their own distinct advantages.
Importance of Mold Inspection before Mold Testing
It is important to carry out a detailed mold inspection of your house before the mold testing. A mold inspection is usually carried out by mold inspectors. If the mold inspection identifies the mold, then the mold tests are not required. You can directly get started with the mold removal in that case. If the mold inspectors are not able to find any conclusive evidence of mold, but if you still suspect the presence of mold, then you should consider getting the mold testing done.
What does Mold Inspection hope to achieve?
There are two things that a mold inspection does for you. One, it find out if there is mold growing in your home and if so where. Two, it identifies the cause of the mold. It tells you what led to the mold growth in the first place.
Do you need a Mold Inspection?
Yes. If for some reason you suspect the presence of mold in the house, if members of your family, especially your children are showing common allergic reactions sneezing, running nose and sore eyes, it’s time to hire mold inspectors to carry out a mold inspection.
Hiring Mold Inspectors – What to expect?
It is important to hire professional and experienced mold inspectors for the mold inspection. Experienced mold inspectors are usually very good at identifying the source of the mold growth. They know where to look for mold and use specialized equipment such as moisture meters and fiber optics to help with the mold inspection. These devices allow them to look for mold growth in hard to reach or hidden areas such as behind the wall. You can be reasonably confident about their ability to identify the mold growth and present conclusive evidence of the same in quick time.