Should I test my home for mold? Only a professional can take reliable air samples to test your home for mold. If you think your home is 'sick' or has excessive mold growth, you should definitely have your...
If you think your home is 'sick' or has excessive mold growth, you should definitely have your home tested. There are companies that specialize in mold detection and removal. Your health is at risk as well as the structure of your home if you leave mold growing un-checked. This article will tell you why and how you should have your home tested for excessive or dangerous mold.
Mold infestation needs to be taken care of immediately. If you see mold growing anywhere in your home in excessive amounts or if the color is a dark slimy black you need to have your home tested by a professional as this can be toxic mold. If someone in your household is suffering from asthma, allergies, fatigue, headaches or other unexplained conditions and you think that your home may have mold growing in it, get your house tested and see a doctor. Some molds can be cleaned up on your own, especially if the area is less than 10 square feet. But if you do clean it yourself you may risk sending the spores billowing through the air of your home and into your lungs. This can cause sickness especially if it is toxic mold and you may not know if the mold is toxic until it is too late. An expert in mold remediation and inspection is the best person to determine the type and extent of the mold you may have.
Kevin Bristol is a professional mold remediator and President of Advance Mold Remediation and describes what needs to happen when a professional comes to inspect your home for mold, "Air samples are taken, using a protometer and a visual inspection is done." The air samples taken with the protometer (also called a moisture meter) are used to determine the level of moisture in the air. "The air samples are analyzed at an independent laboratory" states Bristol, "and once they come back, we can tell the homeowner what type of molds they have and what the solution would be as far as remediation or if they even need it." Bristol states, "The average cost for mold testing is about $395.00." Air samples and testing may not be necessary if it is obvious that you have mold, you may want to use the money to clean up the mold problem and make repairs. If you need to have the mold tested because you need to submit the report to your builder or insurance company or doctor an air sample test would be important.
If it is found that you have a toxic mold or if it is growing in such a manner that you can not treat it yourself here is what you can expect the experts will do. They may ask you to leave your home and stay in a motel depending upon the extent of the problem. They will mask off or set up a barrier in the part of the house where the mold is growing so that the mold spores can't float into other parts of the home. They may need to remove the carpet and pad and you may need to replace it with new. If the walls are moldy they may need to replace the drywall or wood. If the concrete is moldy they will employ methods of cleaning and preventing it from coming back. If leaks are found in a basement or any plumbing, for example, they will arrange for you to have them repaired.
Having your home professionally inspected can bring peace of mind and preserve your good health.
