How does Mold Testing Work?
In highly humid places, mold is likely to grow on the walls and in the ceiling. Humidity causes dampness on surfaces, and that coupled with darkness results in a prime environment for mold to thrive. This can be a landlord’s worst nightmare because it can cause major damage in and around the house and even affect the value of property. Worse still, mold is very unsightly and can be harmful to your health.
By the time a colony of mold is easily visible then chances are that it has been there for quite a while. Some of the signs that should alert you to this menace in the early stages include allergic reactions, cracks in the paint job, and sometimes peeling and discoloration. In order to verify the presence of mold in your house, you will need to carry out mold testing.
What is Mold Testing?
Mold testing is the process through which samples of mold are taken and examined to determine if indeed there is a mold infestation, as well as it’s strain. This test involves testing the air for spores or taking samples from surfaces. However, before embarking on the process of testing for mold, you would need to carry out a thorough inspection of the house in order to determine whether to test or to get right onto the removal process as would be the case where there is glaring infestation.
Mold testing is done using equipment that can often be found in most home improvement stores. This equipment is used to trap spores from the air from room to room around the house to be analyzed. You can also take swabs of surfaces suspected to have mold and have the samples analyzed. In addition, you can also take items near places that have been infested to the laboratory for testing. This is referred to as bulk testing.
Mold testing should ideally be done in several different spots around the house. This is because depending on the existing conditions in the different places, the growth rate may be varied and so will the quantities.
Why Test for Mold?
Some of the benefits of mold testing are that:
- It enables you to determine just how much mold is in your house, which can inform the method that should be used to remove it
- It also enables you to know the level of toxicity of the strain of mold and this informs any extra precautionary measures that may need to be taken during the removal process
- Testing also enables you to locate all the spots in which the mold is growing around the house since they grow in hidden places
- You can also use the testing process once you have had mold removed from your home to ascertain whether the removal process was a success.
Once the tests and analysis have been completed in a laboratory, it is highly advisable to engage the services of mold removal professionals. This is because they are able to contain the problem easily by identifying the underlying causes. Moreover, you can avoid further damaging the infested surfaces or inhaling spores from toxic strains of the mold.
At Allied Restoration Co., we provide certified mold removal services. We offer quality mold remediation services from the point of testing to containment and ensure that your house remains mold free at a pocket friendly price. We will not only remove the mold but also carry out the follow up test to ensure that no traces of the mold is left behind and all causative agents have been removed too. If you suspect that you have mold in or around your house, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with us.