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The structural integrity of wood can also be compromised if mold has been left untreated for an extended period. In addition to checking for mold in the home’s HVAC system, it might be wise to consider purchasing an air purifier to help address mold issues. Air purifiers equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can capture mold spores from the air, preventing them from circulating and settling onto surfaces. Although purchasing an air purifier for mold can reduce airborne mold spores in a house, it won’t address mold growing on surfaces. The root cause of mold is best tackled directly, which could mean improving ventilation, fixing leaks, or using dehumidifiers. For those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, the situation can be more serious.
What Health Effects Can Mold Cause?
Some black mold tests claim to test in the air but not all are reliable. If you suspect that you have a black mold problem in your home, it’s crucial to take action right away. Mold can cause health problems and compromise the structural integrity of a building if left untreated. This guide explores how to test for black mold and shares some things you may not know about mold and its effects. The most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. We do not have precise information about how often different molds are found in buildings and homes.
Airthings 4200 House Kit
So, any place with a moisture content (MC) over 20% is an area mold might grow. Mold will grow where there is moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been a flood. If you have a mold allergy or chronic lung condition such as asthma, you’re at risk of more severe symptoms and complications. In people with asthma, an allergic reaction to mold may trigger an attack.
How to check for mold in your house – 6 common places that you must check regularly
The mold risk indicator alerts you if conditions put your home at risk for mold growth. Even when you’re away from home, this system can provide you with the insight you need to be on guard against rising levels of humidity and warm air. "When moisture levels become too high, it creates a ripe environment for mold infestation," says Elías Rodríguez, M.P.A. Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the EPA, Region 2. "The key to mold control is moisture control. Moisture can be controlled indoors by reducing humidity, increasing ventilation, and fixing any water leaks or other sources of moisture." Next, prepare the room you want to test by closing all doors and windows for at least 24 hours.
If the water damage is due to an accident in your home, such as a flooded toilet or a burst pipe, your homeowner’s insurance may cover its removal. However, you may have difficulty getting insurance to cover it if it is due to negligence. Also, if the mold is due to a natural disaster that causes flooding and you don’t have flood insurance, mold isn’t covered either. In the most extreme cases of mold buildup, you may be better off moving away from your home if it causes health problems. The CDC provides an enormous amount of information on how to clean up and remediate mold in your home. But one way you can remove mold from a surface of your home in which mold hasn’t penetrated and taken root is to use household products.
How to Check for Mold in the Air in Your House
Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, and pets can and be carried indoors. When mold spores drop on places where there is excessive moisture, such as where leakage may have occurred in roofs, pipes, walls, plant pots, or where there has been flooding, they will grow. Many building materials provide suitable nutrients that encourage mold to grow. Wet cellulose materials, including paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, and wood products, are particularly conducive for the growth of some molds.
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Porous surfaces, like carpeting, wallpaper, textiles, and ceiling tiles, can absorb mold into its small openings. This can make cleaning mold on these surfaces extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible. Your safest bet may be to discard the damaged material and replace it. Though you may be able to remove mold from wood as well as remove mold from drywall. When you spot it, it’s important to take the necessary steps to remove it as quickly as possible. In fact, some mold can be toxic so it’s not even a good idea to attempt removing it but should be left strictly to experts.
However, as we have already mentioned, mold is not always visible and it can be difficult to identify where it may be “thriving”. If you suspect the presence of mold in one or more rooms and are wondering, “How to test for mold in the house? The homeowner will want to write today’s date on the label enclosed in the kit, and affix the label to the bottom of the petri dish. Then, they’ll need to place the taped petri dish in a dark spot, such as a dresser drawer or on a closet shelf.
Once the waiting time has passed, the homeowner will want to place the lid back on the petri dish and put a layer of tape around the seam where the lid meets the dish. Either transparent tape or electrical tape works well, but homeowners will want to avoid using a tape that’s difficult to remove, such as duct tape. Before starting the mold test, homeowners will want to close the windows and doors in the room they’ll be testing 24 hours prior to testing. This allows potential mold spores to congregate without being disturbed by drafts.
If you do decide you want to purchase a mold test kit, the My Mold Detective MMD103 Mold Test Kit is designed for air testing, while the DIY Mold Test Kit from Seeml Labs is made for surface testing. When collecting any samples, it's essential to take necessary safety precautions, such as wearing a mask, gloves, and protective eyewear. Again, a professional can better handle the mold in your home from identification to removal. After learning the warning signs, always do a thorough check of your home if you suspect mold growth. Cleaning mold infestation or removal of damaged surfaces should be done immediately.
If mold is visible, it should be cleaned up properly.” She recommends consulting EPA guidelines to find out how to remove mold safely. Home mold test kits are widely available from home improvement stores and from online retailers, but not all test kits are the same. Some are designed to only determine whether mold is present on surfaces. If the mold test comes back positive, the homeowner can send the testing materials to a lab to determine what type of mold is present, which can have an additional cost.
To use the kit, pour the growth medium in the petri dish, replace the lid, and allow it to gel for one hour. 'Items that use water are also at the top of the list for places for mold growth. The constant source of moisture creates perfect conditions for contaminants to move in.
Keep in mind that the testing fee for each sample is $39, and you’ll also pay the cost of shipping the samples to the AIHA-accredited (American Industrial Hygiene Association) lab. You will receive color-coded lab results indicating which types of mold are present in the samples, along with their relative concentration levels (normal, slightly elevated, or elevated). Notably, you can reuse the air pump for future mold testing, as well. An air pump can be an efficient way to test for the presence of airborne mold spores. However, it usually requires special equipment and professional services.
We hope our guide has been useful in answering any questions that you may have had about household mold and how to test for it. Remember, it is not just a home but your castle; take care of it, and it will take care of you. If you have a severe storm that comes through, check your interior, outer perimeter walls, attic, and basements with a moisture meter a few days after the storm.
Black mold grows quickly, which is why homeowners must learn how to identify black mold as soon as possible so they can get rid of it and keep it away. The best way to test for mold in your home is through professional mold testing because they can spot both visible and hidden mold in any room in your house. They can test your air for mold and can even detect the presence of toxic black mold as well as identify sources of mold infestation. Moreover, they can provide recommendations regarding mold remediation and removal which guarantees that mold won’t return to your home. To reiterate, when mold is already visible, an at-home mold testing kit is not necessary or even recommended by the EPA or CDC. Once you've spotted mold spores, removal and remediation—ideally by a trusted professional—are essential.
Fortunately, you don’t need to know the type of mold to get rid of it. It’s no secret that damp areas of the home provide the perfect conditions for mold and mildew to grow. Whether your nose knows, or your eyes spy dark spots in strategic locations, you want to make sure. The short answer is that household mold is most common in places where moisture is common. Although each type of mold has its own species name, most are best known by the categories—such as black mold or pink mold. One of the best defenses against the development of mold and mildew is preventing the conditions that are conducive to the growth of fungus, such as warm, damp environments.
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