Mold on basement utility room wall
Mold is everywhere, and it can exist in your home year-round. It can easily survive during cool, rainy seasons and spread explosively during the hot, humid days of summer. It is important for homeowners to understand the potential levels of mold in their home and know what to do if it is affecting them and/or their family. The professionals at HomePro Inspections hope the following guidance helps you understand the dangers of mold and highlights the signs that indicate you may need to consider mold testing or mitigation.
What is mold?
Mold is a unique organism that is present almost everywhere. Its role involves the breakdown and decomposition of dead and dying materials in both indoor and outdoor environments. In the grand scheme of things we call nature, mold has a necessary purpose.
Wet basements, crawlspaces, and poorly ventilated attics are prone to mold, also known as “microbial growth.” Areas with persistent leaks can create ideal conditions for mold growth. These places often have a recognizable damp and musty smell. If you notice this odor in your home, consider mold testing.
When and why would you want mold testing performed in your home?
If you suspect there is mold in your home, it is important to address the source and fix the problem to prevent harmful exposure to your family. You can confirm the effective resolution of the issue by conducting mold testing afterwards.
Mold problems can occur when people are exposed to high levels of microbial spores, but not everyone is affected by mold in the same way. Individuals with allergies, weakened immune systems, infants, and the elderly are most susceptible to mold exposure.
When a home buyer, especially anyone with asthma or other health issues that elevated mold levels in the air can aggravate, finds a home they would like to purchase, mold testing should be seriously considered. We tailor our mold testing services perfectly for buyers seeking to ensure there are no mold issues.
Another common reason for mold testing is when people move into a new home or have visitors who experience health issues not encountered elsewhere. We recently performed mold testing for a couple with a young grandchild who had no problems in the rest of their home, except in the basement. When the child entered the basement, they developed red, scratchy eyes and began to sneeze.
Wet walls with mold
Here’s a brief explanation of our mold testing.
Any type of mold growing in your home can cause health problems, and the effects of mold exposure can differ significantly from person to person. If you think your home has a mold problem, consider having it tested. Sometimes the problem is obvious, but sometimes testing or sampling is the only way to determine if there is an actual mold issue.
After scheduling an appointment, one of our technicians will come to your home to perform mold sampling. They will first discuss any concerns you may have about mold and then inspect the home for any potential problem areas.
When we conduct our mold testing, we may use two types of mold sampling. The most common method is an air sample, which detects mold spores in the air in the sampled area. The other method involves taking a swab sample from a surface and examining the mold microbes present in it.
It must be noted that mold testing alone cannot determine how you or your family will react to or be affected by mold growth in your home. The best first step in protecting your family is identifying and removing the source and root cause of the mold spores.
How long does mold testing take, and is it accurate?
Our testing procedures and process typically take about 30 minutes on average. In addition to the sampling, the visual inspection is fairly routine. However, if there are obvious issues and additional sampling requires documentation, it can take longer.
Once we complete and document the testing, we send the samples to a lab for analysis and reporting. The reports detail any molds found in the samples, common areas where they develop, and common symptoms of exposure to the molds identified.
Recent innovations in microbial testing have significantly improved accuracy to approximately 99%. By following protocols and minimizing user error, testing laboratories can accurately identify mold problems and determine the types of mold present.
In Summary
If you suspect a mold problem, you should have mold testing done in your home. Regardless of whether the problem is obvious or just something in the air, testing can help you determine if there is an issue. Mold testing is relatively inexpensive and is the first step in deciding your course of action.
Visit our website to learn more or to schedule mold testing in the Rochester, Owatonna, and Faribault, MN, areas. You can also contact us today at (507) 202-8942, send us an email, or use our online “Schedule Now” feature to set up an appointment.