How To Test for Mold in Your Home

9/9/2021 (Permalink)

A musty smell when you walk in the door of your home probably means that you have a mold growth somewhere. You search throughout the house but can't see any patches on the wall, in the bathroom or near windows. There are many other places mold can hide, though. A certified environmental hygienist can conduct a mold assessment that reveals the information you need for proper mitigation.

Advantages of Professional Assessment

You can get a test kit for black mold at your local hardware store, but it won't tell you what you need to know. It will simply reveal that there is mold in your house, which is true even when you don't need mitigation. A professional assessment, however, reveals several factors about the problem:

• Concentration of spores
• Location of growth
• Type of mold

This is the information that mold mitigation experts need when they arrive at your home. The results of a professional test allow them to concentrate their efforts on the affected area so that they can take care of the problem before it gets out of hand.

Remediation Process for Mold Growth

A professional mold assessment guides the whole cleanup process. Once the mold or mildew has been identified, technicians know which techniques to use and the equipment needed to clean your home. For example, if the air quality test reveals a high concentration of spores around HVAC vents, the mold growth is likely inside the ducts. Technicians use this information to contain the affected area so that the growth doesn't spread throughout the house. After the cleanup is complete, a final test assures you that the problem is gone.

If you suspect that you have a fungus problem in your home, you need a professional mold assessment. It's only after specialists have the right information that they can make an action plan for getting rid of the growth.