What You Need To Know About Mold Testing

You may not know it but mold can be found practically everywhere. The fungus grows and thrives in dark, moist places and can grow for years without being noticed by the home owner. Some kinds of mold have their uses; some are made to age cheeses or ferment food , but there are a few that we can do without. Black mold is a dangerous kind that should not be allowed to thrive in your home. It can be toxic to most, if not all, individuals and sometimes the consequences of living with it in a house can be lethal. If you notice an increase in respiratory ailments or allergies in yourself and other members of your family, it may be worth your while to have mold testing done in your domicile. This process will help you find out if there is a threat of molds in your home as well as make you aware of what you can do about it.

Homes in Texas, a fairly hot place, can still be contaminated with the fungus. This is because mold grows in moist areas such as drywall near a leaky pipe, under floorboards which may be close to the ground, basements and attics which are not exposed to the sun or warm weather most of the time. Even cabinets and closets can be prone to moldy growth if the insides of these do not see the light of day often or is not aired as often as possible.

Detecting Mold

Mold testing may seem unnecessary for some home owners, especially if they have already pinpointed the location of a colony. There are times though that you might have just noticed one colony when in fact, there could be more safely hidden where you cannot see. Signs of a mold infestation include, but are not limited to:

– dark or discolored spots on wood and other materials

– a moldy smell

– water leaks

– warped wood or material due to exposure to flooding

– constant condensation in a specific area

– deteriorating parts of the house

A mold remediation specialist can conduct a test to assess the situation of a residence and surrounding property with regards to mold presence. The process of testing to check for mold usually takes some time, depending on how large the area is and how well built the actual structure is. In Houston, some homes have extensions, annexes and rooms which may not be used often enough. These are likely to have mold colonies if these are closed up and not exposed to sunlight often enough.

Health and Safety

The health and safety of the people living in the house is important and a top priority. This is why mold testing is a practical way of starting mold remediation and removal. The mold experts can assess the situation according to their training and experience. They will know how to approach the problem and how to deal with it. Detecting is important because one cannot just randomly pry open floor boards and destroy drywall to check if there are mold colonies hidden there.

Irresponsibly stirring up mold colonies can release spores into the air and cause the people close by to inhale them. Toxic mold can cause allergies, respiratory problems and sometimes even death if the individual is exposed to a lot of it or constantly inhale it over time.

The state of the house can also benefit from detecting colonies. Mold can destroy wood, drywall and other materials on which they grow on. Early detection can prevent expensive renovation and restoration when a large, widespread colony has been taken care of. Aside from the destruction that mold can do to fabric, wood and other porous materials, home owners can also benefit from mold testing because the experts can easily spot leaky pipes, buildup of condensation or moisture and other areas where water may be constantly present. Moisture without molds can still do its fair share of damage on a house.

Hiring professionals to detect the presence of mold and to test samples for toxic mold can help to prevent health issues as well as resolve them. Early detection can also help minimize the damage that a colony might inflict on the house.

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