Mold can thrive without being seen for long. This is why experts like A1 Water & Mold Removal | San Antonio Texas, advise that you take mold inspection and testing seriously. Generally, mold inspections are usually carried out once a year, but it’s recommended to get it done twice, especially if you live in an area highly prone to mold growth.
Also, in case you are wondering if it’s important to get a mold inspection and testing before remediation. Well, the answer is yes; you should have a test done before starting remediation.
When Should You Conduct Mold Inspection And Testing?
- Mold inside your walls may not be visible, but you can perceive the smell. Getting a mold inspection and test can find out if there’s mold in your home and where it’s located.
- You’ve had a plumbing leak or water issue, and you suspect there’s an elevated mood behind walls or in the air.
- A doctor discovers the patient has a health issue whose cause hasn’t been confirmed but looks related to mold symptoms like headaches, coughing, and sneezing.
- You need it for a real estate transaction.
- You need it to resolve a dispute with your tenant on whether there’s mold in your house or not.
- You’re interested in acquiring a general indoor air quality test for your environment.
- You want to ensure that a past mold issue has been successfully resolved.
Popular Types Of Mold Testing Techniques
Here are some standard mold testing formats that most mold inspection specialists use to detect if there are molds in a home:
Rapid Sampling With General Mold Testing
This testing involves the inspection of a few rooms in your home to discover potential mold problems. It also offers information on indoor air quality, which could require certain actions by the affected homeowner. General mold testing will help you understand if you should go for further testing.
Dry Air Sampling
It’s another popular mold inspection procedure that can offer you crucial information on contamination and result in ideal remediation decisions. The procedure involves collecting the sample while using protective equipment and an environmental suit based on the testing facility’s requirements. The test result can also offer in-depth knowledge of indoor air contamination.
Heat Ventilation Analysis
Heat Ventilation Analysis, otherwise known as HVA Testing, is carried out to determine the location of building damage. It involves gathering essential data on humidity levels in rooms, ducts, industrial ventilation systems, and other crucial factors. It also offers extra information on indoor air sample contamination.
Fogger Test
This test can inform you about the level of moisture present within the areas your consultant inspected to determine if it’s being caused by mold or other sources. It deals with putting an empty container on a room’s surface and testing it later. It also involves discovering mold spores through special vacuums.
Signs & Symptoms Of Mold Growth
Feeling Sick
Some mold species produce a substance known as mycotoxin, which can cause headaches, breathing problems, or permanent neurological damage. Mold reaction symptoms can be as simple as sneezing and a perpetually runny nose. Try to examine if these symptoms worsen after you stay in a certain room for a long time or do laundry in the basement.
Smelly Air Conditioning Or Heating System
A mild sign of mold presence is a bad smell in your heating or air conditioning system. Air conditioning units, particularly, are prime areas for mold growth. This is because they’re dark and prone to warm temperatures when not used. Putting an air conditioner inside a heated basement during winter increases the chances of mold growth as well.
Dark Grout On Shower Tiles
If there’s dark grout on your shower tiles, it could be mold. A flooding or recent leak in your bathroom plumbing or adjacent room could mean you have a toxic specie of fungus that only a professional should remove. You should send a sample for testing to confirm if it’s safe to keep using your shower.
Peeling Wallpaper
A crack could be a sign of mold issues. Even though your wallpaper is bound to suffer discoloration eventually, abnormal peeling or surface irregularities like cracking and bubbling could be a sign of moisture inside a wall. This is why you should pay attention to any damp part of your wall.
In summary, mold inspection and testing are crucial steps in the remediation process. Without an adequate mold inspection, you may face some serious issues in the future. You should also ensure to get a certified and licensed consultant for this process for the best result.
