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While a variable mold test can tell a homeowner if mold spores are present in a specific room, they’ll need to use additional kits if they want to test other rooms in the house. It may be worthwhile for a homeowner to look into who to call for a mold inspection and hire a professional if they suspect that the problem is extensive. To be on the safe side, homeowners will want to have mold growth identified, treated, and removed quickly. Below are some of the more common types of mold that can be found in a home.
Areas In The House To Starting Detecting Mold (Mold Growth Love These Places)
If you have restrictive health conditions, it’s best to call a professional to perform a mold test. In many cases, mold may be concealed behind walls, in HVAC systems, under floors or in other moisture-prone places that are hard to access. Although DIY mold tests can be helpful, they are not always completely accurate. If you are concerned there is mold, a professional will be able to provide a thorough examination and explain remediation options. Open the package for your mold testing kit and thoroughly review the instructions.
How to Help Prevent Mold
Once you've spotted mold spores, removal and remediation—ideally by a trusted professional—are essential. In addition, at-home mold test kits are not always accurate and have limitations. Even if they're tied to an accredited lab, they do not mimic a professional who can safely identify, remove, and prevent future mold growth. Opting for a professional mold inspection comes with several advantages.
Identifying Mold in Your Home
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. It’s also important to take precautions and wear protective gear like elbow-length household rubber gloves, goggles, and an N-95 face mask to limit exposure to mold spores. If possible, open a window and/or run an exhaust fan to help move spores out of the room. Be sure to close the door or hang plastic sheets to limit spores from entering other areas of the house.
Symptoms of mold exposure
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This time may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer’s instructions. During this time, homeowners will need to restrict traffic in the room to keep from disturbing the air. Homeowners can cover the doorway with a strip of painter’s tape if needed as a reminder to household members and guests that this area is temporarily off limits.
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Tom was a committee member involved in the rewrite of the s520 National Mold Standard by IICRC (and International Standard). We Get The Mold Out has remediated mold, tested it, and consulted on mold issues in more than 9,000 homes. We've talked to mold experts to determine the most common places where mold occurs in properties so that you can stop it from affecting your decor, your home's structure, and your health. If you can stop mold from forming in the first place, even better!
The main thing to watch for is signs of wet spots; if you have a leak that saturates the drywall, be sure to remove all the wet or damp drywall around that area. Drywall patches generally come in 2′ x 2′ squares, so do not be shy about using a larger piece than you think is necessary. It’s no secret that damp areas of the home provide the perfect conditions for mold and mildew to grow.
Steps
Mold can be removed from hard surfaces with household products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of household laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water. At the unwelcome discovery of mold, a flood of concerns may arise, and for good reason. Continuous mold exposure can have serious health repercussions, especially if the growth is concentrated in bedrooms or living areas where residents spend much of their time. If possible, it’s a good idea to open a window to allow fresh air circulation and enhance the room’s air quality. If you suspect you have a mold problem, it’s crucial to address the situation promptly to prevent further growth and potential health hazards.
Look for visible signs like discolorations or dark spots on surfaces, visible mold spores, warped walls, and other moisture issues. You may also smell something damp and musty as well as experience worsened allergy and asthma attacks. Checking the right places when testing your house for mold is important, especially if you can’t see any visible signs of mold in your house and you’ve experienced previous flooding. Mold usually grows in dark, damp, and humid areas such as your basement, walls, ceilings, floors, and around your air vents.
This includes keeping your home clean and dry, using a dehumidifier to reduce humidity levels, and promptly fixing leaks or water damage. This moisture can come from leaks, humidity, condensation, or water damage. You may also see stains or discoloration on your walls, ceilings, or floors. These stains may be black, green, or brown and can indicate the presence of mold. Mold infestations often begin in the walls of a home, only becoming visible as the growth spreads.
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.
