Tag: mold

Mold can be spread very rapidly through the air, since it is originally in the form of tiny spores that are almost invisible to the naked eye.   Once the spores get into a moist area, they begin to grow and spread, and this usually occurs at a rapid rate.  If you think you might have mold in your home, mold testing is definitely necessary to be sure of not only the presence of mold, but also what kind of mold is there.  In most cases mold is visible once it has established a growing area.  Most of the time it has a greenish color but it can also be black which usually indicates that it is dangerous or possibly toxic.  A smell or musty scent can also indicate the presence of mold, and combined with an ideal environment can almost guarantee the presence of mold.  Of course, not all mold testing can be done simply by smelling or seeing it; sometimes situations call for more sophisticated methods.

You can buy a simple mold testing kit at most home improvement stores.  This kit will allow you to test the type of mold and how severe it is.  These kits are fairly inexpensive and should only cost around $10 to $25 or so.  Of course, if the mold situation in your home is serious, then the mold testing should definitely be done by trained professionals.  These professionals can take samples of the mold to a lab for testing to better determine what kind it is, and also come up with the best way to kill and remove it.  They may test the air, the surface on which the mold has been found, or in severe cases, they may remove actual sections of a home (such as flooring or drywall) to perform mold testing in bulk.

Mold can be a major health concern if left untreated in your home. That’s why it’s important to test for mold. If you catch the problem early you can avoid any health problems related to the mold. Testing for mold is a simple process as long as you know the steps and precautions before you begin. Some of the most important steps include knowing what kind of mold to look for, how to look for it, and how to remove it if you find any. It’s also important to look for mold in the places where it thrives. Spaces like attics, basements or storage closets are prime targets for mold and should be checked first when you test for mold.

Oftentimes people look for the more obvious types of mold when performing a search. Unfortunately some of the most harmful types of mold are less obvious and harder to spot. Be sure you don’t get distracted; make sure to look for both black mold and lighter colored mold. Also be sure to look everywhere in the area where you test. When you test for mold don’t just peek in the corners of the basement or attic, survey the whole area and take the extra time to look in confined area. Look behind furniture, in closets, and underneath carpets to make sure you’ve covered all possible areas for mold to grow.

Once you have found evidence of mold be sure to remove it properly to avoid a recurrence of the problem, or worse, and increased health risk due to improper removal. If you are not sure your home has mold it can be helpful to employ a professional to test for mold. Professionals in the field are certified to collect mold and have the experience to identify what kind of mold is affecting the area. If the mold is obvious with the naked eye than a test for mold by a professional is not necessary. Make sure to use water spray to dampen the mold before removing it. This way the mold is not stirred up and you avoid creating an airborne health risk.

There are several different mold test kit types that you can purchase for mold testing purposes.  Some are designed to obtain a sample of airborne mold spores;others are designed to take samples off of a surface. Samples from a mold test kit typically must be sent to a lab for analysis.  Both types have some benefits; however, it may be best to use both types to really get a full picture of the types of mold that are present.  Air collection kits may collect other things besides mold spores, which may complicate results; surface samples, collected by swab, may not get all types of mold that are present, or they may destroy the structure of the mold (which makes it harder to identify).

If you are collecting air samples, the cultures should be allowed to grow for a couple of days to fully allow the mold to be identified. With surface samples, it’s a good idea to collect from multiple places (on multiple swabs) for best identification.

When you buy a mold test kit be sure that you follow the directions very carefully. Read the directions thoroughly, and obey the instructions, especially regarding how to collect the mold sample and the time frame within which you should send it back.  Consider using more than one type of mold test kit so that you can obtain maximum accuracy in your results.   If you obtain inaccurate results, you may get information that says that you have a harmless variety of mold, which is not, in fact, the case. 

However, a mold test kit can give you information that you can use to decide what kinds of mold remediation action you need to take, or what kind of precautions you should take. If you identify a harmful type of mold, you may want to vacate your home until the mold is removed, as some types of mold cause serious health problems.

Mold has been a home health problem for years and yet many people are still unaware of the possible health risk related to toxic mold. Testing for mold is surprisingly simple, but the problem often goes unaddressed because home owners don’t see the risk or don’t take the time and effort required to make sure testing is done right. Home owners also avoid testing for mold because the areas it affects aren’t the most highly trafficked areas in the household. Since many people use their attics and basements sparingly the threat of mold in those areas doesn’t seem like a real health concern. Testing for mold is important, so no matter where the threat may be make sure to test properly and keep your family safe.

Since humidity and warmth are perfect conditions for mold to grow be sure to check areas of the house that might be affected by moisture first. Take the time to eyeball different parts of the house that may be susceptible to mold since oftentimes if the problem is particularly bad you can see spots of dark mold. Once you have identified the problem you may need to call in a home inspection professional to access your particular situation. Professionals can identify just what kind of mold you are dealing with and what procedure is necessary to remove it from your home. Make sure your process of testing for mold is the most effective procedure to avoid wasting time.

Once you are ready to remove the mold you have several different options. There’s always the old standby of a damp rag, but if you want to make sure the mold problem is eliminated completely you might want to use a wet vacuum cleaner or a special HEPA vacuum. Both of these options are convenient but be sure to clean the vacuums before further use to avoid spreading mold spores and compounding the problem. Although mold can be a nuisance it isn’t difficult to remove. Testing for mold is the best way to keep your family safe.

Mold can cause health problems as well as problems with your home. Professional mold inspection services are available;. however, home inspections for mold and bacteria can be expensive and some people may not be able to afford a professional home inspection.

An alternative to home inspection is a mold testing kit. Mold testing kits can be purchased in stores and online. A mold testing kit will cost less than hiring a professional mold removal company. This allows you to test your own home for mold. However, since there are many types of mold that can be extremely harmful, you must approach mold testing with the greatest of care. Follow directions exactly, and consider wearing latex gloves and a face mask to handle mold. Your mold testing kit directions will tell you whether a simple mask is all that is required, or whether you need a special mask with a HEPA filter.  Some types of mold can seriously affect your respiratory system, so err on the side of caution.

Many mold testing kits can be purchased online. You also may be able to find instructions for mold testing. It is important to use a reputable mold testing kit and to follow the instructions very carefully. If you have questions about which mold testing kit is the best, you can be advised about it at your local home improvement store. You might also consider trying to find reviews of a mold testing kit online in order to determine which one to obtain.  The test should tell you what kind of mold it is, which will let you know what needs to be done to remove it. If it is a harmless type of mold, you can use a bleach solution to clean the surface. If it is toxic, it is best to hire a professional and exit the house while the mold is being dealt with.

If your house has mold you may never see it.  Your family may come down with illnesses such as lung infections and skin infections and you will not be able to understand why.  Not until there is a spike in humidity or a flood or leak will the mold show itself on the outside of your walls.  If you were to use a mold testing kit at least once a year you would be able to track the cause of infection and clean up your home creating a better environment for your family.

Mold testing kits will be able to tell you where there is an outbreak of mold in your home.  Mold feeds off of drywall, cardboard, dust mites and other fibers.  Since there are mold spores everywhere you may not be able to detect a problem.  It will not be until a humidity spike in the atmosphere that you will see the mold.  What happens during a humidity spike it that there is humidity condensing into liquid on the walls of your home and if there happens to be poor ventilation the mold will feed and rapidly multiply. 

It is easier to see the mold appear after a flood or leak because there is damage done to the house itself.  In areas of water damage you will be able to tell if an area should be treated with bleach.  When there is water damage you will be more likely to air out the affected area and make sure it dries well.  Hidden mold in the home is what you do not see and are unable to smell and these areas are best discovered by mold testing kits.

You will find that many mold testing kits are very easy to use.  There are options out there to have mold testing kits that work by the day and mold testing kits that work for a few months up to a year at a time.  The more active you are at preventing the mold in your home the healthier your family will be.

Bathrooms in a home are one of the few rooms that are constantly bombarded by water.  Whether it is from the toilets, sinks, showers, or baths, there is a constant threat to the structures surrounding these fixtures.  This threat is bathroom mold and it can be seen in nearly every bathroom that is used.  It is a fungus that is responsible for the unsightly black spots on walls or fixtures.  However, it is more than just an eyesore. 

This threat of bathroom mold can actually destroy bathrooms, and even framing if it is left untreated.  Also, this Bathroom mold can be a health concern.   As it grows, mold produces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause health problems such as upper respiratory distress, chronic headaches, skin rashes, flu like symptoms, sinus congestion, and nausea. Excessive exposure to VOCs can damage the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.  For all these reasons, cosmetic, structural, and health related; it is important to keep the level of bathroom mold to a minimum.  

The number one cause of bathroom mold is faulty or mislaid sealing and caulk jobs.  Tile is laid in bathrooms in order to keep the water away from and out of the walls.  If the tiles leaks, water droplets will seep through the tile and or grout and into the Sheetrock and framing of the house.  This is a situation that will undoubtedly turn into bathroom mold, and so as a preventative measure it is a good idea to re-grout bathroom tiles n floors.  Also, when installing the drywall for these bathrooms it is a good idea to coat them with a plastic barrier to prevent water from reaching t hem and creating bathroom mold.  Although the problem can be corrected with construction, it is a better idea to stop it at the start, and make sure that all bathrooms are properly treated for this problem.

Mold is a serious health problem that affects anyone who is in close contact with these fungi.  Though mold serves a purpose in the outside environment, it is a health risk to live or work in a facility or environment that is full of mold spores.  Unfortunately, not all molds are readily identified or recognized.  Sometimes, mold can grow in an inconspicuous place and you may not be able to recognize its signs or presence.  In these situations, it is very beneficial to use a mold kit to help identify the presence of mold.

A mold kit is an important tool that you can use in the fight against mold. Some molds are more harmful than others, so not only will your mold kit help you determine if mold spores are present, but a mold kit will also help you identify the type of mold that you are dealing with.  Once you know the type of mold problem you have, you can treat it effectively.

Mold is extremely dangerous to the health and well being of babies, infants, people with compromised immune systems, the elderly, and pregnant women.  If you have an infant or a newborn baby, you should check your home for mold.  The best way to do this is with a mold kit.  Some types of mold are invisible to the naked eye and aren’t detectable by smell.  The only way to determine if mold is growing in your home or office is to use a mold kit.

There are a number of different mold kits that you can use and they are readily available.  You should check for mold and if it is detected, you will need to remove it immediately.  If the source of the mold problem is generally localized or in a small area, you can more than likely treat the mold yourself and remove the problem.  However, if the mold is widespread and in an inaccessible area, the best course of action may be to have a professional come and eradicate the problem.

Carpet mold is a really nasty thing to think about.  It stinks.  It’s usually ugly.  And it can actually make us sick.

Mold spores are everywhere – in the air and on every surface, inside or out.  A little mold is usually not a problem and we don’t even know it’s there.  When the conditions are right for growth of a mold colony, however, things can get out of hand quickly.

Carpet mold colonies begin when carpet becomes damp consistently or for an extended length of time.  This might happen when water pipes or the roof spring a leak.  Even a small leak can lead to an unsightly, even dangerous, mold colony so even the small repairs need to be completed in a timely manner.

In order to become an issue, the microorganisms that make carpet mold need moisture to live in and something to eat.  The leak provides the moisture and almost everything that falls onto the carpet becomes a feast for the mold.

The organisms that cause carpet mold feed on all the foods and beverages we do so any spills will leave a residue behind.  So will pet hair, human hair, and the dead skin cells we constantly slough off without even knowing it.  These things don’t seem too appetizing to us but the mold loves them.

Even the most meticulously cleaned carpets and rugs are subject to invasion by carpet mold because the amount of feeding matter and moisture required of these tiny creatures is much smaller than we can see and much smaller than most cleaning devices or solutions can eliminate entirely.

It takes a long time for a carpet mold colony to build to noticeable proportions under normal everyday wear.  People who have allergies to mold may get headaches or other allergic symptoms from the carpet but most people will not notice it.

It’s when really big problems occur that carpet mold becomes a problem for just about everybody.  Burst pipes due to freezing weather conditions; storm damage from rain or windstorms. tornadoes, or hurricanes; or prolonged periods of neglect cause the most obvious carpet mold problems.

Repairing the damage done by any of these situations will certainly eliminate the source of the problem but may not be enough to eliminate the carpet mold build-up.

It’s likely to be months before a colony becomes big enough to be detected.  It’s not unusual that the problem will call for replacing carpet, flooring, and perhaps even walls months after the original problem occurs if carpet mold issues aren’t addressed at the onset of the problem.

And it’s almost impossible to thoroughly remove carpet mold colonies without the help of professional technicians trained and equipped to remedy the problem in a way that is safe for everyone.

Mold is the cause of many allergies.  As a fungus, mold is an important part of the natural environment.  It helps break down decaying leaves, trees, plants, and other organic material.  However, when it is in your home, it is a serious health factor.  Mold in the home must be removed, cleaned, and prevented.  However, if you are allergic to mold, you’ll find that you may have a difficult time being outside when the mold count is high.

Like the pollen count, the mold count measures how many mold spores are in the air in a twenty-four hour period.  When the mold count is high, allergy sufferers know that they will need to take extra precaution to avoid the implications and effects of mold allergy.

By using the mold count, people can ensure that they stay healthy and avoid being outside on days when there is an excessive amount of mold spores in the air.  Mold spreads in the air through spores.  When spores land, they multiply quickly. In fact, people can breathe in millions of mold spores within minutes.  For those with mold allergies, this can have disastrous results.

Some of the symptoms of mold allergies include a runny nose, congestion, sinus headache, nausea, watery eyes, and coughing.  People respond to mold in different ways, and for some people, a high mold count will not cause them any problems.  However, for some people, such as babies, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with a compromised immune system, high mold levels can cause sickness and great discomfort.  Many people with asthma find that mold allergy creates serious symptoms such as labored breathing, and shortness of breath.  When there is a high level of mold in the air, it is very important for those who are sick, weak, or sensitive to mold to avoid contact with mold spores.