I Found Mold Growing In My Home How Do I Test The Mold
If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home, and CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk.
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Cleaning Up Small And Medium Mould Problems
Bleach is not necessary to clean up mould.
You can clean up small areas of mould if you follow the proper procedures and use the right protective equipment. Unless the mould growth is on smooth surfaces such as bathroom tiles, surface cleaning will not eliminate the problem.
In most cases you can clean up medium areas of mould if you follow the proper procedures and use the right protective equipment. Materials damaged by mould must be physically removed and disposed of under safe conditions. However, it is important to seek professional assistance if there is a large mould problem or if mould comes back after cleaning.
Susceptible individuals such as pregnant women, infants, children, the elderly, and occupants with asthma, allergies or other health problems should not be in or near the area where the mould is being cleaned up.
Minimum protective gear needed:
- a disposable N95 mask and
- household disposable gloves.
You can purchase an N95 mask from a hardware store. Make sure that the label says “N95”. Other masks are designed to provide limited protection against dust and are not suitable for protecting against mould exposure. Make sure that the mask is properly fitted and you can breathe through the mask.
Common Mold Hiding Places
All mold needs to grow is moisture, darkness, and warmth, but where exactly should you look when you suspect a mold problem? Here are a few familiar places around the house where mold is likely to grow :
- Behind appliances such as a refrigerator or dishwasher.
- Behind drywalls where plumbing pipes are located.
- Underneath cardboard or old newspapers.
- Under carpets, particularly in the padding.
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Signs You Have Mold In Your Home And What To Do
- Working Time: 15 mins – 1 wk, 3 days
- Total Time: 15 mins – 1 wk, 3 days
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- Estimated Cost: $10 to 5,000
Mold spores are everywhere: some are beneficial, some are destructive. Mold spores become a problem in your home when they find a warm, moist spot and begin to feed on organic matter and grow. Mold can be destructive and harmful to your health if it takes hold in your home.
Luckily, there are certain warning signs that mold is present to help protect your health and property before the situation becomes extreme. Learn these seven signs that you may have a mold problem.
Best For Multiple Rooms: Mold Armor Fg500 Do It Yourself Mold Test Kit
Courtesy of Home Depot
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Includes petri dish, swab, and growing medium
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Results visible within 48 hours
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Can test from air or surface samples
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Lab testing fees are extra
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May need multiple kits to complete testing
The cost of testing samples for mold growth can quickly add up. However, you can use an affordable at-home test kit, like this version from Mold Armor, as a starting point to determine if you have mold present in your home, office, or car. This self-testing kit includes everything you need to sample and test one area of concern. It includes a single petri dish, growing medium, and swab, along with the directions for how to carry out the test. However, to sample several areas of your home or compare indoor and outdoor air quality, you will need to buy multiple testing kits.
One of the advantages of this budget at-home mold test kit is that youll typically be able to determine if you have mold growth within 48 hours of collecting a sample. If you want a lab analysis to determine the type of mold, you can mail the sample to Mold Armors AIHA-accredited facility. Keep in mind that this will give you more detailed results, but will also increase the price of this budget test kit as each sample costs $40 to analyze.
Price at time of publish: $10
Test Type: Petri dish | Result Type: Self-report, lab report | Analysis Fees: Yes | Expert Consultation: No | Number of Samples: 1
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When To Call An Expert
If the moldy area is smallitâs growing in an area smaller than 3 feet by 3 feetyou can probably do a DIY cleanup. The CDC recommends wearing an N-95 respirator and protective eyewear and gloves while handling mold. After youâve fixed any plumbing leaks and cleaned up the water, you can scrub off the mold with a bleach solution made from no more than 1 cup of laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water.
You could also call in a professional if the water-damaged or moldy area is larger than 3 feet by 3 feet. As there are no federal mold regulations, the CDC recommends finding a specialist whoâs affiliated with or certified by the National Environmental Health Association, the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification, or the American Council for Accredited Certification. If you donât see or smell mold but suspect itâs hiddenyou know there has been water damage behind a wall or beneath a floor, for examplean experienced professional can also help find the source.
Because it can have a negative effect on health, itâs important to address mold if you see it, smell it or sense it in your home. Fortunately, and often with the help of a professional, you can clean it up and create a mold-free, safe home.
How To Test For Black Mold In The Air
Are you breathing black mold? For your healths sake, its important to find out. Most airborne molds are capable of harming certain people, but toxic black mold presents a particular risk. Even short-term exposure to black mold can be dangerous to health.
When people talk about toxic black mold, theyre referring to a specific variety known as Stachybotrys chartarum. Like all molds, black mold is insidious its hard to find and even harder to remove. Just because you can find a visible mold colony, doesnt mean youre not inhaling its spores and byproducts.
If you suspect black mold is growing in your home, its a good idea to run a test before beginning the expensive remediation process. While youre investigating, make sure to run a high-quality air purifier for mold to protect yourself and your family. Keep reading to learn when and how to test for black mold.
If your home has a mold problem, its time to act. Protect your family by running a high-quality air purifier from Air Oasis. Questions about our purifiers? Give us a call at .
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Who Is Most At Risk For Health Problems Associated With Exposure To Mold
People with allergies may be more sensitive to molds. People with immune suppression or underlying lung disease are more susceptible to fungal infections. Individuals with chronic respiratory disease may experience difficulty breathing. Individuals with immune suppression are at increased risk for infection from molds. If you or your family members have these conditions, a qualified medical clinician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment.
Is There A Device That Can Detect Mold
In recent years, there has been a growing trend of people looking into the possibility of finding a device that can detect mold. There are a few reasons for this. The first reason is that mold is a very resilient and dangerous fungus. If it were to enter your home, it could cause permanent damage.
Additionally, many households are now using air-purifiers in order to try and prevent mold from becoming an issue. If you have suspicions that your home may be contaminated with mold, it would be best to contact your local health department in order to get more information about the specific detection devices available.
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What To Do When Finding Mold In Your Home
Make sure to call the experts at ServiceMaster to properly remediate your mold problem.
Be alert of any of the aforementioned signs. Such things are likely indicators that your homes walls have mold growing behind them. Considering the damage that mold can have on not only your homes building materials but also yours and others health, it is important that you address any mold growth immediately.
With that being said, if you find your home has mold growth, then you should seek professional mold remediation services. Professionals can thoroughly tend to the damage, contain the mold, prevent further damage and spreading, conduct necessary repairs or replacements, and even treat your home in a manner that prevents mold from returning.
Restoration professionals should be IICRC-certified and experienced to remove mold growth of all sizes. Shortly after receiving your call, their experts will be on their way to inspect the area. They will then contain the affected area to prevent the mold from spreading.
Licensed restoration companies use only the latest products and equipment in order to completely remove mold at its source. After a thorough remediation service, we will ensure that all areas have been restored to their original conditions, giving you the peace of mind that your home is safe from unsafe living conditions.
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Best Overall: Labtech Moldok Detection Test Kit
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Lab fees are only $15 per sample
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Includes expert consultation
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No option for self-reporting
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Not suitable for air testing
Test multiple samples easily and quickly with the help of the MoldOk Detection Test Kit. We like that this at-home mold test includes the supplies and instructions to collect up to 10 samples. This includes surface samples and bulk samples . You can use this mold testing kit to assess various areas of your home, garage, office, or vehicle for the presence of mold. It also means that you have the flexibility to sample as manyor as fewspots as you need to.
This isnt a self-reporting mold testing kit, so you will need to send samples to the AIHA-accredited lab for analysis, but the $15 testing fee per sample is significantly lower than the fees associated with other testing kits. The mold analysis will indicate the type of mold spores present in a sample, along with their relative concentration . In addition, you can take advantage of the free expert consultation hotline to discuss more details about the results.
A unique feature of this at-home mold testing kit is the option to test samples for an expanded profile that also indicates the presence of pollen, dust mites, fibers, and skin cells present in the sample. The add-on testing incurs an additional $15 fee, but it can be useful when assessing whether or not mold or other allergens may be causing discomfort or health complaints for you or your family.
Price at time of publish: $10
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How To Test For Toxic Mold
If you have mold in your home, your nose is one of the most inexpensive devises you can use to detect it. Mold smells, and chances are, youâll be able to detect the distinctive odor that taints the air around moldy walls, carpeting and other objects. The struggle is in understanding when mold is dangerous to your family or home.
The term toxic mold is a little confusing. Some molds, like Stachybotrys chartarum or black mold, produce mycotoxins, toxic substances that cause health problems in some people. There is no direct link yet between mold-produced toxins and serious conditions like idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage in infants, but there are concerns that exposure to these toxins can exacerbate existing lung conditions and allergies, and possibly cause problems in otherwise healthy people. Common molds that arenât considered toxic also have the potential to cause reactions in some people, which makes it important to get rid of any type of mold you find in your home as soon as possible, particularly if you suspect that someone in your family is having a reaction to it.
Mold can be scary. There are potential health implications for your family, and a mold outbreak can take a financial toll, too. Once established, mold can be very invasive, releasing millions of spores into your home. Many homeownersâ insurance policies now exclude or limit coverage for mold related problems.
First up, letâs learn a little more about household mold.
How Do Molds Affect People
Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin. Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath.
In 2004 the Institute of Medicine found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people with asthma symptoms in people with asthma and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition.
In 2009, the World Health Organization issued additional guidance, the WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould . Other recent studies have suggested a potential link of early mold exposure to development of asthma in some children, particularly among children who may be genetically susceptible to asthma development, and that selected interventions that improve housing conditions can reduce morbidity from asthma and respiratory allergies.
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Mold Armor Fg500 Do It Yourself Mold Test Kit
The Mold Armor kit includes a test swab, petri dish, and a bottle of mold growth medium. You can use this single kit in one of three waysto test the air for mold spores, to test air quality in your HVAC duct, or to test for surface mold.
To use the kit, pour the growth medium in the petri dish, replace the lid, and allow it to gel for one hour. Then, either allow it to remain open to the atmosphere for an air quality test, tape it to your air duct for a HVAC test, or use the swab to remove a sample from a surface and apply it to the growth medium for a surface test.
If after 48-96 hours mold begins to grow in your dish, you may choose to send it to a lab for analysis. With a price tag of under $10, this mold test kit is affordable. But the lab fee is an additional $40.
How Do These Chemicals Harm My Health
Entering the Body
The harm begins when a person is exposed to an environment that contains a large amount of mold. During this time, damaging enzymes in the mold may enter a persons lungs. After going into the lungs, the enzymes may bypass the persons gut barrier and go into their bloodstream.
Harming the Neurons
Once they are in the bloodstream, these harmful mold antigens may change the persons blood-brain barrier function. This alteration allows the antigens to go into the nervous system. From there, the antigens may harm the persons neurons and interrupt their production of needed antibodies.
The Negative Effects
The disruption of the persons immune system can cause a variety of negative health issues. People may suffer from immune suppression, eczema, allergies, and sinusitis. They may also experience headaches, hyperthyroidism, vomiting, and other negative effects. Mold exposure can also cause people to suffer from myalgic encephalitis, rheumatic disorders, and painful lymph nodes.
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Visible Discoloration Or Staining
If you see grey, black, green, or bluish specks along grout lines, on walls, or other surfaces, it is most likely mold. Keep an eye out for pink, red, or brown streaks, as well. The texture of mold can be powdery, fuzzy, or slimy. Dark water stains on walls, floors, or ceilings usually indicate the presence of mold.
Action to remove the mold should be taken immediately whether you can do it yourself or need a professional.
Common Types Of House Mold
Wondering what types of mold are the most common in houses and which ones you should be concerned about? Lets discuss a few of the most common types of household mold now.
- Cladosporium Cladosporium is one of the most common household molds. It usually grows in a greenish-brown colony, but can also be nearly black in color. It is rarely harmful unless you have a mold allergy, but may cause minor issues like toenail or fingernail infections.
- Penicillium Penicillium is sometimes called green mold, as it is usually dark green in color. It tends to grow in large, consistent patches on the walls. As the name suggests, penicillin is derived from some kinds of this mold. However, some kinds of penicillium mold may be toxic to humans and animals.
- Aspergillus This type of mold is usually greenish-white in color, and may be more raised with a more cloudy appearance than other types of mold. It is not harmful, unless you have a weakened immune system, in which case it could infect the lungs or sinuses.
- Alternaria Alternaria mold is usually greenish-white, but can also appear in black patches, so its sometimes confused with black mold. Alternaria can be a factor in exacerbating asthma, particularly for those who may have mold allergies.
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