How To Get Your House Checked For Mold

Can Mold Be Completely Removed From A House

Mold solutions are usually called mold remediation because in most cases, mold cannot be removed completely from a home. You can remove affected items and stop more mold from growing but once mold has been established in a material it will be there forever.

Mold can go into hibernation, essentially, which means it will stop growing and producing spores, which is the next best thing to complete removal.

What Kills Mold Permanently

Nothing. Mold doesnt really die so much as it goes into hibernation. Hibernation of mold however, is as good as dead to humans. As long as mold isnt growing and spreading, it is pretty much harmless.

The only way to keep mold away permanently is to make sure the environment is uninhabitable for the mold. No excess moisture, no leaks, no rotting organic material will keep mold from being able to grow back.

Protect Others And The Building

If you decide to clean the mold yourself, it is important to protect yourself and the other people in the building. When cleaning a large amount of mold, consider the following:

• Remove furnishings and items from the work area.
• Enclose and seal mold material in plastic before carrying them through the home.
• Cover air supply and return vents in the work area.
• Use a fan to pull contaminated air out of the work area and exhaust it outdoors.
• Consider renting an air scrubber to operate in the area .
• Remove the outer layer of work clothing inside the work area and wash separately, or bag and discard the clothing.

Read Also: Cleaning Mold On Boat Seats

You Have Specific Health Concerns

Sometimes a patient might be suffering from headaches, constant sneezing, or coughing indoors without an obvious cause. Because people differ in their sensitivity to mold, a doctor might recommend a home mold test to rule out mold spores as a possible source of irritation, even if mold is not visible.

Do I Need A Mold Remediation Professional

The answer to this question depends on a lot of factors, such as how big the mold problem is, what surface the mold is growing on, and how handy you are. But, in general, the answer is that the smaller the mold problem, the less likely you are to need a professional.

Mold problems go hand in hand with water problems, so when youve got a water leak or flooding that isnt taken care of quickly, mold is usually soon to follow. But it doesnt just take a catastrophic water event to bring on mold. For example, almost every home I have been to has some mold growing in the bathroom.

Now, Im no doctor, but Id stake my reputation on stating that common bathroom mold in your tub or shower isnt going to kill you. But lets face it its gross, its unattractive, and it doesnt give you a feeling of cleanliness. The reason its so prominent in homes is because the bathroom is a high humidity environment, and most people dont take the time to properly ventilate it and dry it out.

But do you need to spend a lot of money on a mold professional to get rid of bathroom mold in your tub or shower? No! It is completely unnecessary. Any moderately handy person can buy some over the counter mold cleaner and clean their tile and grout and replace their caulking all for the grand total price of under $10! Just make sure to ventilate your bathroom going forward, so all your hard work wont be wasted.

Also Check: How To Remove Mold From Linoleum Floors

Can You Get Sick From Mold In Your House

Yes. Those will allergies, compromised immune systems, asthma, or other such issues are at a higher risk as even minor, non-toxic molds could cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. Mold in your house is rarely life-threatening. However, prolonged exposure is far from ideal for a number of reasons.

How To Test For Mold

This article was co-authored by Bridgett Price. Bridgett Price is a Cleaning Guru and Co-Owner of Maideasy, a maid service company that services the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing.There are 19 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 272,554 times.

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in moist environments and reproduces by microscopic seeds called spores. Even if youre healthy, you can suffer from respiratory issues, skin irritation, and headaches if youre exposed to dangerous forms of mold.XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source If you share your home with children, elderly loved ones, or anyone with respiratory problems, theyre at an even greater risk. Therefore, its very important to learn how to find, test for, and treat mold. This knowledge could improve your health and even save your life.

Don’t Miss: How To Clean Mold From A Leather Jacket

When Should I Have My House Tested For Mold

• View Larger Image

Its not always necessary to do a home check for moldsometimes its in an easily-accessible area that you can see plainly, but other times mold can proliferate quickly and hide in hard-to-get-to places, like inside walls, under carpets, and in crawlspaces.

Because mold can adversely affect the health of you, your family and pets, its best to have your home tested if you suspect there is an infestation. There are key moments in which its wise for a mold remediation company to test your home, and if mold is found, to remove it promptly and safely:

• When you are purchasing a new residence
• If flooding or a leak has occurred somewhere in your home
• If you smell a musty odor
• If you or your family are suffering from unexplained illnesses like chronic sinus infections, chronic sore throats, frequent headaches, coughing, wheezing, unexplained rashes or hives, or
• unexplained fatigue.
• If you merely suspect theres mold in your home that you cant find.

Treating The Affected Areas

Read Also: How To Remove Mold From Pavers

Finding A Qualified Professional Mold Tester

If you need a house mold test, just follow this link to get a list of experienced certified mold testers in your area.

Additional Reading:

Mold Inspection Cost – Find out what is involved in a typical mold inspection. The cost will depend on the scope of the inspection, and whether or not testing is conducted.

DIY Mold Test Reviews – We examine the most popular home mold testing kits.

Mold Testing Equipment – Review of equipment used by professionals to evaluate and test your home for mold.

The Bottom Line On Testing For Mold

The cleanup procedures for treating mold are the same, whether it is black mold or another type, so it isnt always necessary to test for mold if you can see or smell it. But if you have a specific reason for identifying types of mold in your home or suspect you have mold but cant find the source, a do-it-yourself mold test is extremely easy to conduct.

You May Like: How To Clean Mold Off Plastic Cutting Board

How Is Mold Tested

There are mold tests a homeowner can buy and use, but these do-it-yourself kits are very limited and may not provide accurate results, especially if the mold problem is a large one. Improper handling can give incorrect test results as well.

Mold is usually tested in a few different ways by a mold remediation professional. The first is a simple visual inspection to determine where the problem is located. If its in plain sight or not, your mold remediation specialist will take air samples from the affected areas to test for mold spores in the air, or swab a surface from the affected room. Any of these actions will reveal the extent of your mold problem and what should be done to tackle it.

How To Detect Mold In Your Basement Or Home

You won’t always know if there is mold in a house you’re considering buying, but you can take a few easy steps to try and find out.

Be on the lookout for mold. When you’re thinking about buying a home, look for the elements above to figure out if there are any obvious signs of mold or the potential for mold. Keep your eyes peeled for standing water in the basement, water marks on walls , or musty smells .

If you’re looking at a newer home, find out whether it is built with “synthetic stucco,” also called the Exterior Insulation and Finish System . This airtight barrier is supposed to improve insulation but, if improperly installed, may allow water penetration and mold growth on the inside of walls.

Ask your home inspector. If you have the home professionally inspected before you buy it, your home inspector may see obvious signs of mold or water damage. While it’s not the inspector’s job to look for mold, most home inspectors will mention obvious signs of water damage and the possible presence of mold. And, because the inspector will poke around in spaces you might not, he or she may see things you wouldn’t. For more information, see the Nolo article, “Getting a Home Inspection.”

In states where mold disclosure is not required, you can still ask for such disclosure. In addition, ask questions about things that could lead to mold growth, such as “Have any pipes ever burst?” or “Have any of the windows ever leaked?”

Also Check: How To Clean Mold From Boat Seats

Condensation On Windows Window Frames And Sills

• Promptly repair any leaks.
• Lower the indoor moisture levels.
• Use exhaust bathroom fans and a kitchen range hood.
• Keep window coverings open to move the warm air over the windows .
• Keep baseboards or heating vents clear of furniture to make sure the heat flows.
• Dry your window frames and sills daily to keep water from dripping and causing mould to grow.
• Leave interior doors open for good air and heat flow.
• Unplug and remove humidifiers.

Consider Inside The Walls

In warm, moist environments, impermeable vinyl wall covering can trap most air inside walls as the air moves from the warm outdoors to the cool interior.

This degrades the drywall and the adhesive behind the wall covering.

This is hard to check unless you remove the wall covering. If you can, replace with permeable material to allow these areas to dry.

Also Check: Cleaning Mold Off Plastic

Why Is Mold Inspection Important

Mold inspections are important because certain types of mold can be harm to the health of you and your family. While there are at-home mold kits you can purchase and learn how to use yourself, it is highly recommended to utilize the services of a professional inspector.

Air testing is performed to determine whether there is hidden mold in the house. Mold spores float around in the air until they find an area conductive to growth. If the surface is moist, mold spores can take hold and grow. The mold typically develops in dark, moist places, slowly spreading over time. It can be some time before you notice the presence of mold, especially if it is forming in areas such as the attic, basement, or within the walls.

As the mold spreads, it can cause damage to whatever surface it is growing on. If the mold has been in the home undetected or untreated for some time, it can cause larger issues.

Many types of mold that form in the home cause health problems in humans and animals. Those who already have asthma, allergies, or weakened immune systems are at increased risk of these issues. Initial health issues due to the presence of mold can be eye irritation, fatigue, and respiratory problems. Mold is also especially harmful to children. Just a few days of exposure to mold can cause health problems, so finding and removing mold via a mold remediation specialist is a top priority.

If Mold Is Present What Will The Removal Process Be Like

That depends on the extent of your problem. Your mold remediation specialist will write a report based on test findings and send it a lab for analysis. After that amount of mold is established, steps will then be recommended for proper mold removal.

Mold removal can be a complicated and costly process if you attempt it on your own. To make sure your mold problem does not return, leave the work up to the pros. They will not only set up the proper equipment and contain the negative air to prevent it from spreading to other areas of you home they will make sure to remove and clean affected objects from the area properly so your mold problem doesnt return. Finally, the mold remediation specialist will give you the all clear when your home is mold-free.

Recommended Reading: Mold In Bathroom Ceiling

Guide To Mold Remediation

Think you might have mold spreading throughout your home in Fort Myers? Its not uncommon. Mold just needs a little warmth and a little moisture. From there, it can experience explosive growth, allowing it to colonize any area of your home. Mold remediation is the answer to your challenge, but you may have some questions about the process.

Is Mold Remediation All I Need?

No. While mold remediation is an important, even vital, step, its only one of several. In addition to removing the mold from your home, its also essential that the water leak that caused the mold growth in the first place is located and repaired.

Is My Home Infested by Black Mold?

Black mold is very common, but it is only one of over 300,000 types of mold that could ultimately grow in your home. The best way to identify the mold is to have it inspected and tested.

Should I Clean Mold on My Own?

If you notice small patches of mold that are growing only on a hard surface, it can be cleaned using a little water and bleach. However, make sure to wear a face mask. In addition, larger mold patches on porous surfaces, such as sheetrock, should be handled by a professional, as they can be very difficult to handle on your own.

How Long After Water Damage Does Mold Start Growing?

If you have experienced any sort of water incursion, mold can begin growing in as little as 24 hours, making mold remediation essential.

Is There A Device To Check For Mold

Other equipment professional mold testers may have includes a hygrometer, a device that measures the relative humidity, or amount of moisture, in the air. Mold generally grows best in places with relative humidity above 60 percent, so using a hygrometer helps professionals determine where they need to test for mold.

Also Check: How To Remove Mold From Patio Pavers

Pick Up At Least Two Diy Mold Test Kits

One of the most highly rated is made by Mold Inspection Network You can pick one up here for a little less money than what Home Depot or Lowes sells test kits for.

It comes with three surface testers. This is usually enough, but they can quickly be used up say if youre testing your bathroom, kitchen, the air inside your home and the air outside your home.

If you can swing it, pick up two of these mold testers and youll be able to do a complete check of your immediate living environment. Trust me, this lets you rest easier.

The Trouble With Mold In The Home

Mold is a fungus that comes in various colors and shapes. While some molds are visible and even odorous, mold can also grow between walls, under floors and ceilings, or in less accessible spots, such as basements and attics. Mold does best in water-soaked materials , but can survive in almost any damp location. Mold can grow in houses situated in the desert, and it can grow in homes in hot and humid climes.

Here are some common places in a home where mold is likely to take hold:

• around leaking pipes, windows, or roofs
• basements or other places that have flooded and haven’t been thoroughly dried
• tightly sealed buildings , which trap excess moisture inside, and
• homes with poor ventilation, numerous over-watered houseplants, and housekeeping habits that ignore obvious dampness and don’t include airing the place out.

Besides presenting an ugly appearance and, sometimes, an unpleasant odor, mold can cause health problems. In the worst cases, a few types of molds produce mycotoxins, which can cause rashes, seizures, unusual bleeding, respiratory problems, and severe fatigue in some people. Fortunately, most molds are of the non-toxic variety.

For more on the hazards of mold, see the article on this site: Toxic Mold Health Risks and the resources listed below.

Read Also: Mold And Mildew Remover For Boats