Healthful Home Five Minute Mold Test
In my opinion, this is one of the besttests on the market. This test offers the fastest results on the planet. Asimplied in the name, your mold test results are ready in five minutes. How isthat possible?
This kituses a swab and two collection trays to detect mold. To begin testing for mold,you wipe the swab across dust or visible mold and secure the cap. The cap is a liquid bulb that you break,which releases liquid over the collection sample. You then put five drops ofthis liquid into the collection trays, and after five minutes, the testindicates whether it detected mold or not.
One ofthe two collection trays is dedicated to detecting black mold. However,because the kit has such a small sample area, a negative reading on the testdoes not guarantee that mold is not growing in your house.
Pros of the Healthful Home Mold Test Kit
- Accredited by theAmerican Industrial Hygiene Association.
- Easy to use just three quick steps
- Patented technology that makes it the mostsensitive mold test on the market
- Detects molds often missed by traditional airsettling samples
- Takes five minutes
- Can identify a wide range of molds includingsome of the most dangerous species
Cons of the Healthful Home Mold Test Kit
- Lab analysis is available but for an extrafee.
- No bags are included to submit samples to thelab
Average Price of the Healthful Home Mold TestKit
$44.99 for one home mold test kit.
Purchase the Healthful HomeMold Test Kit Here
Mold Test Kit Conclusion
Keep in mind that you can never be too safe when testing building materials for black mold. Occupational safety should always be a priority. When indoor air isnt clean, health issues will arise.
According to the American Industrial Hygiene Association , mold spores are a serious health risk. With mold test kits, you can send your mold tests to a lab for mold analysis by a professional. You may not realize it, but your home is a petri dish for mold and bacteria growth.
Surface testing usually takes 5 minutes. Each kit tests for black mold and other types of mold. With advanced lab testing, you may have to wait seven days for lab analysis to receive results. Regardless, after you receive your results, a free consultation is usually provided. However, mold testing is something every homeowner should know how to do.
Air testing is necessary because mold spores are dangerous and can lead to major health problems. Mold is more prevalent in humid climates, where a dehumidifier is needed. The thing about mold is that if left untreated, it will spread. If you want to keep your family and home protected, remove mold from your living spaces as soon as you see it.
The 7 Best Mold Test Kits
By Jennifer First published: . This post may contain affiliate links.
The subject of testing for mold is a complex one and really varies from situation to situation. I have an entire page dedicated to the basics of mold testing so please head over there and give it a read.
Now that you are up to speed on whyyou should test for mold, when you should test for mold, and the various moldtest options, lets talk about those DIY mold test kits.
Home mold tests can also be referredto as a black mold test kit, a mold detection kit, and a petri test. They areall one in the same and employ one of two testing methods.
Read Also: How To Remove Mold From Toilet Rim
Moldinspection Network Diy Mold Test Kit
Unlike theother tests mentioned here, the DIY Mold Test Kit relies on the tape liftmethod for mold testing. This makes in much more useful if you have visiblemold. However, it also makes it more accurate.
Basicallyyou place the tape against the area that has mold or that you suspect it hasmold. You seal it up and send it to the lab for analysis.
Pros of the Mold Inspection NetworkDIY Mold Test Kit
- Very easy to use with clearinstructions
- Includes three tape lift tests so youget more bang for your buck
- Detailed report with qualityinformation provided about the various types of mold spores tested for.
Cons of the Mold Inspection NetworkDIY Mold Test Kit
- Additional lab fee of $24 for residenceof Texas
- Does not give you specific counts formold
- Not as many species of mold testedalthough the most dangerous types of mold are accounted for.
- The kit is notcertified by the American Industrial Hygiene Association.
Average Price of the Mold InspectionNetwork DIY Mold Test Kit
$45 whichincludes three tests
Learn Why White Vinegar Removes Mold Better Than Bleach
Vinegar is a bold mold killer. According to ServiceMaster Restoration and Cleaning, the mild acid in vinegar kills about 82% of known molds and can help prevent future outbreaks.
You can clean small amounts of mold with vinegar yourself, but be aware of when you should call professionals. Besides a crisis, such as a flooded home, the Environmental Protection Agency advises hiring professionals when the moldy patch covers about 10 square feet or larger.
From bed to bath to kitchen, heres a list of reasons why cleaning with vinegar is a good idea. Not sure how to start? Keep reading to learn how to clean mold with vinegar.
Also Check: Can You See Black Mold
Are Home Mold Test Kits Accurate
DIY mold test kits are not always the best option when testing for mold inside your home, but the ones featured in this article will get the job done. Keep in mind that home mold should always be taken seriously.
With some DIY mold test kits, one problem is that spore levels analyzed by a lab are not accurate nor can some of them detect hidden mold.
Simple Tips To Reduce Condensation & Black Mould
Mould on walls is often the result of excess moisture in the air, leading to condensation. These simple tips help you reduce the amount of moisture in the air.
For more tips on reducing condensation in specific areas, check out our following guides:
Also Check: How To Remove Mold From Car Carpet
Testing For Mold In Your Home
If you hire a professional mold inspector to come to your home, theyll take samples from three areasthe air, the surface, and surrounding dust. They send these samples to a third-party laboratory to find out the concentration and kinds of mold in those particular areas.
However, this procedure takes time and isnt cheap. Fortunately, testing for mold in your home is a relatively easy task that can give you faster results and save you money. If youve done everything you can to prevent mold but still have reason to think the air you breathe is compromised with mold spores, check strategic locations for visible signs of mold.
Common areas of mold growth include:
- Areas around plumbing lines, even behind the drywall
- Coils of HVAC air handlers or ductwork
- Between the furniture and exterior walls, particularly in basements or concrete block houses
How To Treat Mold On Walls Before Painting
posted on February 21, 2022
It is essential to remove mold on walls before painting as painting moldy walls only hides the problem. The mold will be back in 3-4 months. This article explains how you to treat moldy walls before painting them.
Just a Safety Tip: Wear protective equipment while treating mold. You will need a face mask , safety goggles, and long gloves .
Don’t Miss: How To Prevent Mold From Spreading
Remove Mold From Tile Walls
One of the most common places you will find black mold is on the tiles and grout in bathrooms, kitchens and the laundry room. The good news is that tile is a non-porous surface, so it is one of the easiest places for removing it. The grout, if it has been sealed, cleaning will be much easier.If the grout is unsealed, it can be removed with cleaning, but it just requires a little more elbow grease than if it had been sealed.
Perform A Visual Inspection
If you suspect you have mold, the first step is to perform a thorough visual inspection of your home. You will recognize mold as spots that can appear in many different colors. Mold thrives on moisture, so pay particular attention to roofs, windows, pipes, basements, laundry areas, bathrooms, previously flooded spaces, and so on. Mold commonly appears on fibrous surfaces like drywall, upholstery, wallpaper, fabrics, and cardboard. If you see any signs of mold, call a professional.
You May Like: Are Mold Inspections Worth It
Mailing Samples To The Laboratory
Standard: Place sample to be tested in the enclosed postage pre-paid envelope along with the information form, and a check, money order or credit card payment for $40 . Mail immediately to PRO-LAB® P.O. Box 267730, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33326-9914. Within seven business days after PRO-LAB® has received your sample, we will email your results that list the type of mold, pollen and dust mites present in your home or office. You may also print and view your results at www.prolabresults.com.
Expedited: Express service is available for an additional $15, or a total of $55. In order to use the express service, you must send the sample to be tested, information form, and the proper payment to PRO-LAB® using an overnight shipping service such as FedEx, Airborne Express, DHL, UPS or U.S. Mail Priority Overnight. Send the sample to PRO-LAB® 1675 N. Commerce Parkway, Weston, FL 33326. . Within two business days of our receipt of your sample, you will receive an email of your results. You may also print and view your results at www.prolabinc.com/results/.
Why Use A Mold Test Kit
There are several reasons why you might want to test for mold. For one thing, its an accurate method of determining if you have a mold issue in your home or business. A mold test kit can also provide Michigan home- and business-owners with detailed results about a specific area or roomand even tell you what type of mold youre dealing with. This makes it much easier to identify how to treat the issue and make sure it doesnt come back later down the road. Check out some of the best-home mold tests, recommended by Spruce.
Recommended Reading: How To Remove Mold Spores From House
Reasons Mold Test Kits Waste Your Money
The most important part of a mold inspection is the inspection, not the mold samples.Mold samples can be misleading, are sometimes incorrect with both false positive and false negative results occurring, and can only be accurately interpreted in conjunction with a well thought out sampling plan and visual inspection. The visual inspection requires an understanding of building construction, water sources, and other factors that may not be apparent to many people, such as condensation occurring in a poorly ventilated attic, poor drainage on the exterior of a building, or cracks in the foundation.
Mold growth on painted wall.Source: Eurofins EMLab P& K
Consumer Reports rates home mold test kits Not Recommended.In 2006, Consumer Reports evaluated four different types of home mold testing kits and rated all of them Not Recommended, including typical comments like this one for the Pro-Lab MO109 mold test kit:
In some samples, the vials with media leaked over entire kit. In one, an unopened kit was moldy. No expiration dates on the kit old media could affect the accuracy and reliability of the results. Label claims that kit can identify toxic mold, but the report the lab sends cant tell you this. One unused plate came back positive for mold growth, indicating contamination at some point not very reassuring for post remediation use.
Hidden mold growth behind wood baseboard.Source: Eurofins EMLab P& K
My Mold Detective Mmd103 Mold Test Kit 3
The My Mold Detective mold test kit is a comprehensive kit that allows you to test multiple spaces so that, if there is extensive water damage or questionable visible substances that seem suspicious, you can easily cover everything with a single kit.
The test is quick and simple to complete, taking only five minutes, and a timer so you dont mistakenly cut the sample off too soon or waste extra time waiting. You also have options regarding how many samples you want. There are three indoor cartridges and one outdoor cartridge for collecting samples.
Rather than collecting samples in a petri dish, the 15-liter air sampling pump draws in air to test the quality and capture any mold spores or other allergens that are potentially harmful to your family. Once youve completed the sampling, the cartridges can be shipped to the lab technicians for standard analysis.
These require additional fees at the time you go online to register your samples for review. Because the device is reusable, youll never have to rent other expensive equipment to test your space or have a professional come in to take samples for high fees.
When the lab finishes its analysis, they will provide you with results that let you know if you have any problems you need to address, detailing for you what types, if any, of harmful mold and toxins are found in the air samples.
Pros:
Also Check: How To Find The Source Of Mold In Your Home
Reviews For Mould Test Kit
Mike Cunningham
Purchased this for testing mould levels indoors, did the job.
David Anderson December 10, 2020
Ordered a test kit, was extremely well put together, and worked as intended. Only downside I found was the price and the instructions werent very clear as different on the box to the actual instruction sheet.
Charles Babb December 10, 2020
I have ordered a mold test kit which was delivered within the next few days, easy to use and that we had the report back could of weeks later. The girl within the office was very nice and helpful.
Craig Oliver December 21, 2020
Had an issue with a test kit, Sysco was so welcoming on the phone and helpful, helped me understand the different test kits as well as what suits me best.
John Meade December 21, 2020
Mould test kit came over a week late from when I ordered it. After I raised this issue, they sorted it in a timely fashion. Would still recommend.
Samuel Rosenberg
Mould test kit, easy to use, results came a little later than expected.
George Ramos
Test kit results in 4 days late from what was expected.
Paul Benton
Mould test kit was hard to understand, instructions on box different to paper instructions.
James Tomlin December 22, 2020
Mould test kit came and was defective. Contacted Sysco and they fixed the error but was an inconvenience.
Types Of Home Mold Test Kits
Method one is a petri dish type mold test.
The user leaves the open petri dish in a room for a specific period of time and then allows the petri dish to grow whatever landed on it. The specific mold test should come with a chart showing you what the various types of mold that might grow on the petri dish look like. You can then determine if mold might be growing in that area of your home.
The limitation with this method is two fold. First, airborne mold spores can change second by second. So you likely are not getting an accurate look at what is going on in your home. Secondly, you dont know exactly what type of mold is growing as a lot of molds are the same color and texture.
There is a more advanced option with the petri dish testing in that you can send the dishes into a lab where they will analyze the colonies that grow and email you a report telling you exactly what was growing on the petri dish. Again, you are limited by what spores were floating around at that exact moment but at least you have a better idea of the types of mold that may be in your home.
In order for the petri dish method tobe even halfway effective, you really need to put a test plate in every room ofyour house.
These petri dishes can also be used toconduct surface mold sampling where you use a swab to collect a sample of anyvisible mold. Then you transfer the contents of the swab onto the petri dish.The analysis works the same way.
Method two is a tape lift type of test.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of Black Mold In Pool
How A Diy Toxic Mold Test Kit Saved Me Hundreds Of Dollars
Last year when I rented a fixer upper house in the Atlanta area, I got a good deal on the rent in exchange for doing some cosmetic work to the interior of the house. This should have been a red flag but, being an optimist, I jumped on it. Little did I know, the house needed more than a bit of lipstick.
After I ripped up the carpet, refinished the floors, and painted the whole interior, a foul odor still lingered. I tried everything to get rid of the smell from air purifiers to specialized cleaning solutions. Nothing seemed to work.
