As you are probably aware mold is a minuscule living organism. You have most certainly come across it on some forgotten bread or something lurking at the back of the refrigerator! However, this member of the fungi family will not just germinate on rotten food. It produces spores which circulate in the air and will quite happily settle and germinate on many different surfaces especially if they are made of cellulose so, items made from timber, natural fabrics like cotton, wool, leather, paper and cardboard.
The biggest cause of mold growth in dwellings is excess moisture caused by leaking water which has gone undetected or raised humidity due to lack of ventilation. The obvious places for mold to germinate are the areas of the home which are most likely to be damp, often the kitchen and bathroom, basements and crawl space/attic are also common areas associated with mold issues (mold will grow in glass fibre insulation.)
In many instances mold growing in your home is pretty harmless, whilst it may cause some irritation such as itchy eyes and is definitely not ideal for those already suffering from respiratory related illness such as asthma, it will do no real harm. However, there are other kinds of mold which are extremely toxic and detrimental to human health. For this reason, early mold detection and eradication in your home is essential.
MOLD DETECTION - it sounds very complicated and expensive! The truth is that it does not have to be. You could hire a mold inspector and in certain cases this is the only option, and this will cost you some hard earned money but, it is possible to do it yourself. How? Purely by being vigilant!
1. Searching for Mold:-
Mold will appear in a lot of different colors, for example black, green, grey or white. Mold is frequently described as having a "furry" look and will usually show up in patches for example on external walls, or in the grouting of tiles, on clothing or in closets - i.e. areas which are or have been damp/wet. Frequent mold detection inspections can often uncover any problem before it becomes a major issue.
2. Regular Basement/Attic Inspection:-
These are places we seldom visit - usually only to chuck items we no longer want. Making them an ideal growing spot for mold due to leaks or seepage of water which has gone undetected. Therefore, these areas have to be checked on a regular basis as part of your mold detection routine. Checking for leaks/damp areas as well as established moldy patches should be a priority particularly before the onset of winter.
3. Moldy Smell:-
Mold gives off a distinct "musty" odour as it devours the surface on which it is growing. So, whilst there may not be any physical evidence of mold, if, a room or area of your home smalls musty or earthy and generally unpleasant it is most certainly time to do some serious mold detection work. Check out, under carpets, behind pictures on walls, behind furniture, behind wallpaper (which if damp will probably be peeling at the edges anyway) behind baseboards etc. All of these places can have hidden possibly toxic mold growing.
4. Unseen Mold:-
Regardless whether you undertake extensive mold detection inspections it is possible that there could be hidden microscopic mold in your property. Tell tale signs indicating that this may be the case could include frequent problems with a stuffed up nose and irritation in the throat and the eyes. This type of mold is designated as the most dangerous. Undoubtedly, as the only clues to its existence are frequently the physical irritation it causes and the "musty" odour it gives off. In such an instance it really is a job for professionals.
5. Mold Detection Kits:-
These kits can be purchased in numerous forms and for different purposes. You will find kits which merely detect the presence of mold, some others will help you find out the type of mold, whilst others allow you to check the air quality within your home. In some of instances you can obtain results from these mold detection kits within days or perhaps hours. For others however, you will have to package them up and send them off to a laboratory for analysis - predictably at extra cost.
6. Mold Detection By Hiring A Mold Inspector:-
As I stated before in some instances there is no option other than to leave mold detection to the professionals, particularly where you have been unable to detect mold growth in your own search. A mold inspector should have the know how to uncover hidden mold and will have the necessary equipment to carry out the testing as needed.
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Does your home smell "musty" - you should consider carrying out some serious mold detection |
