With mold problems on the rise, you may find yourself in a situation where you need a mold detection kit to test for molds in the home.

Not only does this article discuss mold testing kits, it also goes through mold exposure and danger problems, causes and prevention methods. Excellent.

Finally, be sure watch the video below. More helpful mold information can be found here from a mold remediation specialist.

How To Deal With Mold In Your Home

Mold is one of the more common problems in homes today but actually people are routinely exposed to more than 200 species of fungi every day.

The terms mold and mildew are nontechnical names commonly used to refer to any fungus that is growing in our home. Mold colonies may appear cottony, velvety, granular, or leathery, and may be white, gray, black, brown, yellow, greenish, or other colors.

Many molds or fungi reproduce by dispersion of spores and usually feed on dead organic material such as wood cellulose in paper and on drywall, glues found in carpet and even common dust.

The Danger Of Molds

Certain molds can cause a variety of adverse human health effects, including allergic reactions and immune responses such as  asthma, infectious disease such as  histoplasmosis and toxic effects aflatoxin-induced liver cancer from exposure to mold produced toxin in food.  

The Institute of Medicine sufficient evidence for an association between exposure to mold or other agents in damp indoor environments and: upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, wheeze, hypersensitivity pneumonitis in susceptible persons, and asthma symptoms in sensitized persons.

The Causes Of Mold

Because dormant molds are found on every surface it is the introduction of the correct environment that causes the mold to grow. Water is a big factor and Food and warmth for the mold to grow is often why you commonly find mold growing in well known areas such as basements or interior walls where leaks in roofing or water lines are found.

Mold Detection Kits – Identifying The Mold

Because there are so many different types of mold most people are not able to identify the exact type of mold by a visual inspection. Use a mold detection kit for mold testing. There are two excellent mold test kits we recommend. Home mold testing kit One comes complete with a full lab report and test mold kit Two comes with the test plates. If mold grows, the you send it to the lab and pay an extra lab fee. If dealing with a very serious mold problem, samples should be taken and analized by a professional. Be sure to read more in depth information about mold testing kits here. Some contractors will use a Moisture meter to identify potential areas that mold could grow but this is not evidence of actual mold.

Can Central Heat And Air Units Cause Mold Problems?

Short answer is yes. With condensation build up inside the HVAC unit, mold can indeed grow and fester. When out of hand, you may need to hire a professional. Before doing that be sure to read this mold remediation help guide from someone who has been in your shoes -  now a mold expert.
Some of the things you can do to prevent mold

Changing HVAC filters frequently, as recommended by manufacturer
Keeping gutters and downspouts in working order and ensuring that they drain water away from the foundation
Routinely checking, cleaning, and drying drip pans in air conditioners, refrigerators, and dehumidifiers
Maintaining a humidity level in the home of 40% to 60%.
Increasing ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms by using exhaust fans
Venting clothes dryers to the outside
Reducing the number of indoor plants
Using air conditioning at times of high outdoor humidity
Heating all rooms in the winter
Using a sump pump in basements prone to flooding
Vapor barriers, sump pumps, and above ground vents can also be installed in crawlspaces to prevent moisture problems

How To Remove Mold

Once an item is wet for more then 2 days you can consider it to have mold growing on it.

For this reason if you can not completely dry out items within the first day you should either clean them with a bleach solution or strongly consider discarding them. (NOTE: While this author recommends bleach – WE DO NOT! – Better, safer, greener organic mold killing solutions are now available)

When performing the work you will want to protect yourself. Tyvek Suits are available in many supply stores and a N-95 Respirator and goggles that protects you from mold can be purchased from most hardware sales companies.

Hard surfaces such as Tile and interiors of appliances can often be cleaned and reused but soft fabrics in clothes, mattresses, upholstered furniture and rugs should be discarded once they have visible signs of mold or have set in water for an extended time.

Drywall and insulation should be removed to at least a few feet above the water damage line. If mold is present then you should remove the drywall and treat the studs with a strong bleach solution which must be kept wet with the bleach solution for at least 3 hours. Again, we recommend mold kill and prevention products that are safe to use (rather than bleach)

Pressure washing can also be used on exterior surfaces and floors. Mold Abatement additives are available and should be used when working on wood and other porous surfaces.

The specific detailed steps for removing mold can’t always be applied to every situation. You can read more on the EPA.gov site

If you do not have a source for the mold such as a flood or burst pipe then you will need to examine all of the surrounding materials to find the leak. Sometimes water leaks from a roof can travel distances across the attic and may not show up directly under the roof leak.

When in doubt, get mold facts here then, consider hiring a professional inspector.

Once the clean up has been performed and the building is dry you can make use of mold testing kits to monitor any remaining problem.

A Final Note

Mold can be dangerous and life threatening so it is important that you take the presence of mold seriously. In many instances simple steps can be applied to reduce mold from growing and when found it can often be removed without too much problem.

Here is the mold testing video I mentioned at the top of the page. Give it a look.

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Original article published February 20th, 2008

YouRepair.com © R.M. 2008