The Importance of Mold Testing
The Importance of Mold Testing
You may not know that it is lurking. It can hide in your ventilation system, under your carpet or around your attic. Or you might indeed see evidence in discoloration on your baseboards or cracks in your shower tile. It can be found anywhere, indoors and out, and it can cause physical ailments like sinusitis, watery eyes and respiratory conditions. Yes, you guessed it, we are talking about mold. And since mold may or may not be visible and can cause some people physical distress, mold testing may be important to determine whether you have any of this substance within the confines of your home.
Mold and Allergies
Many medical studies show that mold may indeed be the number one cause of allergies in this country. Symptoms of a mold allergy can include a runny nose, chronic cough and itchy, watery eyes. There are also more severe symptoms that can include acute respiratory problems. For this reason, it is important to conduct mold testing in your home if you suspect that your allergy symptoms might be caused by mold. There is also a particular type of mold that can cause toxic symptoms, including respiratory problems, chronic fatigue, aches and pains, and even fever. The mold that is the culprit of these problems is known as black mold, and it can be quite dangerous to someone who is exposed to it on a consistent basis. Mold testing that is done in your home should include tests for black mold as well.
Finding a Mold Test
Mold testing does not have to be an expensive and time consuming venture. In fact, you can purchase DIY mold testing kits at most home improvement and discount department stores. Some of these mold testing kits can detect the presence of mold in as little as 48 hours. You can also opt for additional laboratory testing if you wish to determine exactly what type of mold that you have so that you can find the best treatment plan. There are generally three types of mold testing that can be done. One is through a visible test, where you can actually see the mold that is present. You can also do mold testing through your ventilation system to see if any mold is lurking within. Finally, you can test the air in your home for potential mold spores. Once the 48-hour period is complete, you can choose to send your samples to a lab for additional testing. This helps you to diagnose your specific problem so that you can take appropriate measures to get rid of your mold.