Mold can be found just about anywhere. Most typically it can be found in damp places like a basement, or improperly cleaned humidifiers/dehumidifiers or in and around walls. Although mold can be found in multiple shades and colors it is most often referred to as black mold.
Mold and Health Concerns: Wide ranging health issues can be caused by mold. Just to name a few: allergies, asthma, sinus infections and more including serious diseases. While the typical targets (infants, young children, the elderly, etc.) are most at risk, anyone can have their health affected by mold. One good thing to note is that mold can be wiped out if you know what kind it is and where it is located. For this reason alone mold inspections should be included as part of your routine household care routine.
Inspecting for Mold: Professional mold inspections should be conducted on a routine basis as it is not unusual for the typical home to have some sort of mold. However, if left undetected these fungi multiply quite quickly changing a small issue into an enormous problem. Basic professional inspections should be conducted on a routine basis with more extensive professional inspections happening only on an occasional basis.
Testing Results from a CMI: The testing results provided by a Certified Mold Inspector (CMI) will include (but may not be limited to) air quality, walls and floors and any problematic appliances. These test results will be fully documented and are more extensive than anything you can do yourself. It is a good idea to have a CMI do an inspection if you are looking to purchase an older home, if you think there might be a problem or if you simply have not had your home tested in a few years. An official mold test result analysis by a CMI may be required if you have damages you wish to file a claim for.
Conducting Mold Testing Yourself: Professional Inspections can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars and up. To make testing more cost effective most home supply stores have do-it-yourself mold testing kits which indicate whether or not you have mold spores in the air at home. These kits are in no way shape or form a replacement for the professional inspection, but allow home owners the ability to test between professional inspections.
Basic Mold Preventions: The easiest way to prevent mold problems is to simply keep your house clean. This may sound like a no brainer however, this should include: getting rid of standing water, cleaning house hold appliances regularly (like refrigerator, humidifiers, dehumidifiers etc.), cleaning the AC unit regularly, fixing leaky pipes, and the list goes on.
As you can see, conducting routine mold inspections should become a part of your routine home maintenance schedule. If left unchecked, mold can cause enormous issues with not only your health but you home as well.
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Posted under Allergies
