01 Mar Two Great Ways To Help Assess Your Mold Risk
We all know the term mold, but do we really understand it? Mold is Mother Nature’s way to get rid of things once living. Mold is found in homes because of the fact that our homes were built from materials that were once living.
These materials will absorb moisture which increases the likelihood of microbial growth. High humidity areas are more vulnerable to microbial growth. High levels of humidity can make mold growth possible. There are many reasons why high humidity can occur in your home. The main reason is water intrusion, which is when water comes in from outside.
Mold can also grow from other reasons such as plumbing problems or simple mistakes that were not properly cleaned up.
Mold is one type of fungi. It reproduces by sporulation. These spores can be very harmful to your health and cause many problems with your respiratory system. This is especially dangerous to people with respiratory problems or liver problems.
It is important to inspect your home for high humidity and moisture areas and take immediate action to eliminate them. Mold cannot be killed, but it can be kept in dormancy. Mold will cease to be active as long as there is no moisture or water.
These are the main things to do in order to assess mold risk.
Check for Mold
The moldy area will become visible as the spores multiply. The mold spores are too small to be seen by themselves. Mold colonies come in many sizes and colors. There are many colors that can be used to identify each type of mold. Penicillium, Aspergillus are the most common molds found in homes.
Stachybotrys is the mold most people think of as “black mold”. If you discover mold in your home or office, you need to ask “Where is the water coming from?” The benefit of hiring a professional is that they can help you identify the source and advise you on how to fix it.
A visual inspection consists of an eye test and a swab. These two tests are sent to a laboratory where they will be processed and grown. A borescope is a great tool for visual inspections.
The basement is where humidity is most prevalent. Check for windows and doors when inspecting the basement.
These areas allow mold spores into the home. Water problems can be fixed quickly if you want to stop mold growth.
High-Level Airborne Mold
There are a few home tools and methods that can be used to test for high levels of mold. However, these are not as efficient as they claim. Call a Long Beach Mold Remediation Company to get the best mold assessment. They have the proper equipment to determine the problem.
An indoor environmental professional (IEP) can take air samples to determine if there are any mold problems. This is a great way to make sure your mold problem is being addressed properly, even though it can be a bit costly.
A test should be performed prior to and after remediation. The IEP will let you know if the spore counts are acceptable or unacceptable.