Mold Testing and Detection

Mold testing and mold detection are not the same thing. Mold detection is the expert and physical inspection of mold within your home. Mold testing will tell you how much mold is in the air of your home at the time the test is taken. The problem is that mold content is in constant flux from hour-to-hour, day-to-day, and room-to-room in your home. Only repeated, systematic testing will give you a reliable picture of the mold content in your home.

If you smell mold or see mold, then you have mold. If you're not sure what you're smelling or seeing is mold, then you may need to hire a mold detection contractor. More than likely, the contractor should be able to tell you whether or not you have a mold problem. You may not need to take the time to test for the exact fungal spore or its concentration in your home. By the time the tests are conducted and analyzed by a mold removal contractor you should have the time to completely remediate the problem. Mold removal methods are the same regardless of the fungal spore and its concentration. By conducting mold testing, you could be wasting precious time and money.

Mold Testing Technology
Some homeowners want to catch the level of mold in their homes before it becomes a problem. Someone in the home may have a mold allergy, for example. The trouble is we have too little understanding of what an acceptable level of mold is for a home. Again, fluctuation is an issue, but so is the lack of a standardized baseline. Mold levels fluctuate on their own and are influenced by outdoor mold content. You may test your home for mold everyday, but chances are by the time you realize mold has escalated beyond its normal parameters, the person with the allergy problem will probably already notice it. Ongoing research is beginning to give us a picture of what standardized mold levels should look like, but they're not here yet. If you feel like you do need to have your home tested for mold, the good news is that most contractors who offer mold testing services will also be able to remediate any mold problem that might occur.

Health Issues and Mold Testing
We know that prolonged exposure to mold can cause health problems, but again, we know very little about the exact nature of how the mold causes these problems. Research is underway to determine how mold creates health problems, and doctors have some general ideas, but nothing that would justify mold testing. Knowing the exact fungal spore is unlikely to help your doctor prescribe better treatment. A few specific strains of hundreds of thousands spore types are known to cause respiratory problems to the point of being toxic. Children, the elderly, the sick, and the allergic are more susceptible to mold, in general, and if the wrong mold spore finds your home, you may need to seek immediate medical attention. On the other hand, seeing or smelling mold is hardly any reason to go running from your home without any adverse symptoms.

Mold Detection
While mold testing may not be necessary for your home, mold detection is critical to maintaining a healthy home environment. Cursory mold detection is as simple as looking for sources of water problems in your home. Leaking roofs, especially near dormers, are a common area for water infiltration in your home. Basements and crawlspaces are especially adept at moisture trapping that creates the standing water on which mold thrives. Obviously, within the home's interior, plumbing fixtures should be periodically checked for leaks. Cold, dark areas are also a good place to check, particularly closet corners and air conditioning ducts. Of course, mold can also grow in hidden places, behind walls, and underneath floors and ceilings, places where a homeowner doesn't have access. If you're concerned about the presence of mold in your home, the best idea is to hire a mold detection professional, who can provide you with a certified inspection of your home.