Mold Inspection Made Easy: A Step-By-Step Checklist For Homeowners
Mold is a common problem faced by homeowners. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to detect and remove, so you need to stay vigilant when inspecting your home for mold growth.
Thankfully, with proper detection and removal techniques, you can help keep your home safe from mold infestations. This article provides a step-by-step checklist for homeowners to use when inspecting their homes for mold.
Visual Inspection
During your visual inspection, look for any visible signs of mold. These include black or green spots on walls, ceilings, and floors, particularly in damp areas such as the bathroom, kitchen, and basement.
Also, check less visible areas including behind furniture, in closets, and under rugs. Sometimes, mold may not be visible on the surface level, but peeling wallpaper or damp walls can be telltale signs of a potential mold problem.
Additionally, be aware of any musty or damp odors. Mold has a distinctive smell that can help in detection even when it's not immediately visible. If you notice a persistent musty scent in a certain area of your home, it's a potential indication of hidden mold. It's crucial, though, not to rely solely on smell, as some types of mold are odorless.
Surface Test
The surface test helps identify mold spores that have settled on various surfaces in your home. These spores may not necessarily be visible to the naked eye, hence the need for a surface test. It can be carried out using a professional mold testing kit. The kit usually includes swabs or adhesive strips to collect samples from different surfaces and a solution that will change color if mold is detected.
To conduct the surface test, you'll need to carefully swab or tape various areas of your home. This should include any areas where you suspect mold growth due to dampness, a musty smell, or visible discoloration.
Pay particular attention to high-humidity areas, such as the bathroom and kitchen, and any areas that have previously experienced water damage. Once you've collected the samples, they'll need to be placed in the provided solution. Remember, you need to follow the instructions on your mold testing kit to ensure the accuracy of your results.
Following the surface test, you will have a clear picture of whether mold spores are present on your household surfaces. If the solution indicates the presence of mold, it's time to move on to remediation steps to ensure the safety and health of your home's inhabitants.
Keep in mind that the surface test only detects the presence of mold, not the type or extent of infestation. If your test returns a positive result, it would be prudent to hire a professional for further testing and to determine the best course of action for mold removal. Contact a company that offers mold testing services to learn more.