While you can try DIY mold testing if you'd like, we recommend working with qualified mold inspection professionals to get reliable results and gain peace of mind about your indoor air quality. Your health is simply too important not to get it right!
The best and cheapests way to test your home for mold is using a DIY mold test kit. Popular options include Moldcheck, ProLab, and FirstAlert. These kits typically include swab or tape lift samples for surface testing. For more accuracy, send samples to a laboratory for analysis.
If you own it, by all means you can hire an environmental service to inspect your house and determine if there is a mold problem. Typically they'll take air samples on a cell with some vaseline or similar material inside it, and count the spores and types. I had that done before I bought my present house.
With these variables, a mold inspection can be higher or lower than the national average. In his California market, the cost can range from $275 for a simple visit to $2,900 for a complex inspection.
It irritates the nose and throat, which can lead to both sneezing and coughing as your body tries to get rid of the irritant. Inhaling mold spores can also trigger coughing in people with allergies or an asthma attack, for those with asthma.
Unchecked mold growth can lead to structural damage, resulting in costly repairs. A thorough inspection identifies visible mold and uncovers hidden sources to allow for timely remediation, preventing further damage and health risks.
Homeowners insurance doesn't usually cover mold damage or removal unless it's the result of a covered peril. If the mold in your residence was caused by something sudden or accidental, such as a bursting pipe or some other covered incident on your policy, you may be protected.
Mold is an obvious health risk in any home, but investing in an air purifier can help limit your exposure. The best among them will ideally offer HEPA-level filtration, with this level of filtration being able to trap up to 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.3 microns in diameter.
Your sense of smell is the first line of defense against mold. You can often smell mold before you can see it. If you notice a musty smell in your home, there's a good chance you have mold. If you think you have a mold problem, get on your hands and knees and smell the electrical outlets.
Home inspectors are not looking outright for mold when going over a property. Yet, if the history of the home includes water damage, more than likely an inspector will make it part of their inspection.
– Set up a fan to pull the air out through a window or door to the outside. – Scrub the entire moldy area with a non-ammonia soap or detergent, or a commercial cleaner, in hot water, using sponges or rags, until all mold is gone. – Use a stiff brush or cleaning pad on cement-block walls and other uneven surfaces.
It's best to hire a professional mold inspector for accurate results. They have the experience and equipment such as digital moisture meters, hygrometers, infrared cameras, and borescopes, to detect and identify mold growth, and DIY kits may be unreliable.
Toxic black mold growth has a more potent and identifiable smell, like the smell of decay, wet soil, or rot. Visually, it may be greenish-black, grayish-black, slimy, or more furry than other forms of mold or mildew.
Spray the area with a mixture of water and vinegar - half water, half vinegar. Next, scrub to remove all traces of the mold. For removal of black and white mold, spray the area with the half water and half vinegar solution.
Mold inspections are an investment in your health and property. While costs can vary based on several factors, homeowners in Los Angeles should expect to pay between $200 and $600 for a professional mold inspection.
All affected areas should be cleaned first with an all-purpose cleaner and a bristle brush. You can then spray the area with a liquid biocide, or white vinegar. This is a chemical solution that kills the mold spores. A bleach solution is not recommended for cleaning, as it does not effectively kill all the mold.
Most mold removal professionals charge around $10 to $25 per square foot. So, if you're removing mold from a 100-square-foot area, you can expect to pay around $1,000 to $2,500. But factors like where the growth is and the mold type can affect how much it costs to remove it.
Homeowners can be relieved to know that mold inspection and remediation generally falls under most homeowner insurance policies. If you're a homeowner who suspects that mold might be growing somewhere on your property, call the C.A.R.E. team to inspect and remediate the mold problem.
Mold is a common indoor air pollutant that can cause severe health damage. Conduct an inspection and acquire an indoor mold test kit to check for and prevent mold. When performing a test, follow the instructions exactly to determine if your air has dangerous mold levels.
Mould will easily grow and spread if the right conditions are present. So, dehumidifiers don't kill mould, but they can help to prevent it from growing inside your home by reducing humidity. However, the best way to deal with it is to get rid of its source.
According to the CDC, people usually experience their first symptoms within 2 to 9 hours of their first exposure. On the other hand, some people could go for weeks or months before feeling sick if their exposure is limited enough. This is why it is also important to check damp, dark areas of your home for mold.