Testing for Mold Tips
Testing for mold is not always simple, but we’re here to help.
Your first step should be to define your objectives and purpose for testing:
- Litigation Purposes
- Health Reasons
- Post Remediation Clearance Testing
- Peace of Mind that you don’t have mold in your environment
Whatever the reason you are testing for mold, you need a testing strategy. At the Mold Test Company, we are happy to discuss your objectives and assist you in developing your plan.
Testing for Mold Litigation
For the strongest case possible, you’ll need to know the species of mold you are dealing with. It is in your best interest to have a disinterested, 3rd party to take the test for you. It is also recommend to undergo multiple tests in order to support your case. If water damage was a problem, you will also want to test for environmental bacteria, as this has the potential to make you very ill.
Testing for Mold Health Reasons
Is your environment making you sick? You will need medical testing in conjunction with your environmental testing for a complete analysis.
Testing for Mold Post Remediation
Once you have determined that your environment has mold contamination (testing for mold has confirmed the presence of mold infestation), you must have the structure “professionally remediated” for mold. Once remediated, you’ll need to be sure the job was done correctly and the mold levels are deemed safe. This type of testing for mold is known as “Post Remediation Clearance Testing”, this assures you the job was done correctly and the structure is now safe to inhabit.
Testing for Mold Peace of Mind
Testing for mold and getting clear and clean results is the peace of mind every person wants to get. Whether it’s in your home, apartment, school or place of work, testing for mold can give you that peace of mind.
Visible MoldVisible mold can manifest itself in several ways, the most common of which would be either white/black or green circular patterns on cellulose materials such as drywall. Visible mold sightings are generally the best place to start testing. The key to properly testing an environment with visible mold is to examine the area around the visible mold for other colonies that may be less easy to spot.
BathroomThe bathroom is a common problem spot because of the elevated levels of moisture. We suggest testing the intake fan as the best bathroom sampling method. The intake fan will come into contact with the majority of the air in the bathroom, making it the preferred testing location.
KitchenWhen you’re inspecting the kitchen, you need to focus on the water sources in places like under the sink, refrigerator and dishwasher. Mold and bacteria swabs are the most common samples taken for testing inside a dishwasher or refrigerator with suspect mold.
AtticWater intrusion from your roof and gutters is common after a storm. When inspecting your attic, pay close attention to visible mold on the insulation and the HVAC system. If your insulation is black, it may be a sign of a problem. If you see signs of an issue, it’s strongly recommended that you test the HVAC unit with a mold swab.
Water StainWater damage is the best way to find mold that you can’t see with the naked eye. Mold needs two things in order to grow: a food source like drywall or dust, and moisture. Any water stains on your wall or ceiling are potential hot spots for mold growth.
Doors and WindowsDoors and windows are a high risk area for water intrusion. Be sure to check around door and window seals for moisture. Any leaks can lead to mold and bacteria contamination in your environment.
Musty OdorA musty or damp smell is a strong indicator of mold or harmful bacteria. It is common that you will not see mold colonies with the naked eye; this does not mean that mold spores aren’t elevated to a hazardous level. We recommend that you do air sampling in each room exhibiting this odor in odorr to determine the severity of the contamination.
BasementBasements and crawl spaces are one of the most common places where mold and harmful bacteria are found. Pay close attention to the decking and floor joints for signs of mold growthsuch as dark circular patterns on porous surfaces. (An air test is a great way to test areas you can’t reach). If you have an HVAC system in your basement or crawlspace, we recommend testing with a mold swab.
HVAC Air Mold TestWe developed this test to easily identify mold throughout your entire home using your HVAC system.
Mold SwabThe best professional-grade tests for mold on hard surfaces such as walls, concrete, wood, ceilings,
Bacterial SwabBacteria can lead to health effects similar to mold exposure. Some of the most common locations for sporulating bacteria is the HVAC system, under sinks, around bathtubs, water damaged flooring, window condensation and crawl spaces.
Tape TestProfessional-grade testing solution for mold on porous and semi porous materials such as furniture,
Inspection
Attic
A musty or damp smell is a strong indicator of mold or harmful bacteria. It is common that you will not see mold colonies with the naked eye; this does not mean that mold spores aren’t elevated to a hazardous level. We recommend that you do air sampling in each room exhibiting this odor in order to determine the severity of the contamination.
Basement
Basements and crawl spaces are one of the most common places where mold and harmful bacteria are found. Pay close attention to the decking and floor joints for signs of mold growth such as dark circular patterns on porous surfaces. (An air test is a great way to test areas you can’t reach). If you have an HVAC system in your basement or crawlspace, we recommend testing with a mold swab.
Bathroom
The bathroom is a common problem spot because of the elevated levels of moisture. We suggest testing the intake fan as the best bathroom sampling method. The intake fan will come into contact with the majority of the air in the bathroom, making it the preferred testing location.
Doors and Windows
Doors and windows are a high risk area for water intrusion. Be sure to check around door and window seals for moisture. Any leaks can lead to mold and bacteria contamination in your environment.
Kitchen
When you’re inspecting the kitchen, you need to focus on the water sources in places like under the sink, refrigerator and dishwasher. Mold and bacteria swabs are the most common samples taken for testing inside a dishwasher or refrigerator with suspect mold.
Musty Odor
A musty or damp smell is a strong indicator of mold or harmful bacteria. It is common that you will not see mold colonies with the naked eye; this does not mean that mold spores aren’t elevated to a hazardous level. We recommend that you do air sampling in each room exhibiting this odor in odorr to determine the severity of the contamination.
Visible Mold
Visible mold can manifest itself in several ways, the most common of which would be either white/black or green circular patterns on cellulose materials such as drywall. Visible mold sightings are generally the best place to start testing. The key to properly testing an environment with visible mold is to examine the area around the visible mold for other colonies that may be less easy to spot.
Water Stain
Water damage is the best way to find mold that you can’t see with the naked eye. Mold needs two things in order to grow: a food source like drywall or dust, and moisture. Any water stains on your wall or ceiling are potential hot spots for mold growth.
Water Damage
Moisture is generally the cause of mold growth in a structure. When inspecting a building the first step in figuring out how the mold contamination began is finding the water intrusion. We recommend testing anywhere there is visible water damage in order to identify the source of your mold problem.
Note:
Resolving the cause of a water intrusion is the first step when doing a remediation.
Mold Travel
When testing for mold, it’s important to keep in mind that Mold travels around very similar to dust. Your furniture and personal effects are susceptible to mold contamination. When looking for a good sampling point pay close attention to circular patterns in what may appear to be dust on contents. Mold tends to grow on leather goods and particle board first.
Note:
Fine particulates are microscopic shards of the mold spore
which can carry mycotoxins. When inhaled, these mold particulates can imbed themselves into the soft tissues of the brain causing a multitude of short and long term
health problems.
Professional Mold Inspection
Mold Test Company is the nation’s premier source for Mold Inspections and Mold Testing. The Mold Test Company employs only quality, highly skilled and experienced certified mold service professionals
DIY Environmental Mold Test
Below are a list of certified Environmental tests we offer, designed to identify environmental mold exposure.
