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How To Test For Mold In Apartment

How To Test For Mold In Apartment

Have you been worried about the presence of mold in your apartment? The scariest thing about mold is that you might not know that it is present in your space unless you test for it. Luckily, finding out how to test for mold in an apartment is now easy with our professional inspection.

Mold testing helps keep your space safe. You will not be at risk of mold allergies and other health problems. You will also be sure of the apartment's moisture content, making it easy to stop mold in its tracks and prevent it from spreading. With a safe space, it means that the air quality in your apartment also receives a boost.

Ready to learn what mold is, more benefits of mold testing and how to test for black mold in an apartment? Worry no more because we have that and much more lined up for you.

 

What is Mold?

Mold is a fungus that exists naturally in the environment as tiny microorganisms in damp places, or in the air as mold spores which are small and airborne, allowing for easy and quick spread. There is a toxic and non-toxic form of mold, making it beneficial in scientific research and nature.

Toxic mold is not an issue when it grows outdoors away from home and the workplace. However, it is a threat if it grows and spreads indoors or within areas where people reside.

Mold also comes in various colors and consistencies, depending on the species; it can be black, brown, red, gray, or white. Most of the time, house mold appears like dark spots or discolorations on various surfaces, like walls.

Here's some general information about mold.

  • It will grow within 24 to 48 hours.
  • Mold needs water, oxygen, and food to grow and thrive on your carpets, furniture, or walls.
  • Moisture is the key to mold growth in your apartment since all other elements like oxygen are abundant.
  • Most apartments have wood, plastic, fabric, and other organic materials that mold feeds on.

 

Why Is It Important to Test for Mold in Apartments?

Mold is detrimental to your health as it triggers mold-related symptoms like sneezing and body and eye rashes. Mold spores will also trigger allergies, rhinitis, and asthma. Do your family members experience increased asthmatic attacks, irritation, and respiratory difficulties?

Or are you suspecting mold due to dampness in your apartment? You need to run some tests to confirm its presence before thinking of remediation and prevention.

Here are four reasons why a mold test in your apartment is important.

Testing confirms hidden mold

Most often, mold grows inside your walls or in hidden places where you cannot visibly identify it until it is too late. You may get to smell it before other signs develop, but sadly, the pungent, unpleasant, and musty smell comes up when the mold has spread significantly. Confirm this with a mold test.

In cases where mold growth is visible, a test is not always mandatory unless you want to know the mold species and extent of the infestation. Instead, focus more on professional inspection and then mold removal. Mold needs prompt attention because it quickly affects your health.

Testing protects your apartment's value

Mold feeds on organic materials like wood and paper. In your apartment, expect it to act on your wallpaper, insulation, and wood. Over time, the infestation results in rotting and damage to the structures. If the mold infestation is left unchecked, walls and ceilings will collapse and change the entire apartment's original look, which automatically decreases its value.

Testing for mold on time allows you to stop and control the problem in its early stages; your space will not get altered in any way. This explains why many real estate experts recommend mold testing before selling or purchasing an apartment.

Mold testing helps control air quality

Black mold contaminates the air, making it unsafe and uncomfortable to dwell in. For instance, mold infestation causes a musty smell, adversely influencing your comfort. Contaminated air will prevent you from sleeping well and cause adverse health challenges. Let an expert facilitate mold testing and mold remediation, and you'll be happy to restore your space.

Testing assures a structurally safe home

Apart from the health challenges, mold will easily turn your home into a hazardous environment. The walls and ceilings infested by mold may rot and collapse on the occupants, resulting in injuries to you, your pets, or your family members. The damage may also be extended to your home inventories and other belongings. Don't ignore any mold signs as testing is so easy to have done for you.

 

How Do Professionals Test for Mold in Apartments?

Now that you have decided to hire professional mold testing services to confirm mold in your apartment, you are probably wondering how they do it. These are the methods professionals use for mold testing in apartments.

Air quality tests for mold

It is one of the most popular and efficient techniques for detecting mold in apartments. Mold occurs as small airborne spores spread in the house, meaning that air testing will help you identify the presence of mold suspending in your home before it gets out of hand.

Apartment owners also go for mold air testing services to check for other contaminants in the air, like toxic vapors and other fungi.

There are two forms of air quality mold tests, as explained below:

  1. Viable air testing: In this technique, experts take a sample of air on a growth media and rear it in a petri dish until clusters develop. The aim is to determine the species and genus of the microorganism samples. Since thousands of mold species exist, and some are more harmful than others, viable air testing makes it easy to know the type of mold, its dangers, and the right and safest way to get rid of it.
  2. Non-viable air testing: In this approach, professionals gather an air sample and observe it under a microscope to check the extent of the mold contamination. This method provides results much faster and does not require culturing in special conditions. Also, non-viable air testing is cheaper, and the results are quickly read and interpreted. That explains why it is the preferred method for testing for mold in residential areas.

Visual inspection

It is the fastest technique for testing mold. From this method, an expert can tell if they are dealing with mold or mildew, the extent of the infestation, and the right remediation procedure to embrace. During visual mold inspection, the focus is on areas with a musty smell and those with potential moisture problems.

For instance, if your apartment has experienced plumbing problems, roof leakages, or flooding in the past, an inspector will perform a comprehensive assessment to know if there are potential mold colonies in those areas and beyond. Skilled mold remediation experts will also make an effort to check the insides of your walls and other hidden spaces in your home.

In a nutshell, during visual inspections, experts look out for the following:

  • The discoloration and small structural changes like bubbling in walls
  • Mold in hidden spaces like the basement, inside the walls, ceilings, or furniture
  • Symptoms of mold in the apartment like leakages and plumbing problems, which trigger mold growth in your apartment.

Using mold testing kits

Mold testing kits come in handy when confirming the mold type in an apartment and the best way to handle it. Note that mold testing kits vary in appearance and functionality; the working principles differ from one kit to another. For instance, some test the air quality in an apartment, while others use air conditioning sampling techniques.

While this is a good method for testing mold, don't depend on it for DIY without having some professional assistance. Simply put, mold testing kits may not be the best way to test for black mold in apartment. Why?

  • If you do not know how the test kit works, you will not get accurate results.
  • There are also very many low-quality test kits on the market, and you might end up wasting your money and time.

An expert will easily differentiate low-quality kits from high-quality kits because they have the right experience. And since most mold testing kits do not provide accurate results like professional services, an expert will not depend on kits alone; they perform complementary tests to ascertain the mold situation.

 

Conclusion

Mold testing in apartments will help identify the quickly proliferating mold before it becomes severe and cause health problems. While there are various techniques to test for molds, like air quality testing, visual examination, or mold testing kits, mold testing is a complex process that requires trained and certified professionals for accurate results.

That's where we come in. Our professional mold testing services for apartments involve a custom approach that identifies the mold type, the extent of the infestation, and the harmfulness level.

Are you still confused about how to test for mold in an apartment? Call us now at 888-202-1680, and let our knowledgeable and experienced team execute the mold testing and inspection, and in case of any issue, provide the best mold remediation solutions.

 

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