If you have had mold in your home or business recently, chances are you’ve hired a plumber or a cleaning service to come out and clean it up. You might be wondering what kind of damage mold can cause and if it’s dangerous to be around. The answer is that yes, mold can be dangerous to humans and, to some extent, pets if it becomes too much. Mold inspections are critical to any home or business owners who want to be sure their building is mold-free.
First, let’s discuss what mold inspection is not. A mold inspection is not a visual examination of the inside of your house, and it’s not the same as mold testing. A mold inspection is more thorough; it involves looking for visible signs of mold and checking for hidden places where the spores may grow. With Mold Inspection Louisville KY, you’ll likely find black or dark green spots on the walls, ceilings, and floors. You’ll also probably see some decayed wood, small earthworms, wood debris, and dried blood or fibers. You may even see mold colonies on the ceiling, walls, and floors.
A mold inspection doesn’t typically involve cleanup or repair of any visible mold or mildew. For mold removal or remediation, you would need to conduct a regular routine maintenance inspection of the building to check for areas of water damage, excess moisture, and dampness. Some areas of concern would be attics, basements, crawl spaces, and the exterior of a new home. In addition, mold might grow on and in any other places exposed to excess moisture, including walls, ceilings, and attics.
Mold assessment is the next step after inspection. During a sampling, a professional can visually look at how the building is infested by mold. This can be done by several different sampling techniques. In sampling the walls, professionals can use visual penetrant testing, thermal imaging, or air sampling. The third technique uses gas or water sensors to identify moisture sources. The samples are then analyzed to identify the concentration of mold spores and other allergens.
The next step is to repair leaks or prevent mold from growing. Professional mold inspectors can identify any leaking areas and recommend fixes for areas that don’t have leaks. For example, repairing a roof leak will prevent mold from growing behind or underneath the roof shingles. In addition, cracks in ceiling insulation can allow water or moisture to seep into the attic, causing unseen mold growth.
Once mold remediation has been done, you can move on to prevention. To do this, make sure your personal health and safety are protected. Always wear protective clothing such as gloves and masks when cleaning or dealing with mold. If you’re dealing with a severe mold problem, make sure to contact a mold removal company. They should be able to tell you what steps to take to minimize the chance mold will enter your home.
Many mold inspections simply look to see if there is visible mold. However, a mold inspection should also check for the presence of harmful black mold spores. Black mold spores are extremely dangerous and can cause serious respiratory problems or even death. For this reason alone, it’s important to conduct a mold inspection and find out if your home has a mold problem before you consider buying or selling your property.
Mold remediation is costly. That’s why many homeowners choose to perform their own mold remediation to save money. Unfortunately, performing the task on your own may not only fail to eradicate the mold spores but could potentially cause harm to you and your family. A professional EPA inspector should perform extensive mold testing and inspection on your house and/or property. They will provide you with the proper protocol for addressing the issue. If you decide to do the testing and inspection on your own, be sure to wear a full mask and protective clothing when dealing with any hazardous material.