The Advantages of Professional Mold Testing

6/14/2021 (Permalink)

Black mold damage behind a wall

A patch of mold on the wall or a musty odor in your home is a sign that you need mold remediation. When this happens, many homeowners in Suwanee, GA will purchase mold testing kits from the local hardware store. Unfortunately, these kits don't reveal the information mold remediation specialists need to address the problem. Only a test from a certified environmental hygienist yields accurate results.

Type of Test

DIY mold tests simply indicate that there is mold in your home, but that doesn't really give you any new information. There are always mold spores in the air because they travel in from outside on clothing, hair, shoes and pets. However, a professional hygienist can get a useful reading with several types of surface tests:

• Bulk samples
• Swab samples
• Tape samples
  

During mold testing, the hygienist may also take air quality samples using spore traps. No matter how the data is gathered, however, it is then sent to a lab for investigation to better inform the mitigation process.

Mitigation Process

While a mold kit only reveals the presence of spores, a professional test is more conclusive. Once the type, location and concentration level of the mold problem is discovered, technicians can seal off the affected area and start mitigation. They remove all material that has too much mold damage to be salvaged. Then they clean and dry the area to prevent mold from returning. When the process is complete, it's a good idea to have the environmental hygienist conduct post-testing to verify that the mold problem has been resolved.
When you suspect that you have a mold problem in your home, it is natural to want to save money conducting your own test. Unfortunately, the DIY kits are typically a waste of money because they don't tell you what you need to know. Professional mold testing necessary to get an accurate reading of the whole scope of the issue.