Excess moisture in your home can lead to mold growth, and mold can lead to a range of problems. From headaches and allergies to structural damage, mold growth is dangerous for both your health and the stability of your house. If you suspect that your home has mold growth, it may be time to schedule mold testing in San Francisco . Continue reading to learn the answers to some common questions about testing for mold.

When do I need mold testing?

Mold testing is useful when you suspect that conditions are right for mold, but have not noticed visible signs of mold growth. For instance, if you’ve recently experienced a plumbing leak or a flood in your home, scheduling mold testing may be advisable. There are some signs of mold that you cannot see, such as a musty odor or unexplained headaches—if you notice these, arrange to have your home tested for mold. Another instance in which mold testing can be helpful is when you are buying a home; if mold is present, it will be useful to know this before you complete the home purchase.

How does mold testing work?

There are a few different methods that your mold inspection company can use to test your home for mold. One method is with air samples—with this option, a special cassette is attached to an air sampling pump, and air is pumped through the cassette, depositing any mold spores in the air onto a slide inside the cassette. This slide can then be analyzed in a laboratory for signs of mold. Surface mold testing is another option—to do this, a cotton swab can be wiped along a surface where mold growth is suspected. The swab is then analyzed to determine if mold is present. If mold growth is already visible on a surface, surface testing using a piece of sticky tape can be completed to determine the type and number of mold spores growing there.

Who should I contact for mold testing?

While do-it-yourself mold testing kits are available, they are not as reliable as professional testing, and you may end up disturbing any mold spores growing there. For these reasons, it is important to contact a reliable mold inspection company to ensure that your home is safely and effectively tested for mold.

Mold is not something that you want to find in your home, and not just because it’s unpleasant to look at. A mold problem can be hazardous to health and impact your indoor air quality in San Francisco. You might not even realize that you have been exposing yourself to mold until you develop symptoms, and in some cases, mold only reveals itself during a home remodeling project. If you want to keep yourself and your family as happy and healthy as possible in your home, make sure you take care of a mold problem as soon as it’s discovered. Please read ahead to learn about some of the long-term effects of mold exposure.

When you are exposed to mold for a long period of time, you may start to experience symptoms of this exposure. Since people are typically exposed to mold through inhalation, many of these symptoms relate to your breathing and respiratory system. Those who already suffer from asthma may notice a bigger problem, but anyone can develop symptoms. Headaches, tightness in the chest, and irritation of the skin and eyes are all potential long-term effects of mold exposure as well. Remember that infants and the elderly are particularly vulnerable.

Thousands of children are exposed to lead every year, with multiple cases being reported of children being poisoned by lead. Lead poisoning is a very serious condition in young children, as it can cause learning difficulties, behavioral problems, and even lower IQs. Watch this video to learn more about the dangers of lead and why it’s important that you protect your children from unsafe levels of lead exposure.

To protect your family from the dangerous of lead exposure, schedule lead testing with Safe Air Fast. As San Francisco’s leading residential environment testing company, we can test for the presence of lead, mold, asbestos, and bacteria. Our mission is to identify environmental dangers inside your home that can be harmful to your health and put your family at risk. Call Safe Air Fast today to schedule lead testing or to learn more about our full range of testing services.

Many people live in a home with mold and never realize it. Although some types of mold are relatively harmless in low levels, all molds can cause adverse health effects, with some even causing serious disease and even death for certain people who are exposed to them. That’s why it’s important that you learn to recognize the warning signs of mold in your home so you can contact a mold testing company in San Francisco right away before the problem gets any worse and affects your health or the health of your family. Schedule professional mold remediation if you recognize any of the following warning signs.

Musty Odors

Your five senses can be very helpful in detecting a mold problem in your home, none more so than your sense of smell. If you recognize an unmistakably musty odor in your home, or even in a specific room or section of your home, schedule most testing right away. Musty odors are a very telling sign of mold, so take steps to address the problem before the mold gets any worse.

Water Stains

For the most part, a large percentage of mold problems are hidden. This is extremely problematic, since it means the mold can grow unabated and spread like a wildfire, requiring much more extensive (and expensive) mold remediation efforts. If you spot water stains on your walls or ceilings, this is an indication of hidden water damage and is most often accompanied by mold. A mold testing company can inspect the area behind the stain to look for mold.

Mold Growth

The most obvious sign of a mold problem in your home is the visible growth of mold. However, even if the growth is contained to a single area and doesn’t appear to be very large, you should still schedule a full mold inspection to make sure mold spores haven’t spread to other areas of your home.

Not only is household mold an unpleasant thing to live with, but it also can pose a serious health risk, especially for those who suffer from respiratory issues such as asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). If you have mold growing in your home, contact an experienced professional who specializes in mold inspection and mold remediation in San Francisco.

One effective way to get rid of mold is to reduce the amount of moisture inside your home. Watch this video to find out what else you can do if you suspect mold in your home, or if you’re experiencing symptoms of mold exposure.

Large amounts of mold can cause serious health concerns as well as extensive harm to your home. If you suspect that there is mold in your home, it is best to get it under control before it can harm you, your family, or your property. Luckily, working with a company that conducts mold inspections in San Francisco can help keep your family safe. Watch this video to learn why you should act quickly to control mold.

Asthma, allergies, and skin rashes can be black mold symptoms. If you know you have mold, you can try to remove it on your own by eliminating the source of moisture, but mold remediation professionals can help to eliminate it completely. The costs of working with a professional can vary depending on the scope of the job, but it will help to keep your family safe and healthy.

Most people understand that mold does not belong in their home, but they may not understand exactly why. If you are on the fence about getting a mold inspection near San Francisco, you may want to learn more about what mold in your home can mean for you and your family. In order to help you gain a wealth of knowledge about mold, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions on the topic.

Who is Affected by Mold?
Mold exposure can make you and your family extremely ill. If you have young children or infants in your home, they are very susceptible to the

Why Does Mold Grow?
In nature, mold is very important. It grows in order to help the decomposition of leaves, trees, and other plants. In nature, mold grows in areas with high moisture content. Mold is not hazardous in small amounts; however, in large amounts it can pose a threat to you or your loved one’s health.

Where Can Mold Be Found?
Everyone is exposed to mold every day, but in small doses. In your home, it is possible for large amounts of mold to build up. Mold can be found in your carpets, on your walls, appliances, or your floors. Just as in nature, mold will thrive in damp places such as your bathroom, kitchen, or basement.

How Can You Treat Mold?
Mold will grow anywhere that conditions are suitable for it. There is no stopping mold completely, but you can take action against it. If you suspect that there are large amounts of mold in your home, working with a company that specializes in mold inspections can help you control it. They can help you identify your home’s problem areas and should also be able to help you remove the mold.

Black mold is more than just an unsightly nuisance in your home. When your property is affected by black mold, you and your loved ones could be at risk of developing black mold symptoms. Since black mold spores are highly toxic to humans, prolonged exposure to areas that are contaminated with mold could lead to serious health problems. If you or a loved one are experiencing mold symptoms , you should be sure to set up a mold inspection in San Francisco. To help you decide whether your home is in need of black mold testing, here is a closer look at some of the most

common mold symptoms.

Respiratory Symptoms
Respiratory symptoms are among the most common indicators of a reaction to toxic black mold . When a person is sensitive to mold, he or she may develop problems breathing, as well as a continual cough. In certain cases, black mold has also been linked to other serious health issues, such as pulmonary edema and asthma. If you or a loved one is having difficulty breathing in your home, you may have a black mold issue.

Circulatory Symptoms
Black mold can affect a person’s circulatory system, as well as his or her breathing. Some of the common signs of circulatory issues include low blood pressure, difficulty with blood clotting, or internal bleeding. Since these circulatory problems can potentially become quite serious, it is a very good idea to set up a mold testing appointment at the first sign of black mold in your home.

Eye and Skin Symptoms
Exposure to black mold can also lead to irritation around the eyes and on the skin. For example, black mold may cause a person to develop itchy or watery eyes. In addition, repeated exposure to black mold spores can also lead to dermatitis and other skin related issues. If you are concerned about protecting your family from these black mold symptoms, you should be sure to set up a black mold testing appointment today.

For people who do not have asthma or allergies, exposure to mold oftentimes does not result in any unpleasant symptoms. But for those who have asthma or mold allergies, mold symptoms can be severe. To learn more about mold poisoning and other dangers of mold exposure, watch this video—and for a professional mold inspection in San Francisco , contact Safe Air Fast.

Mold exposure can be very harmful if you have asthma, a chronic lung condition, or a weak immune system. These pre-existing conditions can increase the likelihood of developing a mold infection in the lungs. If you have one of these pre-existing conditions and you believe you are in contact with mold at home or at the office, call a mold testing company right away.