Have you noticed a musty smell in your home or strange stains on your walls? These issues may be signs of mold growth. If you suspect that mold is growing in your home, schedule mold testing in San Francisco and check out this video clip to find out more about mold growth and how to prevent it.

Mold grows in colonies and may be a variety of different colors. It can release spores into the air that allow it to spread quickly throughout your home. Removing excess moisture from your home is essential for preventing mold growth. If mold testing reveals that mold is present in your home, it is necessary to remove all mold spores from both the surfaces and the air in your home to prevent a reoccurrence of mold issues.

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.

Are you planning on buying a house? If so, then checking it for mold should be considered essential. If you recently scheduled a home inspection in San Francisco , then you may be wondering what happens if the home inspector finds mold. Watch this video to learn what it can mean if the home that you’re thinking of buying comes back positive for mold.

The good news is that even bad cases of household mold can be handled. Today, the technology exists which allows mold remediation teams to perform successful mold removal in homes that have been taken over by fungus and may seem like a lost cause. If your home inspection reveals mold, then it’s important to realize that with the right treatment, the building can be restored.

Whether you are buying a new house, planning a home renovation, or want to improve the comfort of your home, testing a house’s indoor air quality in San Francisco is a smart decision. These thorough evaluations can alert you to problems that affect the safety of the building’s air, allowing you to address any issues as needed.

When a house is tested for contaminants such as asbestos, lead, and mold, the process usually involves several steps. First, an experienced team arrives at the home and conducts an extensive inspection, during which the members will search for any areas that could harbor contaminants that might affect the house’s indoor air quality.

After evaluating all areas of the building, the team will carefully obtain samples of any suspect materials. Next, the samples are sent to a lab for testing and identification. Finally, the testing company will report the findings to you and discuss any recommended treatment or abatement services to improve the home’s indoor air quality.

Indoor air can be as much as ten times more polluted than the air that you breathe outdoors. To take a look at what the latest science says about indoor air quality, check out this video.

When chemicals and other forms of pollution are brought indoors, they can become concentrated in your indoor spaces. Fortunately, by hiring a company that offers air quality testing near San Francisco , you can make sure that your indoor spaces are free of black mold and other forms of pollution. Indoor air quality inspections are particularly important before you complete a renovation or construction project. By taking the time to test your air quality before your remodel, you can rest assured that you are completing a healthier home renovation.

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.

Mold is a common cause of nasal allergies. Since there are many thousands of mold species, mold can be found throughout your indoor air. If you are sensitive to mold, you may find that you develop coughing, wheezing, and other respiratory ailments when you are indoors. To protect your family from the dangers of mold allergens, you may want to consider scheduling a mold remediation service for your property. If you have mold in your house, your contractor can provide you with a variety of mold remediation services. With mold testing near San Francisco , you can also determine whether mold is the source of your indoor allergies. To learn more important facts about mold allergens and mold testing, be sure to watch this video from Allergy, Asthma, & Sinus Center.

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.

No one wants to live in a home, or work in an office, that is filled with mold. Luckily, there are ways to test for mold. If you suspect that you may have mold growing in your home, don’t hesitate to contact a mold remediation professional in San Francisco to schedule an inspection and a mold test .

Common Types of Mold Found in Homes
Knowing how to identify mold is your first line of defense against it. When mold is growing out in the open, it’s pretty easy to recognize—it looks like dark-colored fuzz, usually occurring in clusters or spotted patches speckled across a surface. There are three types of mold that are commonly found in homes: Aspergillus , Cladosporium , and Stachybotras . The first two are relatively harmless, mainly responsible for minor allergic reactions and lung issue. Stachybotras , on the other hand, can really be cause for concern. Known as toxic black mold, Stachybotras can pose a serious health risk, and may send you to the emergency room if you’ve been continually exposed to it for a steady period of time. If you have black mold in your home, you need to call a mold remediation expert immediately.

Testing for Mold Using Store-Bought Test Kits
Ideally, when testing your home for mold, you want to perform the test before a deep cleaning, and then again afterward to make sure that you’ve eradicated the problem.

You can readily purchase a mold test kit at your local hardware or home-improvement store. These kits are fairly straightforward to use, usually requiring homeowners to send prepared samples to a laboratory. They range in prices depending on the companies and how involved the tests are. Be forewarned – these test kits have been known to be unreliable.

Hiring a Professional
For peace of mind, hire a professional mold specialist to test your home. Only a trained technician has the knowledge and proper equipment to perform a comprehensive and accurate test.