When it comes to purchasing a new property, or even maintaining one that you already own, many people fail to consider home inspection mold testing as a part of the cost of homeownership. Mold is everywhere around us. Some types of mold give us things like life-saving medicines and delicious cheeses. However, others pose a serious risk to our health and well-being. The key to being able to tell between dangerous and non-dangerous types of mold, especially when it comes to ones in our homes, is the services offered by home inspection mold testing companies like Mold and Water Guys in Springfield, MO.
When to Test for Mold
If you can see mold growing in your home, you obviously know that it is present and needs to be addressed. But mold can often grow in places where it cannot be seen. This may leave you wondering if you need to have your home tested for mold. Mold has a distinctive musty smell that can alert you to its presence. In addition, it can cause a few different health problems, from problems breathing to skin and eye irritation. If you or any member of your family notice these symptoms, you should have your home tested for mold as soon as possible.
How Does Mold Testing Work?
If you can see or smell mold growing in your home, or have recently had an inspection that found mold, home inspection mold testing will be able to tell you exactly what type of mold you are dealing with, and how much may be present in the home. Some types of mold are more dangerous to your health than others. It may be safer for you to avoid the home until after the mold has been successfully treated.
Home Mold Test vs. Professional Mold Test
Many home improvement stores and online retailers now offer DIY home mold tests, which may tempt many homeowners due to their very low prices. However, these tests have some very important and significant drawbacks. Most rely on a tray to simply catch stray mold spores in the air, which, for larger homes, can be extremely unreliable because mold spores may not spread throughout the entire house. In addition, many of these tests aren’t able to identify exactly what type of mold they have detected. This may lead you to spending money on remediation services that you don’t need, if the mold spores found were actually harmless airborne varieties that are common in your area.
On the other hand, professional mold tests do more than set out a small tray in one area of your home to test from. Instead, they will rely on a specialized machine that draws air in and runs it through a cassette that collects any air-borne debris, including mold spores. Each room can have its own dedicated cassette. This helps inspectors to determine which rooms are being affected by mold growth. This prevents the need to cut holes in your drywall for a visual inspection.
Inspectors will also likely utilize a moisture meter to detect moisture in building materials. In addition, they will use a humidity reader to check humidity levels in the home. Some may even utilize a thermography camera to look at temperature differences behind your walls, ceilings, or floors.
How Much is Mold Testing?
In general, the cost of your mold test will depend on the size of your home. It will also depend on whether or not it is easy for the inspector to access your attic or crawlspace. Inspections can also cost most when there is a lot of water damage present. Large amounts of water damage requires more extensive inspection and testing. Most homeowners can expect a professional mold test to cost between $300 and $500. Larger homes or more complex situations may cost upwards of $1,000. While at home mold tests often cost $50 or less, they are not as accurate or as detailed as the results you will get from a mold inspection professional.
Trust A Local Springfield, MO Mold Testing Professional
When it comes to having your home tested for mold, don’t rely on overly simplified DIY-type mold tests. Instead, rely on a local professional that specializes in the testing and removing of mold. At Mold and Water Guys in Springfield, MO, we have years of experience and training to ensure we effectively treat your mold problem.
Our main priority is the health and safety of your family. We take air samples from multiple areas of your home in order to get an accurate reading of any possible mold spores. This helps us to identify where mold may be growing in your home. It will also tell us exactly what type of mold it is. And, if we find that removal or remediation is necessary, we will test your air a second time after treatment is complete to ensure that all mold was successfully removed. Contact us today to learn more about our services, and to schedule your home inspection mold testing appointment.
