When you are trying to kill and remove mold from your home or your business establishment, there are a number of different things that you need to purchase before this remediation can begin. Depending on the size of the infection, what you will need to buy can vary. Not stirring up mold spores and having as few in the air that you are breathing as possible is one of the most important concerns when you are doing this remediation on your own, because you are probably not trained in how to do this effectively. Any porous material that has become infected with mold can stir up mold spores when you begin to break it apart, such as drywall or contaminated wallpaper. If you are going to do any invasive procedures in the home to remove mold such as trying to remove mold from the inside of your walls by removing drywall, you will want to have a good respirator on hand and a protective body suit to keep the mold from coming into contact with your skin.
If you want just the minimum amount of protection from mold, then what you will probably need is an N-95 type respirator. This will cover up your nose and mouth and will effectively keep around 95 percent of mold spores and other particles in the air near you from entering your sinuses. You can find these in most hardware stores and also in some department stores.
If you want something that will help protect you just a tad better, then a full or even just a half-face APR (air purifying respirator) will help you out. These have HEPA filters on them and will filter the air that comes into your respirator so that no mold spores or other particles in the air around you get inside the mask. You will want to make sure that whatever respirator you choose to buy is approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. These will not protect your eyes.
If the mold growth is extensive and you will be exposed to it for a long period of time before the remediation is finished, you will want an APR that is powered by electricity. These are all full-face, HEPA filter equipped respirators and in order to be able to use this kind of respirator, you must be trained. Usage of these in a commercial setting should always be in accordance with OSHA’s regulations.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Connecticut water damage restoration contractors and other states such as
North Carolina mold remediation contractor companies across the united states.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Personal Protective Equipment for Mold Repair Jobs
When you are needing to kill and remove mold from your household, you will want and need equipment that will both make the job easier and help protect you from the dangers of mold exposure. You might feel as though you have been exposed to the mold living in your home for quite a while now and that it probably will not do you much more damage to just go through the remediation without any safety equipment, but you will be wrong about that. The mold spores in your home have not been stirred up nearly as much as they are about to be and if you are planning on performing any invasive procedures in order to get rid of the mold in your walls or in your ceiling, then the mold spore levels in your home’s air will absolutely skyrocket.
One of the first things you are going to want to purchase is a respirator of some kind. There are about three different general types that you can purchase and the respirator is the most important piece of equipment that you can buy for a mold remediation job. This is because the mold spores are in the very air that you breathe and even though gloves and protective clothing are also important, you have a fair amount of control of whether or not the mold comes into direct contact with your skin. Unless you have an allergy to the mold and require that it not get on your skin, the respirator is most important. However, if you have an allergy to mold, you should not be doing this job yourself in the first place.
An N-95 respirator is the basic respirator you will want if you are not planning on tearing apart any drywall or contaminated wallpaper. This will block about 95 percent of mold spores, dirt, and etcetera from entering your respiratory system.
If you want an extra level of protection, consider getting a half or even full-faced air purifying respirator. The good thing about these is that they do not require any training like the next level of respirator will.
Powered air purifying respirators require training and must be used following the regulations of OSHA.
Protective clothing should also be worn during the job. This can include a protective body suit, rubber gloves, and shoe coverings will be necessary, preferably made of a breathable material such as TYVEK. You should purchase a roll of tape, such as masking or duct tape, and wrap it around your wrists and ankles where there are gaps in your protective suit.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
North Carolina Mold Remediation and other states such as
New Jersey Sewage Damage Cleanup companies across the united states.
One of the first things you are going to want to purchase is a respirator of some kind. There are about three different general types that you can purchase and the respirator is the most important piece of equipment that you can buy for a mold remediation job. This is because the mold spores are in the very air that you breathe and even though gloves and protective clothing are also important, you have a fair amount of control of whether or not the mold comes into direct contact with your skin. Unless you have an allergy to the mold and require that it not get on your skin, the respirator is most important. However, if you have an allergy to mold, you should not be doing this job yourself in the first place.
An N-95 respirator is the basic respirator you will want if you are not planning on tearing apart any drywall or contaminated wallpaper. This will block about 95 percent of mold spores, dirt, and etcetera from entering your respiratory system.
If you want an extra level of protection, consider getting a half or even full-faced air purifying respirator. The good thing about these is that they do not require any training like the next level of respirator will.
Powered air purifying respirators require training and must be used following the regulations of OSHA.
Protective clothing should also be worn during the job. This can include a protective body suit, rubber gloves, and shoe coverings will be necessary, preferably made of a breathable material such as TYVEK. You should purchase a roll of tape, such as masking or duct tape, and wrap it around your wrists and ankles where there are gaps in your protective suit.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
North Carolina Mold Remediation and other states such as
New Jersey Sewage Damage Cleanup companies across the united states.
Respirators for Mold Remediation Jobs
Finding mold in your home is rarely a pleasant experience and what is even less pleasant is having to check your pocketbook to see if you can really afford to have the problem dealt with by a professional. Not everyone has this luxury, but if you know what kind of equipment that you need to take care of the problem on your own and follow a few basic rules, you should be able to take care of most infections on your own. Perhaps the most important piece of equipment that you can buy is a respirator and depending on the size of the infection, you may need one of at least three different kinds.
The first and lowest level of protection from mold spores getting into your respiratory system is an N-95 respirator. Aside from not using a respirator at all, this is the lowest level of protection and it is by far the most affordable. This will cover your nose and mouth and will effectively remove about 95 percent of mold spores and other air particles from the air that you breathe through it. Unfortunately, this type of respirator will not protect your eyes and mold spores can enter the body through the eyes, as well as the respiratory system. Eye infections are not uncommon.
The next step in protection that you might want to look at if you are dealing with a larger infection in your home is an air purifying respirator. These respirators come equipped with HEPA filters and will filter out about 99 percent of the particles in the air that you breathe through it. These kinds of respirators will also not effectively protect your eyes, but they do come in both half-face and full-face types. Fortunately, this type of APR does not require any training in order to use it, however, the next level of protection does require some training. You also need to be certain that both this kind of APR and the next kind are approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health before purchasing them.
The best kind of protection (but the most expensive) is a powered APR. These come with HEPA filters, as well, but they also require a power source and training in order to use them properly. There are also guidelines written by OSHA that must be followed. These cannot be used in a commercial business or setting unless OSHA regulations are followed.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Connecticut water damage restoration and other states such as
New Jersey Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
The first and lowest level of protection from mold spores getting into your respiratory system is an N-95 respirator. Aside from not using a respirator at all, this is the lowest level of protection and it is by far the most affordable. This will cover your nose and mouth and will effectively remove about 95 percent of mold spores and other air particles from the air that you breathe through it. Unfortunately, this type of respirator will not protect your eyes and mold spores can enter the body through the eyes, as well as the respiratory system. Eye infections are not uncommon.
The next step in protection that you might want to look at if you are dealing with a larger infection in your home is an air purifying respirator. These respirators come equipped with HEPA filters and will filter out about 99 percent of the particles in the air that you breathe through it. These kinds of respirators will also not effectively protect your eyes, but they do come in both half-face and full-face types. Fortunately, this type of APR does not require any training in order to use it, however, the next level of protection does require some training. You also need to be certain that both this kind of APR and the next kind are approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health before purchasing them.
The best kind of protection (but the most expensive) is a powered APR. These come with HEPA filters, as well, but they also require a power source and training in order to use them properly. There are also guidelines written by OSHA that must be followed. These cannot be used in a commercial business or setting unless OSHA regulations are followed.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Connecticut water damage restoration and other states such as
New Jersey Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
Mold Remediation Respirators
When you are working on killing or removing the mold from a building, the equipment that you will need to safely do this job can vary just a bit, depending on the size of the area you are trying to treat. You might just need some cloths, mold killing chemicals, rubber gloves, and a light respirator if it is just a surface infection like on a countertop or on a vinyl floor. But, if you are planning on tearing out any drywall and getting to an infection that exists inside your walls or ceiling, then you will need some protection equipment that is just a bit more extensive. There are different levels of protection equipment just as there are different levels of mold infestations and there are a few things that you need to know about respirators.
No matter what level mold infestation you are dealing with getting rid of, you will need an N-95 type respirator. This is about the minimum level of protection that you can use and the next level down would be using none at all; this is, of course not advised. When you are cleaning, mold spores are stirred up into the air, especially if you are taking out drywall or removing contaminated wallpaper, so even if you have been living in a contaminated household for a while, the risk you are taking by not using a respirator when you are getting rid of it is considerable. You can find this kind of respirator in most hardware and even some department stores.
Air purifying respirators are the next step up in protection and these always have HEPA filters in them. These filter out almost all particles that you are breathing in while you are working. This kind of respirator does not protect your eyes and are available in half face and full face kinds. The best thing about this kind of respirator is not only the HEPA filter, but also the fact that using this kind does not require any training. The next step in protection does.
The highest level of breathing protection will come from a powered air purifying respirator. These also come equipped with HEPA filters, but require electricity and some training in order to be able to use them. OSHA guidelines must also be followed to the letter if you are planning on using these respirators in a commercial setting.
All respirators must be approved for usage by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Houston Fire Damage Water Restoration Contractor companies and
Los Angeles Water Damage and Restoration Services.
No matter what level mold infestation you are dealing with getting rid of, you will need an N-95 type respirator. This is about the minimum level of protection that you can use and the next level down would be using none at all; this is, of course not advised. When you are cleaning, mold spores are stirred up into the air, especially if you are taking out drywall or removing contaminated wallpaper, so even if you have been living in a contaminated household for a while, the risk you are taking by not using a respirator when you are getting rid of it is considerable. You can find this kind of respirator in most hardware and even some department stores.
Air purifying respirators are the next step up in protection and these always have HEPA filters in them. These filter out almost all particles that you are breathing in while you are working. This kind of respirator does not protect your eyes and are available in half face and full face kinds. The best thing about this kind of respirator is not only the HEPA filter, but also the fact that using this kind does not require any training. The next step in protection does.
The highest level of breathing protection will come from a powered air purifying respirator. These also come equipped with HEPA filters, but require electricity and some training in order to be able to use them. OSHA guidelines must also be followed to the letter if you are planning on using these respirators in a commercial setting.
All respirators must be approved for usage by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Houston Fire Damage Water Restoration Contractor companies and
Los Angeles Water Damage and Restoration Services.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
SIDS Caused by Mold?
SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) has been a worry on every new parent’s mind for a long time and its cause has been a mystery for just as long. Scientists all over the world claim that SIDS can happen to any infant, anywhere, any time, and there is absolutely nothing the parents can do to stop it. Most parents simply resign themselves to this and say that there is nothing that they can do to stop SIDS from occurring, but the fact is that a new study out of New Zealand claims to know the cause of it.
The answer lies within the crib the child sleeps in! The chemicals of arsenic, phosphorus, and antimony were first manufactured into crib mattresses back in the mid 1900’s and these chemicals are required by law to be in mattresses as a fire retardant. But, it is not just the mattress alone that causes the crib death, the study says. It is only when mold finds its way into the mattress that you begin to have a problem. When Scopulariopsis brevicaulis gets into one of these mattresses that has these chemicals in it, it begins to feed on them and releases them back into the air as toxic fumes or nerve gases. It is activated by heat and so when the baby sleeps on it (or especially when it has a fever), the mold begins to grow more quickly and lets the gases out into the air.
While the gas disperses almost immediately, it is still dangerous for infants to sleep on the mattresses because they are breathing too close to the surface of it. They are breathing these gases while they are still potent and this is what causes crib death.
So, what can you do? Do not use anything in the crib that contains these chemicals and wrap the mattress in plastic to keep these dangerous gases from escaping. It’s best to do this when the mattress is brand new so you know there isn’t any mold in it and if you have an old mattress that was given to you by friends or relatives to use, throw it away. There are special baby mattress wraps that you can use to wrap up your baby’s mattress, but are only available from New Zealand.
Also, use only materials such as 100% Egyptian cotton blankets for your baby to sleep on. Do not use sheepskin, polyester, anything that is quilted, padded, or filled, pillows or cushions. 100% cotton is the best thing to use.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
North Carolina Water Damage Restoration and other states such as
New Jersey Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
The answer lies within the crib the child sleeps in! The chemicals of arsenic, phosphorus, and antimony were first manufactured into crib mattresses back in the mid 1900’s and these chemicals are required by law to be in mattresses as a fire retardant. But, it is not just the mattress alone that causes the crib death, the study says. It is only when mold finds its way into the mattress that you begin to have a problem. When Scopulariopsis brevicaulis gets into one of these mattresses that has these chemicals in it, it begins to feed on them and releases them back into the air as toxic fumes or nerve gases. It is activated by heat and so when the baby sleeps on it (or especially when it has a fever), the mold begins to grow more quickly and lets the gases out into the air.
While the gas disperses almost immediately, it is still dangerous for infants to sleep on the mattresses because they are breathing too close to the surface of it. They are breathing these gases while they are still potent and this is what causes crib death.
So, what can you do? Do not use anything in the crib that contains these chemicals and wrap the mattress in plastic to keep these dangerous gases from escaping. It’s best to do this when the mattress is brand new so you know there isn’t any mold in it and if you have an old mattress that was given to you by friends or relatives to use, throw it away. There are special baby mattress wraps that you can use to wrap up your baby’s mattress, but are only available from New Zealand.
Also, use only materials such as 100% Egyptian cotton blankets for your baby to sleep on. Do not use sheepskin, polyester, anything that is quilted, padded, or filled, pillows or cushions. 100% cotton is the best thing to use.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
North Carolina Water Damage Restoration and other states such as
New Jersey Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
Protecting Your Basement From Mold
While you should protect all areas of your home from mold, the basement is one of the most common areas to find it. Since it is underground, dark, and can be a moist, cluttered environment, this is almost the perfect place for mold to grow in the home. You might be able to smell the mold in your basement, but be unable to see it because it tends to hide behind sheetrock, wallpaper, under carpets, rugs, and etcetera. If you suspect mold exists in your basement, then the best thing to do is call in a professional or buy a mold testing kit. What can you do after the mold in your basement is removed to keep it from returning? Here are a few tips.
If there are any water spills or leaky pipes in your basement, do your best to get them cleaned up and dried as quickly as possible. Mold loves moisture and will grow almost anywhere that it exists. It can start to grow in as little as 48 hours after water is introduced to an environment.
A humidity meter can be purchased at the hardware store and you want to try and keep the humidity in the basement below 60 to 65 percent. You can also purchase a de-humidifier to help with this if you’re having trouble controlling the humidity. If you see condensation on your basement windows or on any pipes, dry these surfaces immediately and continue to try and reduce the humidity.
If your clothes dryer or shower is located in the basement, make sure that the hot air it puts out is vented to the outside.
The soil outside your home should be sloped away from the foundation so that water flows away from the basement. If it is not, water will begin to leak inside and allow mold to begin growing in the house.
Keep the air moving around in the basement. Allowing air to become stagnant is another factor that encourages mold to grow. Well-ventilated areas of the home are rarely as moldy as areas that have no ventilation at all.
Try not to store papers or cardboard boxes directly on the floor. Mold likes to eat anything that has its base in organic material, especially paper and wood of any kind. It is the natural job of mold to decompose organic material, but you do not want it doing this in your basement.
Jim Corkern is a writer and respected contributor to the Water damage restoration and mold remediation Industry. Visit his sites for more information.
http://www.floodingct.info
http://www.floodedbasementnj.info
If there are any water spills or leaky pipes in your basement, do your best to get them cleaned up and dried as quickly as possible. Mold loves moisture and will grow almost anywhere that it exists. It can start to grow in as little as 48 hours after water is introduced to an environment.
A humidity meter can be purchased at the hardware store and you want to try and keep the humidity in the basement below 60 to 65 percent. You can also purchase a de-humidifier to help with this if you’re having trouble controlling the humidity. If you see condensation on your basement windows or on any pipes, dry these surfaces immediately and continue to try and reduce the humidity.
If your clothes dryer or shower is located in the basement, make sure that the hot air it puts out is vented to the outside.
The soil outside your home should be sloped away from the foundation so that water flows away from the basement. If it is not, water will begin to leak inside and allow mold to begin growing in the house.
Keep the air moving around in the basement. Allowing air to become stagnant is another factor that encourages mold to grow. Well-ventilated areas of the home are rarely as moldy as areas that have no ventilation at all.
Try not to store papers or cardboard boxes directly on the floor. Mold likes to eat anything that has its base in organic material, especially paper and wood of any kind. It is the natural job of mold to decompose organic material, but you do not want it doing this in your basement.
Jim Corkern is a writer and respected contributor to the Water damage restoration and mold remediation Industry. Visit his sites for more information.
http://www.floodingct.info
http://www.floodedbasementnj.info
Penicillin and Your New Baby
Ever since Penicillin was put into mass production back in the 1940’s, it has been noted that some people have experienced adverse reactions to the drug. What is penicillin?
Penicillin is an antibiotic that has been used for the past 70 years or so to treat different kinds of illnesses and infections. It comes from the mold penicillin notatum, which is a blue-green kind of mold sometimes found growing on food. Before the invention of this drug, infections and diseases that are only minor to us could very well be fatal. Because it is made from mold and reproduces quickly, it’s not very difficult to manufacture at all and therefore it is the most popular antibiotic in use worldwide today.
If you are allergic to penicillin or know someone who is, you might know a bit about what to expect if your new baby is allergic. If not, you should know that an allergic reaction to penicillin, especially at such a young age, can be fatal. These reactions can be anything from a simple skin rash all the way to breathing difficulties that can be life-threatening. If you go to a doctor regularly, you should have had to answer a question on a form that asked if you were allergic to penicillin. This is so they know whether or not they can administer the drug if you are admitted to the hospital because it is the most frequently occurring drug allergy in existence today.
Even though penicillin is a drug made from mold designed to help us fight infections, you can be allergic to it like any other mold. The medical industry is unsure why some people have reactions to penicillin and some do not, but knowing if you are allergic is very important. Some only have minor symptoms when exposed to the drug and some can be put near death by it. The only treatment for being allergic to the drug is simply not to use it. There are other antibiotics that can be used to fight infections besides penicillin.
The symptoms of a penicillin allergy include swollen lips, tongue, and face or sometimes rashes or hives that can cover a large area of the body. The most life-threatening reaction to the drug is when the bronchial airway becomes extremely swollen and it causes difficulty breathing. This can be followed by a drop in your blood pressure and will cause lightheadedness. This kind of reaction can be fatal and if you experience any of these symptoms after receiving a dose of penicillin, you should tell your doctor as soon as you can. If you are allergic, it’s possible that your newborn will be allergic as well, so your child’s doctor needs to know this before giving them a dose of the drug.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
flood water damage restoration New Jersey and and other states such as
Connecticut Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
Penicillin is an antibiotic that has been used for the past 70 years or so to treat different kinds of illnesses and infections. It comes from the mold penicillin notatum, which is a blue-green kind of mold sometimes found growing on food. Before the invention of this drug, infections and diseases that are only minor to us could very well be fatal. Because it is made from mold and reproduces quickly, it’s not very difficult to manufacture at all and therefore it is the most popular antibiotic in use worldwide today.
If you are allergic to penicillin or know someone who is, you might know a bit about what to expect if your new baby is allergic. If not, you should know that an allergic reaction to penicillin, especially at such a young age, can be fatal. These reactions can be anything from a simple skin rash all the way to breathing difficulties that can be life-threatening. If you go to a doctor regularly, you should have had to answer a question on a form that asked if you were allergic to penicillin. This is so they know whether or not they can administer the drug if you are admitted to the hospital because it is the most frequently occurring drug allergy in existence today.
Even though penicillin is a drug made from mold designed to help us fight infections, you can be allergic to it like any other mold. The medical industry is unsure why some people have reactions to penicillin and some do not, but knowing if you are allergic is very important. Some only have minor symptoms when exposed to the drug and some can be put near death by it. The only treatment for being allergic to the drug is simply not to use it. There are other antibiotics that can be used to fight infections besides penicillin.
The symptoms of a penicillin allergy include swollen lips, tongue, and face or sometimes rashes or hives that can cover a large area of the body. The most life-threatening reaction to the drug is when the bronchial airway becomes extremely swollen and it causes difficulty breathing. This can be followed by a drop in your blood pressure and will cause lightheadedness. This kind of reaction can be fatal and if you experience any of these symptoms after receiving a dose of penicillin, you should tell your doctor as soon as you can. If you are allergic, it’s possible that your newborn will be allergic as well, so your child’s doctor needs to know this before giving them a dose of the drug.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
flood water damage restoration New Jersey and and other states such as
Connecticut Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
Mold Trouble in Florida
If you live in Florida, you have probably experienced some damage to your home due to hurricanes, especially water damage. Mold also likes to start growing in homes that have been water damaged after hurricanes and other storms, especially since Florida is characterized by warm and moist weather. Mold can start to grow in these homes after about 48 hours, so it’s important to get any standing water in the home removed and the home dried out as soon as possible.
A large amount of all the buildings in Florida have to deal with some kind of water or mold damage and a lot of the time this is due to the frequent hurricanes that hit the state almost every single year. The electricity goes down and people are not able to use their air conditioners to help air out and dry the home. Air conditioners can also help to remove humidity by keeping the house at a certain temperature.
If you want to have a healthy and safe indoor environment to live in, you need to make sure your air conditioner is properly serviced as often as is necessary. If it is an old system and has a lot of problems, it is probably best to just replace it instead of doing work on it repeatedly.
Sometimes indoor air quality tests need to be done and not just in Florida. Mold testing should be done and while it’s become a multi-million dollar business industry, it is a necessary one. Mold has been proved to be very harmful to human (and animal) health. When you choose a company to do mold testing or remediation keep it in mind not to choose the same company to do both for you. If a company does both mold testing and removal, it is in their best interest for them to find mold on your property, so even if they say there is mold there, it might not be.
Make sure they have the latest technology in mold testing such as infrared thermal cameras, mold spore counters, air moisture meters, and etcetera. The company should also have a microbiologist in house and certified mold inspectors.
They should inspect the air conditioner, the exterior, plumbing, and they should perform moisture tests around the whole house.
You should do these things even if you do not live in Florida, but a large part of the state of Florida is at risk for water and mold damage because of the moisture and humidity that can exist there.
Jim Corkern is a writer and respected contributor to the Water damage restoration and mold remediation Industry. Visit his sites for more information.
http://www.floodchicago.info
http://www.damagewatersc.info
A large amount of all the buildings in Florida have to deal with some kind of water or mold damage and a lot of the time this is due to the frequent hurricanes that hit the state almost every single year. The electricity goes down and people are not able to use their air conditioners to help air out and dry the home. Air conditioners can also help to remove humidity by keeping the house at a certain temperature.
If you want to have a healthy and safe indoor environment to live in, you need to make sure your air conditioner is properly serviced as often as is necessary. If it is an old system and has a lot of problems, it is probably best to just replace it instead of doing work on it repeatedly.
Sometimes indoor air quality tests need to be done and not just in Florida. Mold testing should be done and while it’s become a multi-million dollar business industry, it is a necessary one. Mold has been proved to be very harmful to human (and animal) health. When you choose a company to do mold testing or remediation keep it in mind not to choose the same company to do both for you. If a company does both mold testing and removal, it is in their best interest for them to find mold on your property, so even if they say there is mold there, it might not be.
Make sure they have the latest technology in mold testing such as infrared thermal cameras, mold spore counters, air moisture meters, and etcetera. The company should also have a microbiologist in house and certified mold inspectors.
They should inspect the air conditioner, the exterior, plumbing, and they should perform moisture tests around the whole house.
You should do these things even if you do not live in Florida, but a large part of the state of Florida is at risk for water and mold damage because of the moisture and humidity that can exist there.
Jim Corkern is a writer and respected contributor to the Water damage restoration and mold remediation Industry. Visit his sites for more information.
http://www.floodchicago.info
http://www.damagewatersc.info
Mold Testing Kits
If you become concerned that mold exists on your property, the first thing that you should do is buy a mold testing kit. These test kits that you can use on your own are used to determine if mold does in fact exist in your home and to identify what kind of mold you are dealing with and if it is dangerous to you. These kits do not tell you just how much mold is growing in your home and will not tell you everything that a professional mold inspector can.
Mold testing kits include either a stick or a Petri dish that has something for the mold to attach to and grow in. The mold must grow on this item so the lab can determine what kind of mold you are dealing with.
The benefits of home mold testing kits are fairly decent. They are inexpensive for the most part and it does not typically take long for the results to come back from the lab.
Mold tests can be used in order to sample the mold in your home that you can see visually growing on the walls or on the floor and you can find out whether this mold is dangerous to your health or not. All molds are bad for the internal structure of your home, but not all of it will be harmful to your health. Either way it is a good idea to have it removed.
You can also use these tests to sample the air in your home. The air you are breathing may or may not be healthy due to a hidden mold problem. Testing the air being put out by your air conditioner is a good way to find out if there is mold where you live if you cannot find a visible infection.
These Petri dishes can also be placed around your home and if there are mold spores in the air, they will settle onto the dishes and begin to grow.
Unfortunately, you have to follow the instructions included with the tests or they will not be of any use to you. They simply will not return accurate results.
Something else that is unfortunate is the fact that the tests will not just pick up one kind of mold in your home; if there is more than one kind of mold growing in your home, it will pick them all up and molds do not tend to grow at the same speeds. Aspergillus molds, for example, tend to grow faster than Stachybotrys chartarum.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
South Carolina Water Damage Restoration and and other states such as
Chicago Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
Mold testing kits include either a stick or a Petri dish that has something for the mold to attach to and grow in. The mold must grow on this item so the lab can determine what kind of mold you are dealing with.
The benefits of home mold testing kits are fairly decent. They are inexpensive for the most part and it does not typically take long for the results to come back from the lab.
Mold tests can be used in order to sample the mold in your home that you can see visually growing on the walls or on the floor and you can find out whether this mold is dangerous to your health or not. All molds are bad for the internal structure of your home, but not all of it will be harmful to your health. Either way it is a good idea to have it removed.
You can also use these tests to sample the air in your home. The air you are breathing may or may not be healthy due to a hidden mold problem. Testing the air being put out by your air conditioner is a good way to find out if there is mold where you live if you cannot find a visible infection.
These Petri dishes can also be placed around your home and if there are mold spores in the air, they will settle onto the dishes and begin to grow.
Unfortunately, you have to follow the instructions included with the tests or they will not be of any use to you. They simply will not return accurate results.
Something else that is unfortunate is the fact that the tests will not just pick up one kind of mold in your home; if there is more than one kind of mold growing in your home, it will pick them all up and molds do not tend to grow at the same speeds. Aspergillus molds, for example, tend to grow faster than Stachybotrys chartarum.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
South Carolina Water Damage Restoration and and other states such as
Chicago Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
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