Monday, January 2, 2012

The Pros of Mold Testing

It is disgusting, but mold is everywhere. You can clean your house from top to bottom every day, and the mold would remain. In many instances the only way to overcome the scourge of mold is to have your home tested for these microscopic spores.

They may seem harmless since they are mostly invisible to the naked eye, but mold particles can cause allergies and illnesses to your family without even knowing it. Mold becomes harmful when all of the separate microscopic fungi team up and work as a colony. It is mold that makes food spoil.

Many people are unaware that mold is central in the process of biodegradation, during which organic material is broken down into useful natural elements. In fact, some mold is used in producing food, drinks, and some medicines. Mold can be useful, but this does not mean that we should forget how dangerous it can be.

It is natural for mold to exist on dead or decaying organic matter. Unfortunately mold lives off the same things in your home, as you have probably seen on decaying fruits, vegetables, food, or milk in your fridge. Mold likes spaces that are damp, dark and warm, so you can expect to find it in your bathroom, kitchen, storage areas, plumbing spaces, basement, and poorly ventilated, humid areas.

In general, black molds, bathroom molds, ceiling molds, wall molds, HVAC vent molds and molds in dust are common in the home. Not all molds are toxic, by the way. A leaky tap can be the catalyst for mold infestations, so stop possible growth by reducing moisture as much as possible.

In general, mold is moved all over your house through dust particles. You can sense its presence when someone sneezes all of a sudden and gets watery and itchy eyes. Some people also suffer from chronic coughing, headaches, rashes, difficulty in breathing, sinus problems, and nasal blockage.

Fungal mold affects children the most, particularly Penicillium mold. Serious exposure could lead to your baby getting asthma or related respiratory problems. If you notice your child sneezing too often without apparent cause, chances are there is tons of Penicillium flying all over the place.

Healthy adults are also at risk of allergies and various respiratory problems if they are exposed to large amounts of mold. Mold is dangerous because it can produce mycotoxins that are very dangerous for you and your family. Some studies reveal that prolonged exposure to toxic mold can be so harmful that, in fact, there are recorded cases of neurological damages and deaths caused by over exposure to too much mycotoxin.

Some people are more sensitive than others. This means that even if you are not feeling any symptoms, somebody in your immediate family might start feeling negative effects. Anybody in your family with existing lung problems is likely to feel the effects of mold infestation the most.

Should you suspect that mold is growing in your home; a simple mold test can confirm your suspicions. You can reduce the risk by cleaning your home thoroughly, fixing leaks and addressing warm, damp areas. Finding mold is not the end of the world - get yourself a mold testing kit and hire house cleaners.


Get to know the reasons why mold testing in your home is very essential. Hit this link and you'll be enlightened.