If you’re aware of the dangers of mold to homeowners, you’ll understand the importance of a mold assessment. Basically, assessing mold is determining whether or not you’re dealing with the presence of mold in your home. But, there are more than one ways to go about assessing an issue with mold. And, understanding each way of mold assessment can help you identify an issue with mold before it gets worse. Or, may help you to identify that there isn’t a mold issue so you don’t spend money where it’s not needed.
Assessing if You Can See Mold in Your Home
If you can see that there is clearly mold growing in your home, you’re dealing with a mold issue. This is obviously the easiest way to tell if you have mold or not. However, some may confuse mold for mildew. And, end up paying remediation companies and arm and a leg just to tell them that they’re dealing with mildew (which is easily removable). To address mildew, all you need is a mildew cleaner and a sturdy scrub brush. But, if it’s mold you’re dealing with, you’re going to need to hire professionals to remove mold correctly so it doesn’t grow back.
In order to eliminate mold from a home, one must first identify how mold is able to grow in the first place. Since mold requires moisture to grow, it’s pertinent to find out where moisture is getting into your home. And, fix the situation so that water is no longer present. This may include fixing busted piping or roof leaks. Then, remediation can begin by the elimination of mold, dehumidifying the air inside the home, and addressing any water damage.
Assessing if You Can Recognize the Smell of Mold
Along with plain out seeing mold and knowing it’s there, the second easiest way to identify the presence of mold is to smell it. Basically, if you’ve ever smelt mold, you know what it smells like. And, will likely be able to identify it if you ever were to come upon it again. However, if you’ve never smelled mold (or have never been told what that weird smell is) you may not be able to identify it using just your sniffer. Basically, mold gives off a pungent, strong odor that can make one’s stomach turn. Some describe the smell of mold as comparable to the smell of wet socks, rotting wood, or damp paper. Regardless of what it smells like to you, if you’re smelling a weird smell that’s comparable to this, it’s most likely the result of mold.
Mold Assessment by Evaluating the Health of Your Family
One way that can lead to conduct mold assessment is to first assess the health of yourself and your family. Since mold can lead to a number of health effects, identifying these effects can help to identify the presence of mold. Certainly, it’s best to identify the presence of mold before people start getting sick. However, in many cases, homeowners don’t know that they have mold until they begin to experience ill effects. Some of the health effects of living with mold can include:
- Coughing
- Weezing
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Runny noses
- Further health issues in people with weakened immune systems (young children and older adults)
What to do After Your Mold Assessment
If you feel that you have mold after conducting these three mold assessment tips, you’ll need professional help for removal. Or, if you still aren’t sure that you have mold after doing these three mold assessment tips, you’ll need to have a mold inspection done.
In either case, A Plus Mold Remediation Inc. is here to help. We offer mold testing and remediation for all of South Florida’s home and business owners. To talk to us about your mold removal needs and what you can expect during the process, contact us today.