The presence of mold in a home can be very dangerous. It leads to respiratory problems and other health issues of the inhabitants, in addition to compromising the integrity of the home's walls and foundation. Testing is not costly, and may help prevent serious problems and significant expenses in the future.

Do it yourself

It is not uncommon to find a little mold in the bathroom perhaps on the tiles or under the washbasin. This is quite easily spotted and checked simply by cleaning with a bleach and water mixture. More entrenched mold infections may require the use of an EPA-registered fungicide. In addition to cleaning however, you must also take steps to make sure the mold does not re-occur, by removing the source of moisture that has allowed it to grow. Mold will always return if there are water problems such as broken water lines, or damage by storms. Mold also occurs if there is seepage from the foundation or floors, or if any part of the house has constant high humidity. Mold may also enter in on the bodies of pets, or even on the bottoms of peoples' shoes. The Asian custom of removing shoes before entering a home is actually very useful in preventing the intrusion of mold and other unwanted elements.

A visual inspection for mold and moisture around windows, sinks, and any water lines in the house is usually a good start. An inexpensive moisture meter available at a home improvement store is quite useful for the purpose. Mold can be detected through other means such as an odor emanating from vents or ducts. Ducts containing mold can be especially dangerous, since they can easily spread mold throughout the house.

Professional help

A standard pre-purchased home inspection will not always reveal mold problems. A professional inspection may be very necessary keeping the hazards in mind if the mold problem is serious. A professional inspection is not costly and provides for thorough inspection. A professional inspector will use a thermal imager to detect moisture that would normally be canceled. The professional home mold inspection will include a thorough leak detection and moisture analysis, air quality analysis, relative humidity testing, and drainage evaluation. Some professionals also use a fiber-optic camera to inspect wall cavities. Equipment not available to the do-it-yourselfer.

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