Mold Testing: When to Have It Done

3/5/2019 (Permalink)

If you see mold have it remediated by SERVPRO Professionals.

When should you spend money on mold testing?

First things first- If you see visible mold—you usually do NOT need a mold inspection or mold testing. If you already see it, then you need to simply have it removed following industry standards. You may wonder, Don’t you need to know what kind of mold it is so you can determine if it is toxic? Knowing what type of mold is irrelevant at this point, a mold professional, like SERVPRO, needs to get rid of the mold. Mold Remediation Principles are followed to remove mold regardless of the color, species, etc.

Mold testing can be useful in certain circumstances, though.

• When visible mold is not present, but the smell of mold is. Here a mold inspection and mold test can reveal whether there is indeed elevated mold, and where it is located.

• There have been plumbing leaks or water issues and there is a suspicion that elevated mold may exist in the air and/or behind walls.

• Post Mold Removal Clearance Testing to ensure that the previous mold issues has been resolved and mold counts have returned to levels found in normal environments of the same type.

•Health Concerns: In some cases a doctor or the patient has a health issue that they cannot pinpoint the cause but seems to be related to mold symptoms (coughing, sneezing, headaches, etc). Here, a mold inspection and test may help to confirm whether the doctor’s or patient’s suspicions that a mold problem exists.

• For real estate transactions for the protection of Buyers and Sellers.

• Landlord/Tenant disputes as to whether there is a mold problem.

• Someone thinks they see or smell mold but are not sure.

• Someone is interested in a general Indoor Air Quality test of their environment.

SERVPRO of Blackwood/Gloucester Township offers professional mold spore testings. Our technician comes out and samples indoor and outdoor air quality. We then send the samples to a lab to be tested and interpreted. A full report is issued within three to five days. There is a fee for the testing.

If you would like more information on mold testing or mold remediation please call SERVPRO of Blackwood/Gloucester Township at 856-227-7800.