“You may not think you have it in your home, but mold is everywhere. If you’ve ever had an unaddressed water event in your home -- a roof leak, plumbing leak, basement leak or sump pump backup -- and it wasn’t quickly cleaned up, chances are good that you have a significant problem,” says Seth Norman, CEO of Walled Lake, Mich.-based IMS Laboratories, a company that specializes in mold detection and clean up.

How do you find out if mold is causing your health problems? Norman says there are two ways of going about it. You can hire a mold inspector certified by the National Association of Mold Professionals (NAMP) or buy a do-it-yourself test kit.

NAMP certified inspectors hold the highest credentials in the industry, use state of the art equipment, will perform very thorough physical inspections, and conduct sophisticated air quality testing. When they provide a report, you will not only know where the mold is located and the type of mold present, but you should also be provided with a specific plan for removing the mold. This service can be expensive. “Qualified inspectors will charge between $500 and $2,500 -- or more -- to come to your home for a physical inspection and mold assessment,” says Norman.

A more economical option is to order a do-it-yourself test kit. IMS Laboratories has one that sells for $9.95 plus shipping. It comes with easy-to-follow instructions for testing your home, and everything you need to get the job done. The kit includes a collection device and a special biological growth medium. “The test only takes a couple minutes to perform and is so easy to use that anyone can do it,” he adds.

The kit can be used three different ways: to take a direct topical sample, taped to an air vent to test your air duct system, or simply exposed to the air in a suspect room to test the air quality. Once the test is complete, you seal it in the enclosed bag and place it in a dark, warm place for two to three days. “After the required time elapses, look at the plastic container inside and if you see anything growing, your environment has tested positive for mold,” says Norman.

You can test the air you breath, your heating and cooling system, or a suspicious area on your wall, floor or ceiling. The kit itself will tell you whether you have mold. If your test comes back positive, for an additional fee of $30.00, you can send it back to the lab for further testing to determine what kind of mold is present in your home. “We can tell you if it’s toxic, pathogenic or just allergenic,” says Norman.

Toxic molds are considered the most dangerous. Stachybotrys, or black mold, is the organism frequently associated with sick building syndrome. People who come in contact with it can experience respiratory problems, central nervous system problems, skin irritation, aches and pains.

Exposure to pathogenic molds can cause serious health problems too. These molds have been linked to a number of diseases, including emphysema, pulmonary hemosiderosis (bleeding of the lungs) and encephalitis (swelling of the brain).

Allergenic molds are the most common and least dangerous types of mold. Exposure to these molds can cause healthy people to get stuffy noses, watery eyes, and occasionally shortness of breath. They may cause serious health problems for people with asthma or compromised immune systems, such as those undergoing chemotherapy.

“Once you establish the presence of mold, you need to make a determination of whether you can clean it up yourself or if a professional should be called in,” says Norman.

If the mold is allergenic and not growing in a porous material (ceiling tiles, drywall, carpet, etc.), it can sometimes be cleaned by scrubbing the suspect area with bleach and water, then making sure you dry it out completely. “If the mold is growing on porous material, it may be difficult or impossible to remove by yourself, in which case it should be addressed by a professional mold remediator,” says Norman.

Same goes for mold determined to be toxic or pathogenic, Norman says you’re better off leaving the cleanup to the professionals. “It’s serious business. Mold remediators will use the same protocol as professional cleaners who remove asbestos. They work under negative pressure to prevent further contamination, and wear protective respirators, gloves and suits to prevent themselves from being exposed,” says Norman.

How often should you test your home for mold? Once a year, after any water intrusion, before bringing a new baby home from the hospital, and before purchasing a new home. Frequent tests -- once every month or two -- are recommended for households where residents are very young (under 2), senior citizens (over 65), asthmatic, or have weak or compromised immune systems.

To order a test kit from IMS Laboratories, log onto www.homemoldtestkit.com or call (877) 665-3373.

Courtesy of ARA Content