Mold, should you be testing your home for it?
First what is Mold? Answer: Molds are microscopic fungi, and are from the same family that includes mushrooms and yeasts and they grow and reproduce very rapidly. Not all molds are bad — penicillin comes from a type of mold. Many other Molds are found in foods and drinks that we consume everyday and pose no harm.
Many types of mold also have a nasty side and can be very harmful to your health especial to the young and elderly who may have weakened immune systems. Molds can cause allergic reactions and prolonged illness depending on the amount of exposure and the type of Mold you are exposed to.
So what do you do if you suspect there is Mold in your home? First most Molds are very visible and by doing a detailed inspection of your home you can often find signs of Mold. Mold needs moisture to grow so anywhere there is moisture you have a possibility of mold so keeping basements and window sills dry can really help avoid Mold.
Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC) has some great information available in their, The Clean Air Guide and Clean-up Procedures for Mold in Houses, which include checklists and a lot of very valuable information.
It is important to become as knowledgeable as possible when faced with a Mold problem so that you make the best use of your time and money and don't get taken to the cleaners! Often you will need to hire a professional to do the repairs but even when hiring someone to do the work for you, the more you know the better. This will help you avoid improper work being done and being over charged for work being done by the professional you hire.
It is also important to remember that before you clean up the problem you must find the cause or you will be visited again very soon, by your friendly Mold monster. Get the help of a professional to make sure the job gets done right the first time. Spending a little now can often save you a lot down the road.
In some cases the mold will not be visible and may be hiding in walls or under carpets but the smell is present. To avoid knocking holes in your walls or tearing up perfectly good flooring you may want to have the air in your home tested by a professional and have the results reviewed by a lab.
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