The word mold is enough to make us all cringe. But would you be surprised if we tell you that, in reality, mold is present everywhere? Mold is a type of fungus that grows from tiny mold spores that float in the air. When these mold spores land on a surface with appropriate moisture and comfortable temperature, they grow. A growth that begins as small black spots can soon become full-blown mold colonies that can ruin the structural integrity of your house. If not taken care of, prolonged exposure to mold can make you very sick. But how do you know it's time to act upon the mold growth? How to test for mold in house? Are there any signs of mold sickness? Knowing the amount of damage mold can cause, it important to know how to detect mold in walls. Here are a few signs to look out for when looking for mold behind walls.
- Discoloration and stains
One of the major reasons behind mold growth is water damage. If there has been water damage in your house, it is likely that the mold infestation will follow unless proper precautions are taken. Water damage often causes water stains on walls. If you spot these stains, there is a chance you will find mold behind the wall. Also, one of the signs of mold sickness is the discoloration of walls.
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Surface changes and deterioration
Apart from discoloration and stains, if your wall changes its appearance significantly, this could be because of mold. If your wallpaper and paint keep peeling off due to moisture despite recent renovations, you need to ask the professionals, how to test for mold in house.
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Odor
If you notice that the air in your house is beginning to smell mustier than usual despite regular cleaning, you may have a mold infestation problem on your hand.
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Your asthma mysteriously worsens
One of the signs of mold sickness is breathing problems. If you are someone with a pre-existing breathing condition that worsens after spending time indoors, this could be due to mold growth. Aggravated asthma attacks warrant a doctor’s appointment and a mold inspection to be scheduled at the earliest.
How to test for mold in house?
If you can see mold growth on your walls, it is pretty evident that you have mold problems and don’t need to use a mold test kit for further analysis. But if you suspect mold is in the hidden corners of your house, mold test kits are easily available in the home improvement stores around you. Due to the adverse effect of mold on our health, it is wise to eliminate mold irrespective of its type.
If the area that is damaged by mold is smaller than 3 feet, you can probably take care of it yourself with some bleach and water. However, we would advise against it since there could be concealed mold that you are unaware of. Our team of experts will inspect the entire area and then formulate a plan to remediate the mold using the best in class techniques to ensure that you needn’t worry about mold growth for a long time to come. Now that you know how to detect mold in walls and are aware of the signs to look out for, give us a call if you suspect mold growth and let us do the rest.