Contents
Mold is a very dangerous and unhealthy organism that can cause many respiratory health problems and infections.
If you’ve noticed a smell in your home that doesn’t seem to disappear no matter how many times you’ve cleaned out the refrigerator, the culprit might not be an old serving of leftovers after all — instead, it could be mold hiding just out of sight somewhere in your home. This article will walk you through how to identify a potential mold contamination and who to call for mold inspection.
What is Mold, and How Did it Get Here?
Mold is a fungus that can be found just about anywhere if the conditions are right. It thrives in moisture and in areas with high humidity levels, putting homes at risk when they experience leaks, flooding, or even a steamy bathroom that doesn’t have proper ventilation.
Luckily, even though mold can often be hiding inside walls and ceilings or within appliances like your refrigerator or dishwasher, there are signs that you can keep an eye out for that can indicate that mold might be present.
If there are visible stains on your ceiling or walls that don’t go away when scrubbed with soap and water or if you notice musty odors in an area in your home, then it’s time to call for a mold inspection. Even without these tell-tale signs, if your home has experienced a flooding or leakage event, it may be a good idea to schedule an inspection to ensure mold hasn’t begun growing so that it doesn’t have the chance to become a bigger problem down the road if left unchecked.
Types of Mold and Things to Consider
There are many different types of mold, and the fungus can come in a variety of colors and hues including black, white, green, and orange. Many types of mold are non-toxic, but others can pose health risks if left untreated. Some people are more sensitive to mold spores than others, and exposure to spores in the home can lead to respiratory issues.
When toxic mold occurs, the mold releases something called mycotoxins. Exposure to these poisonous substances can result in respiratory issues, skin irritation and more, which is why it’s important to identify and remove mold once it’s discovered in your home.
Related Reading: 4 Ways Mold Can Impact Your Health
In instances where mold is growing in an area larger than 10 square feet, it’s recommended that you do not try and remove it yourself because of the greater probability of inhaling harmful mold spores.
Don’t Just DIY — Opt for Expert Help for Your Mold Inspection and Removal
Mold isn’t just unsightly. It can impact the value and the structural integrity of your home, and it can even be potentially hazardous to yours and your family’s health. Like with a lot of issues homeowners encounter, it can be tempting to try and tackle the problem of mold yourself, but this is one issue that’s better left to the professionals. Even if you’re able to clean any visible mold that you’ve found in your home, without an inspection you can’t know if more is lurking out of sight in your walls and ceilings.
How Does a Mold Inspection Work?
During a mold inspection, the inspector will search your home for mold growth. Their trained eyes may find additional signs of mold or even uncover some visible mold growth. Using specially designed equipment, the inspector will test the air in your home for mold spores and take samples. Samples they suspect to contain mold will be confirmed via lab testing.
Once the areas in your home that are positive for mold have been identified, along with the types of mold found there, a removal plan can be put together that will ensure that all of the mold is removed from your home, preserving the value of your home and protecting the health of you and your family.
Who to Call for Mold Inspection?
Enlisting the help of a certified, reliable inspector is the best way to ensure that all of the areas of your home that might be harboring mold are identified so that you can then establish a comprehensive removal plan.
Mold inspection is just one of the many services that Shepherd’s DR offers to ensure that our clients are able to enjoy their homes the way that they’re meant to be enjoyed. Our team of experts at Shepherd’s DR will complete a broad and thorough inspection of your property, including your home’s ventilation systems, crawl spaces, attics, and outdoor living spaces like decks and patios. With over a decade of experience and a clientele largely built from word-of-mouth referrals, we’ve worked hard to establish ourselves as a reliable and efficient team of professionals.
Discovering that mold has been growing in your home can be distressing, but working alongside a team that specializes in mold removes the guesswork that comes with questions like, “What next?” Because we also specialize in mold removal services, once we’ve helped you to identify the areas in your home that have mold growing, we can then help you to build a plan that will remove any trace of mold and give you peace of mind. Shepherd’s DR is who to call for mold inspection and remediation!
Give Our Mold Inspection Specialists a Call
Whether your home has experienced a flooding or leakage event, you’ve noticed a peculiar odor around an appliance, or you’ve spotted mold growing somewhere in your home, our team is waiting for your call to complete a comprehensive inspection to identify, and if need be, remove any mold growing in your home.
If you’d like more information on our Mold Inspection and our Mold Removal services, give us a call today at (650) 459-4386. We’re here to help.