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Doctors always say that early detection is the key to effective treatment. This same basic concept should be applied to the issue of black mold. Unfortunately, many people don’t know they have black mold in their homes or if they do notice mold, they simply clean it up and shrug it off. This can have dire consequences. Therefore, it is imperative to first determine if there is any mold present in the home and to then identify exactly what type of mold is growing in your home.
The recent increase in reported cases of black mold has led to a surge in the black mold testing and inspection business. Luckily for consumers, there are two ways to approach this task. The first is the do-it-yourself method and the second is to hire a professional mold testing company. Let’s take a closer look at the DIY method.
DIY Black Mold Testing
This is typically the first avenue many people choose because it is much more cost effective than hiring a professional and the results are given rather quickly – usually within ten to fourteen days. Not to mention they are rather easy to use. All of the kits come equipped with a medium that is located on a stick or in a petri dish. The medium is typically potato dextrose or malt extract that works to promote mold growth.
DIY Black Mold Testing Methods
Once the kit is purchased there are three different ways that these DIY mold testing kits can be used. The methods are:
- Visual Sampling — This is probably the easiest method because all that needs to be done is to take a swab of mold that is visibly growing.
- HVAC Air Testing — Another simple method that requires little effort. Simply take a sample from the HVAC system within the home to determine if there is any mold infestation.
- Settling Plate — This final method is easy yet not as effective. This requires petri dishes to be placed throughout the home in an attempt to capture airborne mold spores.
Forty eight to seventy two hours after the samples have been collected, if mold is growing then there is an option to send the kit to a lab where the samples will be studied to determine what type of mold is present and whether or not it is harmful. The one disadvantage to using home kits is that they do not determine how much mold is in the home, only if it is present and whether it is harmful. This can be a serious problem especially in a situation where a person removes visible mold and assumes that the problem is rectified when in reality there is a large amount of toxic black mold hiding in the home.
Find Hidden Black Mold Growth
One concern many home owners and consumers have is finding hidden mold. Luckily these kits are rather successful at locating hidden mold growth, especially the HVAC air testing and the settling plate methods. If these tests detect mold but its not readily visible or if these tests don’t detect mold yet there is still a strong suspicion that it is present, it is best to just start doing a visual inspection of the entire house, starting with windowsills, refrigerator seals, around the bathtub, and in the basement. Other areas to look at include behind drywall, wall paper, and in any part of the home that is overly damp and has a consistently high level of humidity.
Top 3 Black Mold Testing Kits
As easy and cost effective as black mold testing kits are, many consumers are overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of kits on the market. Often times a person will become frustrated and decide not to purchase a kit at all or they will end up purchasing the wrong type of kit for what they truly need. Therefore, the top three black mold kits are listed below.
1. Pro-Lab MO109 Household Mold Test Kit
This kit includes a single petri dish that can be used to collect samples. It is great for use in bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and even the household heating or cooling system. The price is fairly reasonable, ranging from $9 to $15. The only disadvantage to this kit is that it only provides one petri dish so multiple kits would have to be purchased to collect multiple samples and to have the results analyzed by the lab requires an additional $30 fee.
2. EZ-Mold Test Kit
Averaging about $10, this kit is equipped with a single petri dish and a q-tip for collecting visible mold samples. Results are usually available 48 to 72 hours after the test is completed and if mold is present, they offer the option to send the results to a lab–for a fee of $49.95!
3. First Alert Home Mold Test Kit
Much more inexpensive than other brands at only $12 for the kit and an additional $12 for the lab to analyze the samples, this kit includes a test strip, baggies to secure the mold samples, and instructions.
Professional Black Mold Inspection and Testing
Unless mold is visible to the naked eye, many people have no idea that it is in their home. Therefore, it is extremely important to do routine mold testing. A majority of people do this with DIY mold testing kits. However, a more thorough and effective method is to hire a professional mold testing and inspection company. Unfortunately, this is also a very expensive option and should be decided carefully.
Black Mold Inspection Checklist
Not every home needs professional mold testing and inspection and sometimes knowing when to make this decision can be as difficult as finding the mold. Below is a checklist that can be used to determine if this is the right decision.
- Are there people in the home that are at a higher risk of being ill?
Infants, the elderly, asthmatics, or people who have comprised immune systems are at the greatest risk. Therefore, if any of these people are living in the home, a professional is a must. - Are people living in the home sick?
If there are people in the home that are constantly sick and there seems to be no plausible explanation, or if a doctor has suggested that mold might be the culprit, then hiring a professional is a good idea. - Has there been a situation in which there has been a lot of water damage?
Floods, leaking pipes or roofs, sewer backups, or ventilation problems can all lead to significant water damage. This water damage can result in the growth of mold. If this has happened, it is highly recommended to hire a professional. - Do you know you have mold but don’t know the extent?
If there is documented mold growth in the home, there is no way to determine the extent of the problem without hiring a professional. Additionally, this professional can provide an estimate on the cost of removal and clean-up.
Hire Black Mold Inspectors
Once the decision has been made to hire a professional, the next step is to actually hire one. Some tips to keep in mind when choosing a mold specialist are:
- Compare several different companies for price and services.
- Ask friends and family for referrals to companies they have used.
- Ask the company for recent referrals. Take the time to call these prior customers to find out how their experience was and if they would use the service again.
- Make sure that a written evaluation is provided that specifically states the areas of the house that were inspected, the cause of the mold, the extent of the mold growth, how the problem can be fixed, and an approximate cost.
- Make sure that the laboratories that are being used to analyze the mold samples are accredited by either the American Industrial Hygiene Association or by the EPA.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau to learn the status of the company and to learn if any complaints and/or lawsuits have been filed against them.
As with any service, it is Buyer Beware, but if you do your homework and you know exactly what type of company you are contracting with, the process should go smoothly.
Professional Black Mold Tests
Professional mold testers basically perform two different types of tests: air sampling tests and surface sampling tests. An air sampling consists of taking samples of the air in the home at various times and locations. This type of test will determine if there are mold spores floating around in the home. Traditionally this test is conducted by using a handheld mold sniffer which provides immediate results. Another way to do this test is by sucking air into a cassette that is sealed and sent off to a lab for analysis. Finally, there is the petri dish method, similar to the ones provided in a DIY mold kit.
A surface sampling test on the other hand consists of taking samples of actual mold. Unfortunately, this test doesn’t provide the exact concentration of spores in the air but it works great to determine the exact type of mold in the house. Surface sampling is done in one of two ways — by using a q-tip like device to swab the mold or by using sticky tape obtain a sample. Either method chosen is then sealed and shipped to a lab for analysis.
Black Mold Inspection Cost
As mentioned above, the cost of hiring a professional mold inspector is not cheap. Depending on the size of the house, the extent of the mold growth, the types of testing done, and the equipment used the price can range from $200 to $900. It is also important to realize that if any additional paperwork needs to be completed, such as to file an insurance claim, it could involve additional costs.