Mold Testing Advice For Ogden Homeowners

Mold is a problem many Utah homeowners have to face at one time or another, and the discovery of mold in your home can cause distress if you do not know how to handle the situation properly. Mold, whether it is the result of an ongoing small water issue, catastrophic water damage, or simply high humidity levels, must be identified and remediated as soon as possible. Swift Restoration can help you with this.

If your mold problem is beyond your cleanup capabilities, covering a large area or an area that is difficult to access, you may want to consider hiring a professional to perform mold remediation and testing.

Do I Need to Test for Mold?

In most instances, if you can see or smell mold it is fairly obvious that mold is present, and testing to determine the type of mold or how much is present is usually not necessary. All mold growth should be removed, regardless of the type of mold.

Additionally, mold spores are present just about everywhere—it’s only when they have adequate moisture and organic material do they cause any problems for most people. Some tests for mold may pick up on these mold spores in the air, and if you are not careful some companies may try to take advantage, convincing you that you may have a mold problem when mold growth does not exist.

Testing for mold is sometimes helpful, such as when trying to determine if hidden mold is present or if the homeowner requires documentation of a mold problem for insurance or litigation purposes. Generally, however, it is not necessary for mold removal and remediation.

Guidelines for Hiring a Mold Abatement Professional

Honestly, not all mold cleanups require the help of a professional. When making your decision, special circumstances and the size and scope of the mold contamination should be considered when choosing to perform cleanup yourself, or to hire a Swift Restoration professional to handle mold abatement.

The first item to consider is the size and scope of the mold that is visible in your home. Generally, homeowners can successfully remove mold from small areas measuring about 3 by 3 feet. If the area is larger, or multiple areas are affected by mold, you may opt to hire a professional for mold abatement. But, if you are unsure a Swift Restoration professional can help put your mind at ease by evaluating the situation.

Hidden Mold and Special Circumstances

Hidden mold is an area in which hiring a mold abatement professional is necessary. Hidden mold is often identified by smell, or if someone in your household experiences chronic respiratory allergies that improve when they leave the home. A mold abatement professional will be able to locate and remove hidden mold in areas homeowners cannot access.

Remember that mold can grow anywhere under the right conditions, and this includes wall cavities, ceilings, in flooring and behind wall coverings. By the time the mold is discovered, the problem is often large enough to require the help of a professional.

Mold abatement is often necessary after flooding as well, especially if standing water occurred for more than 24 hours. Work with a cleaning and restoration professional for flood cleanup, and to obtain an assessment for mold abatement and removal.

Hiring a mold abatement professional may also be necessary if someone in your household has a compromised immune system. Mold can be particularly hazardous to their health, and therefore it is especially important that mold be contained during cleanup and that it is thoroughly removed.

Preventing Mold Growth

Maintaining safe humidity levels in your home can often prevent mold. After a flood, begin cleanup as soon as possible and take measures to circulate moisture and dry the home. To reduce humidity caused by everyday activities such as cooking, showering and washing laundry, remember to use ventilation fans or open windows to circulate air.

Working with a Swift Restoration mold abatement professional can help ensure that mold does not return after cleaning and removal. This is the only way to ensure that all of the mold growth has been removed, and that surfaces have been cleaned and treated to prevent future mold growth.