From snow to near-subtropical heat, Pittsburgh has a very wide temperature and climate range. Unfortunately, while this may be seen as a good thing by many people, it doesn’t mean that it’s good for you house. All these changes in the weather can encourage the growth of molds because moisture and temperatures can make certain times of the year perfect for houses to have a humid atmosphere in some of its places, perfect for mold infestations.
That’s why it’s important that people have a periodic Pittsburgh mold testing for their houses, so either they can have a proper diagnostic report for their house’s mold infestation, or they can learn how to prevent mold from starting up.
What to look out for
The following are signs that it’s time to get some Pittsburgh mold testing experts to check your house out.
Smell – Long before you will see mold, it’s possible that you’ll end up smelling it first. Mold can give out a musty, organic, and earthy smell, even if you can’t see it directly. While many people think that you only get that smell from opening a closet, the fact is, you should start noting where in your house you get that smell the most. This will be very useful to the mold testing experts.
Sight – Mold tend to have a fuzzy or wispy appearance, combined with some root-like networks. These can appear anywhere, from the cabinet under the kitchen sink, to closets, or even on furniture. You may even have growths of it on your personal items. Do remember that you’re not supposed to touch them, and if you want to clean them, it’s better to wait for the mold testing team’s report, so you can figure out how to do it, or how the mold removal team you will hire will do it.
Biological reactions – Some people have an allergic reaction to mold, and the reactions can range from just a slightly-clogged nose, to a full-on asthmatic reaction, with perhaps even a skin reaction component. This is particularly important to note, if people are getting allergic reaction while in your house, and yet you can’t see or smell the mold.
All these warning signs are enough for you to go to a Pittsburgh mold testing service.
What mold testing services can do for you
Mold testing experts are dedicated to finding out if your house has a mold infestation that should be a major concern. Aside from taking samples of the various mold they find in your house for further analysis in the laboratory, mold testing experts also map out your house’s mold infestations, so they can include in their report what kinds of mold are in your house, how much of them there are, and where they are concentrated.
With that kind of information, they can then come up with a comprehensive report that includes the information as mentioned above, how to deal with the molds, and how to prevent molds from spreading in your house again.
You should make sure that when you hire Pittsburgh mold testing experts, that they are properly accredited by a qualified local organization for mold testing. Mold testing experts are periodically asked to renew their accreditation, to make sure that they are keeping up to date with technology and knowledge about molds.
What is mold?
Mold is a type of fungus that takes on a fuzzy or wispy form, and has a thread-like root network. It comes in many colors, including black. Molds don’t survive in open sunlight, due to their sensitivity to ultraviolet light. They require moisture or a humid place to survive, and they usually infest organic materials.
Molds in themselves are already dangerous to the house’s structure, as they degrade the organic material (like wood or ply board) that it grows on. If mold infestation is severe, it’s possible that many parts of the house will have to be replaced.
The added problem, however, is that mold, as mentioned before, can trigger allergic reactions in some people. What many may not know is that some kinds of molds can also secrete toxic substances that can cause serious medical conditions if people are exposed for long periods to it.
Mold doesn’t necessarily have to infest the surface of the place where it’s growing. It’s known that some kinds of mold can grew in between the wallpaper and the wall, making them effectively invisible until the mold’s ability to break down organic matter will make it obvious.
Where do Pittsburgh mold testing services check?
Mold testing services do, as a matter of fact, scrape samples of the old for testing in the laboratory. However, in order for the inspectors to see the pattern, they usually check the various parts of the house one room or area at a time, so they can get a “three-dimensional” infestation map, which can be useful for the report.
Basement or foundation – The basement or the crawlspace of the house are prime areas for mold infestations, particularly since they tend to be cool, dark, and damp. This is also particularly dangerous, as intense mold infestation can affect load-bearing organic components in the house’s foundation.
Outside – Mold testing experts also check on the outside of the house, to find out points of entry. For example, the topography of the garden and the backyard could be such that the house is the lowest point in the property. That will draw moisture in the soil towards the house. This can be an issue, if the water begins to seep into the basement.
Roofing – All the roofing elements are important for mold testers, as any leak in the roof structure can create a small damp spot (at first), inside the roofing area, and this can lead to the start of a hidden mold colony. This is one reason why attics, like basements, can have that moldy spell.
If you think that your house needs to be checked for mold, you should call properly accredited Pittsburgh mole testing services, to make sure that you will have the right information (through the report) to deal with the mold infestation in your house.