- January 7, 2020
- Posted by: bluclean
- Categories: Carpet Cleaning Chicago, Commercial Cleaning, Janitorial Cleaning, Mold Remediation Services
Every once in a while, all homeowners will try to save money when it comes to home maintenance. However, some jobs should be left to the professionals. Especially jobs that involve mold. Mold is a type of fungi that grows in damp places and releases tiny spores into the air that can affect your health. Mold can also do severe damage to the structure of a building. With the consequences of the mold being so serious, it’s worth examining the pros and cons of a mold test kit versus a professional mold inspection.
Disadvantages of a Mold Test Kit
1. Samples are not Inspections
What is a mold test kit anyways? Basically, a mold test kit is a petri dish that you set somewhere in your home to collect samples. Once you collect these samples, you send the kit back to a lab where it’s analyzed. The first problem you see with a mold test kit versus an inspection is there’s no actual inspection. Samples can only take you so far without someone doing a thorough inspection of the home.
2. Misleading Results
The fact of the matter is that most homes actually show signs of mold, so a large percentage of mold test kits will show positive results. What a homeowner needs to know is the level of mold, where it’s growing, if it’s dangerous, and how it should be resolved. Unfortunately, a kit can’t give you that information. The only thing the kit will tell you is if there’s mold in the air. If you live in a climate with a lot of moisture, the kit will more than likely show mold in the home. Beyond that, the samples from the lab won’t provide much more information. Many questions go unanswered with a mold test kit.
3. No Control Sample
Most of us remember our basic science classes and how it’s always necessary to have a control sample when conducting lab tests. Without a control sample, mold test kits won’t be able to assess the elevation of the spores because they’re lacking a baseline.
4. Consumer Reports Advise Against Mold Test Kits
Consumer Reports tested a variety of different DIY mold test kits. Ultimately, they advised against all of them. Many of their reasons include the disadvantages that are discussed above. They noticed issues with shipping and handling, inaccurate results, missing information, and no control samples. It’s clear that many of these tests are a waste of money.
Why Professional Mold Inspections Are Safer
After reading the many disadvantages of using a mold test kit, it can become obvious why a professional mold inspection is a much safer choice. All companies and organizations that promote air quality in homes and communities strongly advise against using a mold test kit. These kits are ultimately ineffective in offering the information you need to protect your home and your family from the dangers of mold.
A mold inspection professional will check both in and around your home. They use control samples, trustworthy testing sources, and can determine the severity of a mold issue. Professionals can tell you if your property has been damaged and the quality of your air. Most importantly, a professional mold inspection can offer accurate information and solutions. If you or anyone in your family is suffering from respiratory issues or allergies, it’s important to have your home inspected. These health risks can range from mild to serious if mold issues go unchecked in a home or office. Call the professionals at blu today and schedule a proper mold inspection.
Blu cleaning is a Commercial Cleaning Service Chicago and residential cleaning company in Chicago and Chicagoland area. At Blu, we specialize in Commercial, Residential, Specialty, Covid-19 disinfecting, Mold Remediation, Carpet & Upholstery cleaning and many others, please check out our website and our social media (FaceBook, Instagram for more)
