mold tests | Mold Free Living

Don’t Let Mold-Testing Fears Prevent You From Having a Healthier Home

I get it. Mold testing can be scary. Well, actually, I get that the testing itself is not the scary part. The results or the potential results and what they could possibly mean for your living situation, the well-being of your family—both emotionally and financially, and the future of your health are what’s scary. But, today I want to reassure you that fears of the unknown or worst-case scenarios should NOT deter you from testing and from continuing to test your home for mold. This is because when mold and your health are concerned, ignorance can be far from bliss. The continual exposure to mold can eventually take such a toll on your body that your symptoms will no longer allow you to ignore it and you’ll be forced to act. For mold-sensitive children, the effects could last a lifetime. To help you avoid such situations, I want to explain, with a real-world example from a reader, exactly how testing for mold and continually knowing what is going on in your home in terms of mold can be extremely helpful and beneficial to your peace of mind and health.

Do any of the following scenarios sound like you?

You are finally to the point when your health symptoms make you suspect mold in your home or indoor environment, and you want to test.
You have obvious high indoor humidity, musty odors, visible mold growth, or had a known leak, a wicked storm, or a water incident that lead you to want to test your home for elevated levels of mold spores or growth.
This isn’t your first rodeo, as they say, and you have done some remediation work yourself or had your home professionally remediated and are re-testing to make sure that all of the work to eliminate the mold is working.

Whatever the case, you decide to mold test your home, and await the results. This waiting time is when all of the “what ifs” start invading your mind: What if the tests come back showing that my house is moldy? Is it safe to stay in? Will I have to leave my home and all my things? What if I can’t afford to fix the problem? What if I have to leave my home? Where would I/we go? What if the “the fix” attempted doesn’t work?

Let’s talk professional mold testing. I get so many questions on the blog about it—almost daily questions. Thus, this post is for you! It is a brief rundown of my take on professional mold testing in your home. I will go over various tests and test methods and compare some of the most popular ways that professionals test the air and surfaces in your home for mold. I will also discuss best practices for sample collection. This is by no means an exhaustive list of all of the options. It is just an overview.

(Note: These are all just my insights and opinions given from my perspective and my experience. I am not a mold remediation professional, nor am I a doctor or licensed building biologist. Take all of this information at face value and consult a professional prior to any mold testing you decide to do on your home.)

First and foremost, I cannot launch into this post without mentioning the EC3 Mold Testing Plates. These plates are the simplest, most cost-effective way for you to take the reins and test the air and surfaces to see if you have a mold issue in your home or office. These plates are not a laboratory diagnostic test; however, they are the most trustworthy source to determine if mold is present and whether it is at unmanageable levels. These plates enable you to test and to also keep testing your environment and things on a regular basis to see if you have a mold issue, if what you are doing to clean for mold in your home is working, if something you are bringing into your home has mold, etc. The list can go on. The most important takeaway for you is to know that the EC3 Mold Test Plates put you in the driver’s seat, so that you do not have to wait or rely on a professional to confirm that your home or office has a mold problem. That is what makes these DIY test plates invaluable.