How to Know if You Have Black Mold on Your Property
The thought that black mold may be infesting your commercial or residential property is scary. Unfortunately, mold can be tricky to discover without professional mold testing in Toronto. To mitigate the health effects of exposure, black mold colonies and infestations can wreak havoc on your health, cognition, and overall well-being. With expert services from MoldTech, you can prevent damage from mold infestations with black mold removal.
Here are a few tips from over a decade of mold detection and removal in Toronto and the GTA.
Signs of Mold Infestation
Detecting mold can be a challenge when it’s hidden out of sight. In-fact mold is attracted to rooms that are not part of day-to-day life such as the attic or basement. Even if you can’t see mold growing, there may be other signs that it’s present in your home, which include:
- Soft areas on floors, walls, or ceilings
- Condensation on walls or windows
- Excess humidity and moisture
- A musty odour
- Discoloration.
- Peeling wallpaper.
Where You May Find Mold
You don’t have to be a mold expert to notice some mold infestations. Rooms that commonly experience mold growth are more likely to have visible infestations or obvious signs. Mold testing often detects mold in the following moisture and humidity-prone rooms:
- The bathroom.
- The kitchen.
- The laundry room.
- The basement or crawlspace.
Conditions That Attract Black Mold
The next tip is to keep your eyes peeled for the conditions that attract and sustain mold growth. Mold grows on organic materials — it’s consuming them, not just growing! Homes are full of organic materials, from wood to textiles to paper. Ideal growing conditions include:
- Dark areas with infrequent traffic (think basements and under cupboards).
- Areas with high humidity, like the bathroom or kitchen.
- Rooms with poor airflow.
The Physical Symptoms of Mold Exposure
There are several physical symptoms that can point to mold growth in your home, which include:
- Itchy, watery eyes.
- Running nose, sneezing, congestion.
- Headache.
- Fatigue.
The key to understanding the difference between these symptoms and, for example, seasonal allergies, is that these symptoms change or disappear when you leave a room or go to work. If those “allergies” return when you come home — it’s more than likely they’re an allergy to mold, not pollen.
What is Mold Inspection and Removal?
If this sounds familiar, it’s time for mold testing in Toronto! Mold testing helps to conclusively determine the presence of mold in your home through a combination of tests and visual and physical inspection. At MoldTech, we treat mold testing as a whole-home affair, looking at both the inside and outside of your property to determine areas of concern.
If we find mold growing in your home, the next step is black mold removal. This is a safe and science-based methodology for effectively and safely removing mold growth from homes and businesses. It involves:
- Safety measures to prevent cross-contamination and spore transfer.
- Safe treatment with an organic biocide or a media-based material.
- Thorough cleaning and air scrubbing.
- More cleaning!
- A final report that outlines our findings, process, and recommendations for prevention.
Mold growth can affect your quality of life and seriously damage your home — quick and safe mold removal in Toronto is the only way to deal with it for good. To learn more about MoldTech or book a meeting with our team.
