Why Mold Testing Should be Your First Step in Protecting Your Home Post Water Damage
Water main breaks, burst pipes, and heavy precipitation can happen to any home, and this unexpected moisture is one of the most common causes of household mold outbreaks in Ontario. If this has happened to you, the MoldTech team recommends booking mold testing in Vaughan to assess if this excess moisture has caused mold growth in your home. Our safe and effective mold inspections will help address hidden mold growth and areas at risk from floods or other unexpected water events so that you can prepare for the future.
The Risk of Hidden Mold Growth After Water Damage
Mold is a simple fungus that needs little to thrive: an even temperature and organic materials like wood, paper, or textiles. The addition of moisture, however, is the catalyst that triggers a mold infestation. Like a plant, mold needs water to grow, and it’s not picky: a small drip, a big flood, or even high indoor humidity will provide all it needs to get going.
Water can be a challenging thing to control in a home since it can seep behind walls, floors, and ceilings and absorb into porous materials. After a flood, for example, it may seem like all the water has gone, but drywall, insulation, carpets and other materials can hold onto or trap moisture for long periods. Visual inspections are helpful, but they generally aren’t enough to spot at-risk areas.
How Mold Testing Identifies Risks
At MoldTech, our mold testing protocols come from industry standards and guidelines developed through scientific understanding and process. Mould is a living organism, which can make it challenging to treat accurately without an in-depth professional approach.
Our mold inspections generally begin with an in-depth visual and physical examination to spot any outright signs or risks of mold growth. We’ll look for things like discolouration, textural changes, water marks, moisture, or strange musty odours. We’ll take physical samples or scrapings and air samples as needed to detect spores or identify the type of mould. Mold testing can determine the severity of any issues and is a valuable tool in the remediation approach.
The Primary Goal: Preventing Serious Health Concerns Through Early Intervention
Mold affects your home through two means: It causes physical damage to the structure of your home, and it affects health and wellness through allergic reactions. While wood or objects affected by mold can be replaced or repaired, safeguarding your health is our primary goal at MoldTech.
Mold allergies can affect anyone. Common symptoms include:
- Coughing or wheezing.
- Nasal congestion or sneezing.
- Headaches.
- Poor sleep.
- Skin dryness or irritation.
Early detection to prevent long-term discomfort is critical for indoor mould problems. The long-term effects of mold exposure aren’t entirely known, and while many types of mold cause relatively mild symptoms, some types produce mycotoxins that may have more sinister effects. Some populations, like children, elders, and people with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems, may have an increased risk or effect from mold exposure.
The Professional Approach with MoldTech
When it comes to mold growth, there is a right way and a wrong way to test and remediate. Choosing to test or remediate for mold yourself, using DIY kits, or a general handyman can, in our experience, result in re-infestation, cross-contamination, and unexpected accidents or mistakes. There is no substitute for MoldTech’s professional mold inspection and remediation process, which is informed by scientific research, guided by industry methodology, and is safe for humans and pets.
Mold testing can help you discover unknown infestations or at-risk areas and is useful if you have unexplained symptoms, like a stuffed nose or coughing that are unconnected to a cold or flu. Mold testing in Vaughan can also help our team determine the best way to remediate and what sort of preventative measures you can put into place afterwards.
If you’ve recently had water damage and are curious about mold growth in your home, MoldTech can help you ensure your health and safety! Call or contact our team to book a mold assessment today.
