3 Disadvantages of Using Mold Testing Kits at Home

7/25/2020 (Permalink)

Mold testing is the best way to determine its presence in the location

Mold Testing In Your Home

Not all mold inside your Ceres, OK, home is visible. Mold testing is the best way to determine its presence in the location. As you search for testing options, you might hear about take-home kits that allow you to detect the organism easily. Despite the simplicity of the process, it actually a few disadvantages that can greatly affect your house in the long run.

1. Vulnerability to the Environment
A mold kit is a device that is easily influenced by its environment. Since the product gets mailed to a lab for analysis, harsh shipping and handling conditions like cold, heat and others can affect the results. Additionally, the kit has no expiration date, so you cannot be certain of its quality. The kit may have been contaminated by something else or the chemicals may not be as effective.

2. Inaccurate Results
Another reason you should not attempt DIY mold detection is how inaccurate the results can be. Most kit mold testing focuses on the presence of mold spores themselves. However, these spores are always present and only develop when the right conditions are met. Without this context, the results of a test will always be positive, even though that may not be the case. Some unreliable kits can also do the opposite and detect a low amount of mold spores when it is actually higher, putting your home at risk.

3. Lack of Additional Information
A test kit lacks the information you will need to eliminate the problem. It only informs you if mold spores are present or not, and even that information can be dubious. An environmental hygienist will use a control sample to conduct a more accurate, on-the-spot test. This specialist will also discuss the mold type, the source, and the best tactic to combat it with the assistance of a mold remediation technician.
Even though mold testing with a take-home kit sounds appealing due to its accessibility, it has too many drawbacks to be worth it. Consult with a professional instead to receive more detailed results that are useful in mold elimination.