DIY Mold Test Kit Review
Wondering if you have mold in your home? This is one time you don’t want to try and save money using a DYI mold test kit. A professional with expertise and experience in mold remediation should complete the test and inspection.
Mold is a type of fungi that grows in damp places and releases tiny spores into the air. Those tiny spores can affect your health causing mild to severe respiratory problems, sore throat, and allergic reactions. Mold can also cause severe damage to the structure of your home.
With all this in mind, mold is serious business. You should carefully examine the pros and cons of a mold test kit compared to a mold inspection by professional. A mold test kit could save money, but the disadvantages greatly outweigh the money you save. Below we provide reasons why a mold test kit may not be the best option for you.
Mold Test Kit:
A mold test kit is a petri dish that you set out somewhere in your home to collect samples of airborne spores. Once you have collected the samples you send the petri dish to a lab for an additional charge.
Con: There is no physical inspection to determine where the mold is located and what is causing the mold to grow.
Homeowner’s Insurance Coverage
Your insurance company may cover mold remediation and the damage the mold has caused. The insurance company will want to know specifics and what has caused the mold.
Con: A DIY mold kit cannot provide the results and remediation plan that an insurance company will require.
Test Results:
Most homes will test positive for mold.
Con: The results don’t provide you the level of the mold and if it’s dangerous fungi.
Control Sample:
The test kit does not provide a control sample. As we all know from science class, it’s necessary to have a control sample for a baseline when conducting a test with lab results.
Con: Elevation of spores can’t be determined if there is no baseline.
Expiration of Test Kits:
Typically mold test kits do not have an expiration date on them. You will have no idea how long the kit has been sitting on a shelf or what the kit has been exposed to.
Con: Without care and an expiration date you may receive inaccurate results.
Consumer Reports Conclusion:
After testing a variety of DIY mold test kits, Consumer Reports concluded “Avoid mold test kits; we’ve found them to be unreliable.” This conclusion was drawn from many of the reasons we mentioned above.
Our Conclusion:
Nothing can replace an onsite mold inspection performed by a professional in mold remediation. It is something the professional is trained in and does on a day-to-day basis. A mold remediation expert knows what to look for and where to look such as under loose floor boards, etc. A professional will use controls and has a trustworthy lab that can determine the species and severity of the mold.
Once the species and severity is known, a mold remediation expert can discuss with you the air quality of your home, damage, and a resolution. If you think you might have mold, contact us at Safeway Environmental. Our team has been providing mold inspections and outstanding remediation for over 30 years.
