Mold can be found anywhere and that is why you need mold testing in Los Angeles if you suspect the presence of mold. There are some ways you can test for mold when doing routine maintenance checks.
The appearance of mold
Mold is a type of fungus. It grows from small spores that are usually airborne. If the stores land in an area with temperatures between forty and one hundred degrees and enough moisture, mold is likely to grow. This includes every damp place at home.
The most visible mold type is known as mildew and you can easily spot it. It begins as small and black spots but later grows into large colonies. It is one of the easiest ways to tell if you have mold in your home. It is the black stuff you will see in the grout lines on damp walls, in your shower, and outdoors on deck boards. A mildewed surface is hard to differentiate from dirty surfaces.
To test for mildew and mold, you should dab a few drops of a bleaching agent on the blacked area to see if it lightens. If it lightens after a minute or two, you have mildew. However, if the area remains dark, you have dirt.
Probe the area using a screwdriver
As we had already said, mildew is a type of mold that will not damage the structure of your home. However, other types of mold can cause rot and if you do not hire an environment testing lab, the problem will escalate quickly. If you want to know how to locate mold in your house, you should probe the suspected area with a sharp tool such as a screwdriver as a test for the presence of mold. If the wood crumbles then it means fungi have infested the area and rot has just begun destroying your structure.
Check for plumbing leaks
When you see mold near waste lines, water pipes, plumbing fixtures, or icemaker lines, chances are that mold is feeding off the leak. You should allow the water to run whilst you check the pipes for damp spots to see if there is mold from the leakage.
You should keep in mind that water can travel in all directions – sideways, down, or even up when it wicks into materials like drywall. The actual leak may not be where you saw mold. Once you find the leak, fix it immediately.
Check for outside leaks
When you have mold on your exterior wall, you should look for a leak in the roof or wall as a test for mold. You should therefore measure from the moldy area to the door or any other reference point. Find the spot on the other side. Closely inspect roof flashing, nearby vents, window wells, decks, and anywhere you have rotting wood.
You should look for ground sloping towards the house emptying next to the wall. Remember, you might not be able to see mold so hiring a mold testing in Los Angeles service will help you locate mold accurately.