When you think of mold in the home, you might picture great swathes of black growths covering entire surfaces. Most of us are familiar with mold in the bathroom where it can collect on the ceiling, and this is the picture we tend to have of mold. But mold can also strike in many other ways. And in fact, it is the mold that you don’t see that is by far the most dangerous. Just because you can’t see mold, that doesn’t mean it isn’t releasing spores and mycotoxins into the air, or that it isn’t damaging the structural integrity of your property. So we need to look for mold, and better yet, hire a company to offer a free mold inspection.

How to Check for Mold

There are some places that are more likely to harbor mold than others. First of all, start off by looking for mold on the ceiling and particularly along the tops of walls. This is especially important if you are looking in properties with flat roofs where water is more likely to collect on the surface and then start to come through and cause mold. Likewise, you should also look in the areas known as air pockets. These are the places where air is not free to easily circulate, for instance behind the radiator between the radiator itself and the wall. Because air doesn't get here, it isn't able to dry out the moisture and prevent mold. This is somewhere that someone who is trying to cover up mold might not think to look. The bathroom is also an important place to look, as a lot of moisture is produced in here from showering and bathing. Mold here is less of a serious sign however as it can normally be easily combatted using an extractor fan or a bathroom fan as they are also known.

Signs of Mold

As mentioned though, mold is not always obvious. There are fortunately though several signs of mold though that can help you detect it with senses other than sight. A damp smell for instance is one of the most common red flags. So too is deterioration of floorboards, or mold that forms quickly in other parts of the home (it might be spreading from another source). Think as well about mold that may have been covered up by a property’s previous owners. For instance if there are patches of new paint on a wall then they may have painted over the mold. Ask them why they were painting and see if you can uncover foul play.

Getting a Free Mold Inspection

If you suspect there is mold in your home but you aren’t sure or can’t see it, then you can use the services of a mold inspection company. They can use testing kits to detect signs of mold in the air, and then might use other tools such as infrared to look for it in places you can’t get to. They may recommend moving furniture, or carefully knocking through walls or floorboards – but they will do this carefully so as to avoid serious damage. Many companies are able to offer mold inspection for free. If no mold is found, you pay nothing. If mold is present though, they will recommend their mold remediation services. There’s nothing to lose, so for the sake of your health, consider using free mold inspection!