Mold Basics
- The key to mold control is moisture control.
- If mold is a problem in your home, you should clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem.
- It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Why is mold growing in my home?
Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter, such as fallen leaves and dead trees. But indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.
Testing or Sampling for Mold
Is sampling for mold needed? In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building’s compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional organizations.
Laboratory Analysis
When trusting a lab to analyze your samples, you expect experienced technicians, fast turnaround times, great pricing, and world class customer service. At Hayes Microbial, we strive to meet those expectations and more!
Experience
Our lead analyst, Steve Hayes, has over 25 years of experience in mold and bacterial identification as well as over 15 years of experience in indoor air quality and building science. Steve is a graduate of Marshall University with a degree in Medical Technology, and is a registered clinical scientist with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.
Fast Turnaround
Hayes Microbial understands that your job isn’t always 9 to 5, so ours isn’t either! You can reach us 24/7, even nights and weekends, to get your samples analyzed and your questions answered.
