Mold testing and removal is a complex process that requires the use of specialized equipment. Professional mold inspectors use a variety of tools to detect and remove mold, including air sampling tools, instant swab test kits, stretch test kits with adhesive tape, hygrometers, particle counters, moisture meters, and infrared cameras. Air sampling tools are used to take non-viable, viable, and asbestos samples. Instant swab test kits are used to take samples of the physical surface and detect the presence of mold, without having to drill, damage or alter that material.
Many of the best instant test kits with swabs for mold use 3M Clean-Trace Surface Protein Plus swabs to accurately assess the possibility of biological contamination on surfaces. A stretch test kit with adhesive tape is another minimally invasive way to test a specific area for the presence of mold. Our technicians gently press the adhesive side of a piece of tape onto the area in question and carefully remove it. These samples, extracted with adhesive tape, are then sent to an accredited microbiological laboratory for analysis. A hygrometer is a device that measures relative humidity or the amount of moisture in the air.
Mold generally grows best in places with relative humidity greater than 60 percent, so using a hygrometer helps professionals determine where to test for mold. You can buy a hygrometer for your home to monitor relative humidity and help prevent mold. A particle counter is a device that counts particles that float in the air. This includes mold particles, but a particle counter also counts other types of particles, such as dust and dirt.
The results provide information about the air quality in a room. A moisture meter detects moisture in and inside household materials, including wood. The device tells you how much moisture is in the material or in it. Unusually high amounts of moisture indicate the possibility of mold forming. Our infrared camera makes mold inspection faster, safer, cheaper and more accurate than most other methods.
That said, instant ATP (adenosine triphosphate) swabs for mold are perfect for analyzing hard-to-reach areas or for damp surfaces that cannot be analyzed with a belt lifter. In addition to telling professionals where to test for mold, the results also let you know where you might need to take steps to prevent mold from developing in your home. Most professional mold testers are engineers and are trained to handle equipment with care and perform tests with precision. When there is water in an organic-based material such as drywall or wood, mold can form within 24 to 48 hours. This type of condensation can often harbor mold spores, giving them the moisture they need to germinate. The tools listed above are just a few of those used to eliminate mold that can be caused by leaks, such as a broken pipe, a flooded basement, the accumulation of sewage or the overflow of a toilet, or existing contamination by mold or mildew.
If you have health problems related to mold or a respiratory condition, such as asthma, or if you're being tested for mold in an area that you think might be heavily contaminated with mold, you'll need protective equipment, such as latex or vinyl gloves, an N-95 respiratory mask, a hair cover and shoe covers. It's an excellent tool for performing visual evaluations in tight areas where a mold colony could be hidden. A toxic mold test kit that you can make yourself will contain most of the equipment you'll need to perform the test. By using these specialized tools and techniques, professional mold inspectors can accurately detect and remove mold. With these tools at their disposal, they can quickly identify potential sources of contamination and take steps to prevent further growth.
