How to Test for Mold in a House

Woman looking at mold

Mold is an unwelcome visitor in your home, leading to rot, decay, and occasionally, health problems. Knowing how to detect mold can save you lots of headache and unwanted repairs, so let’s explore how to test for mold in the air, your walls, and all around your house with help from The BrickKicker!


How to Detect Mold

One of the positive things about mold is that more often than not, it makes itself known. In addition to its musty smell, mold can be easy to spot, appearing as tiny black, brown, green, or white dots that continue to grow in clusters. Because it typically grows in damp environments, you may detect mold in your shower, bathroom, or outdoors on walls or surfaces that frequently get wet.

Sometimes, though, mold can grow inside your walls, making it harder to find. This could happen if you’ve experienced plumbing leaks, roofing issues, ice dams, or any other scenario that allowed water to enter your home in an uncontrolled manner. Anytime you experience a leak, you’ll need to inspect your insulation and surrounding building materials. If mold goes undetected, it can lead to rot and decay.


How to Test for Mold in Walls

Even when it’s inside your walls, mold often leaves behind visual clues. One way how to test for mold in walls is to look for:

  • – Discoloration
  • – Water stains
  • – Dark rings
  • – Discoloration of wall applications such as cracking paint or peeling wallpaper

Outside of these noticeable signs, the only other ways to test for mold in walls are to either tear them down or use moisture-detecting scanners that professionals like The BrickKicker deploy.


How to Test for Mold in Air

If you’ve noticed the warning signs of mold in your home, you may be concerned about airborne spores. Mold spores travel by air through your doorways, windows, vents, and more, but while they are everywhere, they only take hold and grow in damp conditions. Wondering how to test for mold in the air? Many home improvement stores sell home test kits that can give you a good estimate of how much mold is in your home, though working with a professional mold inspector will give you better assistance and recommendations on how to keep your home free from mold.


Schedule Mold Testing with The BrickKicker!

Just because mold is everywhere doesn’t mean you can’t keep it at bay! If you’ve recently experienced water damage or are concerned about damp areas in your home, schedule professional mold testing with The BrickKicker. We can find the heart of the issue and give you the guidance you need for a clean, healthy home. Contact us today!