Mold is a common problem in houses because mold spores are everywhere in the environment. Fortunately, mold growth is usually limited so you can clean it up without too much trouble. For instance, mold often grows around bathtubs since they hold water in a warm environment.

The problem with mold is when it spreads through your home, especially if it's unseen and you don't realize the extent of the problem. That's when mold testing is useful. Here's when to think about having mold testing done on your home.

1. When Your Home Smells Musty

If your home has a musty odor that never goes away, there could be mold hidden in your HVAC ducts, attic, basement, under carpet, or behind walls. A mold test can show the types of mold growing and how many spores are present in the sample. This gives you an idea if your home has a mild mold problem or if it is so bad that you need to move out while the mold is being removed.

2. When You Want To Know The Type Of Mold

If you've been having medical symptoms and you think they're linked to mold in your house, you may want to know the type of mold that's growing. Even if you don't have a medical problem, you may want to know if your family has been exposed to toxic black mold. If you see mold growing, it should be removed no matter what kind of mold it is, but when you have a mold test done, you'll at least know what you've been exposed to.

3. After Water Damage To Your Home

If you discover water damage in your home that has been going on for more than a day or two, you may want to have mold testing done. When things like carpet, flooring, wood, and drywall get wet and stay damp, mold can grow in just a couple of days.

When mold is hidden, you don't know it's there, but mold testing will pick it up so you know you need to deal with mold removal as well as water damage restoration. You may want to have testing done after water damage has been cleaned up just to verify the mold is gone too.

4. Before You Buy An Old House

New houses can have problems with mold too, so you may want mold tests done on any new house you intend to buy. However, an old house with an old roof and old plumbing is more susceptible to leaks and water damage, especially if the home has been on the market and vacant for months.

You'll probably want to know before you buy a home if you'll have to spend money on mold remediation as soon as you buy the house, and mold testing is the way to find out.

To find out more, reach out to a local mold testing service.