The Pros and Cons of Using a Mold Testing Kit

9/26/2019 (Permalink)

Mold testing in a Palm Aire, FL home

The Pros and Cons of Using a Mold Testing Kit

Moisture causes mold growth. Mold reproduces by releasing spores into the air. Those spores then attach themselves to surfaces and cracks — the cycle repeats. Mold is everywhere in Palm Aire, FL. There’s no getting around it. Using a mold testing kit allows you to check your home for mold. But is taking the DIY route worth it? Check out these pros and cons before you make your decision.

1. Expense

Pro - DIY mold kits can cost between $8 and $50. The package contains a petri dish and a swab. That’s it. Hiring a mold remediation specialist to test your home for mold can cause upward of $300.
Con - The expense with the kit starts to grow with the type and amount of testing you want. Although you buy a test from a store for $8, sending it off to a lab for further testing may cost you $50. Don’t get too excited about how cheap the price is.

2. Time

Pro – Directions for mold testing usually ask you to place a petri dish on a surface for an hour. Then you close it up and wait. Some tests take as little as 10 minutes to show results.
Con – If you want extra testing, you’ll have to send it off to a lab. Some kit results will come back in five days while others may take 10 days.

3. Explanation

Pro – If there is mold growth in the petri dish after the incubation period, you have mold. Simple as that. The lab can give you information on what type of mold you have in your home. You will receive an explanation in the mail.
Con – There is mold everywhere. No mold in a petri dish does not mean there is no mold in the house. A mold removal specialist will speak with you in person. This person will go into detail with you his or her concerns.
It is up to you to choose between a DIY mold kit and a mold specialist. But only an environment hygienist can do accurate mold testing. Is it worth spending the extra money to give you peace of mind?