Mold & Asbestos in Your Home

Both mold and asbestos can be very harmful to your health and in severe cases, could lead to permanent damage or even death. If you detect mold or asbestos in your home, you will have to have it removed immediately and safely by a professional remediation company. Here is some information about how to detect, test for and remove these hazards from your home.

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Black Mold

Black mold is a reproducing fungus that grows best in moist environments and will generally spread quickly depending on the ambient moisture made available to it. Common areas for black mold are in the bathroom, kitchen or even behind your walls and ceiling as a result of unknown water damage. In some cases, you can see black mold, like if it is growing between your bathroom tiles, but in other cases it can be hidden. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there.

Black mold is very harmful to your health. It can cause nasal congestion, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, itchy eyes and even skin irritation. It is especially bad for people with allergies or weaker immune systems. Testing for mold and remediating mold is a must.

Here are some ways you can test for black mold:

Professional Mold Testing: Hiring a mold testing and removal company in Edmonton is the safest and best way to test for mold. They offer state-of-the-art digital moisture readings and thermal imaging that can detect mold, even when it is hiding behind your walls! They will also collect and analyze mold samples, giving you the most accurate results.

Mold Test Kits: You can purchase DIY mold test kits from your local hardware or building supply store. There are a variety of kits available including air testing, surface testing and bulk testing. You will have to bring your samples to a professional laboratory to have them properly analyzed. In the end, it is always a better idea to have your mold testing and removal done by a professional remediation company.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a fibrous material that naturally occurring and was used extensively as a building material from the 1950s to the 1990s in both residential and commercial buildings. Asbestos was used in tile, drywall, flooring, insulation, roofing materials and number of other building materials. If you live in a home built in or prior to the 90s, you likely have asbestos lurking in your home. You should always have asbestos tested and remediated before doing any home renovations that might disturb it.

When asbestos is released into the air, it is extremely toxic to people and pets. Exposure to asbestos can cause fibrotic lung disease (asbestosis) and cause damage to the chest cavity (pleura). These health issues can lead to reduced respiratory function and death. Long term exposure can also increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Professional Asbestos Testing: If you are concerned about asbestos in your home or workplace, you should contact a qualified and certified asbestos testing and removal company. They have the right safety equipment and tools to perform the appropriate testing and to validate the existence of asbestos. If they do find it, they will provide you with expert advice for the best and safest way to remove it. You should never attempt to test or remove asbestos yourself. Learn more about how to test for asbestos.