If you think you have mold in your home but you’re not sure, you may be wondering if a mold home test is the right way to go. There are many different types available, from kits that require you to test the air inside of your home to kits that require you to take samples of fungal colony growing on your property. And nowadays, almost everywhere you go, you can buy testing kits for mold from your local grocery store to WalMart.
But, before you decide to just run right out and purchase one, there are some positive and negative drawbacks to the mold testing kits that you should know about.
Mold Home Test Advantages
One of the positive advantages about a mold testing kit is that they’re fairly simple to use. They don’t require a professional’s help and the steps are fairly simple to follow from the included instructions.
Another advantage is the kits allow you to save time verses having to wait for a professional mold inspection team to come in and check your home for mold and the colonies it produces. There’s no need to set up an appointment and work around someone else’s schedule because the kit can be used whenever it’s convenient for you.
But the best part is you can save money when you use a home mold testing kit verses hiring a professional. Most kits can cost anywhere from $10 to $40 while a professional can cost you anywhere from $100 or more.
Mold Home Test Disadvantages
Just as there are some good advantages to purchasing a testing kit for mold, there are also some disadvantages. For example, if you’re not familiar with the types of mold your home may have, you could be exposing yourself to toxic mold, which can cause serious problems such as respiratory infections and memory loss. And if you have little ones or pets, toxic mold can actually cause death.
Another negative drawback to a home testing kit is that the United States does not require a set standard for this type of product. In other words, you may end up getting a product that doesn’t live up to its name or one that doesn’t work at all.
It’s best if you do your research before you purchase the kit. An easy way to research a product is to do a search through Google or another search engine to see what type of negative and positive feedback you can find. Or try a website such as Epinions where consumers have tested products and share their opinion (good or bad) about them.
A mold home test can make things a lot easier for you and your pocketbook. But remember; always shop around before you decide to buy. Otherwise you may end up with a product that is going to cost you more in the end. Or worse yet, you could very well end up risking yours and your family’s health.