When you identify a problem, you take the steps to remedy it. And we respect that.

But not all of the solutions that seem both immediately accessible and affordable are necessarily going to provide you with the answers you want or the solutions you desire — as is the case with DIY mold kits for your home.

Here’s why:

Is Mold Testing/Sampling Necessary?

Simply put, neither of the federal bodies people often refer to recommend mold testing/sampling.

“The health effects of mold can be different for different people so you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know if you or a member of your family might become sick,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains.

What’s more, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is no set federal limit on mold or mold spores, meaning “sampling cannot be used to check a building’s compliance with federal mold standards.”

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what type of mold is present as, either way, it needs to be removed.

The Problem with Mold Testing/Sampling Kits

While mold testing/sampling kits are relatively easy to come by, most consumers do not realize that they may be inconclusive at best and increasingly alarming at worst.

This is because home testing kits often show a very high level of mold concentration. Despite many of these homes having a normal fungal ecology, these kits make the situation appear worse because they utilize potato dextrose — which is the perfect and preferred food for mold.

In other words, no matter what type of mold is present, it will grow at a quick pace once it lands on the surface of the kit. And, seeing as there’s always some level of mold in the air in the State of Florida, it will never prove accurate or effective.

Airborne mold is a problem when it is significantly higher than the outside and when there is an active moisture source in the building, like water leaks, high humidity, and more. That being said, if there truly is a mold spore problem in someone’s home, they likely won’t know for several weeks, as they will need to wait on laboratory testing of their DIY kit.

Mastering Your Mold Strategy

Last but not least, mold testing/sampling is simply not beneficial.

If mold is present, the primary question shouldn’t be “what kind of strain is it?” Rather, you should ask…

• Where is the mold?
• Why is it growing?
• How much mold is already present?
• What do I do about it?

Luckily, the answer to your last question is simple: Contact Luce Air Quality!

From there, we’ll conduct a comprehensive mold investigation that will answer the first three questions on site, during your appointment

Don’t waste your time or money. Instead, breathe a healthy sigh of relief when you call your local indoor experts at 904-803-1014!