You had a water leak in your apartment coming through the ceiling from the unit above yours. The landlord tells you that it was fixed, but you did some research and found out that there can be mold hiding behind the ceiling and walls as a result, and you are concerned that it can be dangerous. How do you find out if mold behind a wall is dangerous?
First, you are right to be concerned since the mold that grows behind walls tends to be toxigenic—it can produce mycotoxins—which is hazardous to your health. You can inhale mycotoxins which can get deep into your lung sacs and prevent oxygen from being transported to the rest of your body. Mycotoxins can also easily be absorbed through the skin and ingested.
How to test your house for mold
You can find out if there is mold behind your walls by getting the drywall tested. You can cut a 3 square inch piece of the drywall—with the permission of your landlord, of course—and have it examined by a mold testing lab and tested for the presence of mold. The lab technician will use the PCM (Phase Contrast Microscopy) method for testing the sample. The results will show the type of mold spores, their count, and if they are acceptable, slightly elevated, or elevated. You can also conduct an air test using an electric pump with a plastic tube attached to the air-o-cell cassette on the pump on one end and the other inserted inside the hole. A trained technician usually performs the air sample, but you may be able to rent a pump that will come with instructions.
Mold testing cost
Testing samples for mold can cost between $50-$60 per sample, but if you hire a professional to do the work, expect to add $200-$250 for their expert service—well worth it if you can afford the additional cost. The technician will perform a proper inspection, give you some valuable advice, and interpret the results for you.
Mold testing lab near me
If you need your walls tested for mold, 5 Microns Inc can assist you. We offer mail-in and drop-off testing services with 24-hour turnaround time, as well as same-day service. Please get in touch with us for more information. We can be reached at 425-440-8787 mon-Fri, and 9-3:30 Saturday. Would you please email clientservices@5microns.tech
Where to send mold samples for testing
5 Microns Inc.
7100 Fort Dent Way #100
Tukwila, WA 98188
Mold testing lab
5 Microns Inc.
7100 Fort Dent Way #100
Tukwila, WA 98188
IMPORTANT-MUST READ FIRST: All mail-in samples must have a tracking number and include our general chain of custody form to be processed. If the chain of custody form is missing, your piece (s) will not be accepted and processed. Drop-offs MUST have the COC form inside your package but not in the sample bag. DO NOT MAIL YOUR SAMPLES BY FIRST CLASS MAIL. Send your sample(s) via USPS Priority Mail, UPS, and FedEx. It is essential to closely follow these directions so our asbestos testing lab can promptly process your sample(s).
Do not take your samples to the front desk. The front desk will not accept drop-offs over the counter, NO EXCEPTIONS! *PLEASE NOTE FOR ALL DROP-OFFS: All pieces must be dropped off at the back of the office building located at 7100 Fort Dent Way Tukwila WA outside the Tabor 100 Office and placed inside the black drop-box pictured below.
5 Microns Inc. Sample Drop Box
