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#1
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DIY mold test kit?
Whenever it is winter I tend to get scratchy throat prone to getting sinus
infection just sitting at home. Since I live in a rainy winter area, I wonder if there is mold growing somewhere and leaking into the hvac. I see DIY mold test kit online. I believe they are dishes filled with agar gel. Can these kit really tell the difference between toxic mold versus not so toxic ones (e.g. mold that grows on bread)? -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com |
#2
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DIY mold test kit?
On Dec 4, 6:53 am, "James" wrote:
Whenever it is winter I tend to get scratchy throat prone to getting sinus infection just sitting at home. Since I live in a rainy winter area, I wonder if there is mold growing somewhere and leaking into the hvac. I see DIY mold test kit online. I believe they are dishes filled with agar gel. Can these kit really tell the difference between toxic mold versus not so toxic ones (e.g. mold that grows on bread)? -- Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com Yes a mold test kit can determine with great accurasy, the interior conditions. The LOWES in my region also has thm for sale..maybe stores around you will too. A three pack is under 20 bucks here. |
#3
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DIY mold test kit?
Roof Time Cincinnati wrote:
On Dec 4, 6:53 am, "James" wrote: Whenever it is winter I tend to get scratchy throat prone to getting sinus infection just sitting at home. Since I live in a rainy winter area, I wonder if there is mold growing somewhere and leaking into the hvac. I see DIY mold test kit online. I believe they are dishes filled with agar gel. Can these kit really tell the difference between toxic mold versus not so toxic ones (e.g. mold that grows on bread)? -- Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com Yes a mold test kit can determine with great accurasy, the interior conditions. The LOWES in my region also has thm for sale..maybe stores around you will too. A three pack is under 20 bucks here. What do the test kits tell you? Indentify type of mold? What do you do when you find mold? Winter sinus and sore throat problems are often due to indoor (heated) air that is too dry. |
#4
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DIY mold test kit?
On Dec 4, 6:51 am, Norminn wrote:
Roof Time Cincinnati wrote: On Dec 4, 6:53 am, "James" wrote: Whenever it is winter I tend to get scratchy throat prone to getting sinus infection just sitting at home. Since I live in a rainy winter area, I wonder if there is mold growing somewhere and leaking into the hvac. I see DIY mold test kit online. I believe they are dishes filled with agar gel. Can these kit really tell the difference between toxic mold versus not so toxic ones (e.g. mold that grows on bread)? -- Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com Yes a mold test kit can determine with great accurasy, the interior conditions. The LOWES in my region also has thm for sale..maybe stores around you will too. A three pack is under 20 bucks here. What do the test kits tell you? Indentify type of mold? What do you do when you find mold? Winter sinus and sore throat problems are often due to indoor (heated) air that is too dry.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Have you ever had a pro fully inspect the furnace including the AC coil, that would be my first step. |
#5
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DIY mold test kit?
Norminn wrote:
Roof Time Cincinnati wrote: On Dec 4, 6:53 am, "James" wrote: Whenever it is winter I tend to get scratchy throat prone to getting sinus infection just sitting at home. Since I live in a rainy winter area, I wonder if there is mold growing somewhere and leaking into the hvac. I see DIY mold test kit online. I believe they are dishes filled with agar gel. Can these kit really tell the difference between toxic mold versus not so toxic ones (e.g. mold that grows on bread)? -- Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com Yes a mold test kit can determine with great accurasy, the interior conditions. The LOWES in my region also has thm for sale..maybe stores around you will too. A three pack is under 20 bucks here. What do the test kits tell you? Indentify type of mold? What do you do when you find mold? They work in two ways: The first is you can just let them incubate a day or two and visually inspect what's growing on them. This doesn't tell you much since unless you are testing in some super sterile room, there always will be something growing. The second is you do the collection and then mail the dish off to the lab (for an extra fee of course) and you'll get a report back listing exactly what was found and the relative concentrations. Winter sinus and sore throat problems are often due to indoor (heated) air that is too dry. Certainly the first thing to do would be to get a humidity gauge and see just how dry the air is, since that is by far the most common cause of the indicated symptoms. |
#6
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DIY mold test kit?
Pete C. wrote:
Norminn wrote: Roof Time Cincinnati wrote: On Dec 4, 6:53 am, "James" wrote: Whenever it is winter I tend to get scratchy throat prone to getting sinus infection just sitting at home. Since I live in a rainy winter area, I wonder if there is mold growing somewhere and leaking into the hvac. I see DIY mold test kit online. I believe they are dishes filled with agar gel. Can these kit really tell the difference between toxic mold versus not so toxic ones (e.g. mold that grows on bread)? -- Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com Yes a mold test kit can determine with great accurasy, the interior conditions. The LOWES in my region also has thm for sale..maybe stores around you will too. A three pack is under 20 bucks here. What do the test kits tell you? Indentify type of mold? What do you do when you find mold? They work in two ways: The first is you can just let them incubate a day or two and visually inspect what's growing on them. This doesn't tell you much since unless you are testing in some super sterile room, there always will be something growing. I can do that with a slice of bread ) The second is you do the collection and then mail the dish off to the lab (for an extra fee of course) and you'll get a report back listing exactly what was found and the relative concentrations. Sounds like something that could be dangerous for amateurs, such as getting test results that show growth of "dangerous" molds. Have spores present and having a mold problem seem like entirely different issues to my uneducated brain. I haven't kept up on the mold hysteria, but I think a lot of people worry needlessly. Different story if folks are ill or there is obvious mold/mildew growth, which often is "cured" by correcting the moisture problem. Winter sinus and sore throat problems are often due to indoor (heated) air that is too dry. Certainly the first thing to do would be to get a humidity gauge and see just how dry the air is, since that is by far the most common cause of the indicated symptoms. |
#7
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DIY mold test kit?
Norminn wrote:
Pete C. wrote: Norminn wrote: Roof Time Cincinnati wrote: On Dec 4, 6:53 am, "James" wrote: Whenever it is winter I tend to get scratchy throat prone to getting sinus infection just sitting at home. Since I live in a rainy winter area, I wonder if there is mold growing somewhere and leaking into the hvac. I see DIY mold test kit online. I believe they are dishes filled with agar gel. Can these kit really tell the difference between toxic mold versus not so toxic ones (e.g. mold that grows on bread)? -- Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com Yes a mold test kit can determine with great accurasy, the interior conditions. The LOWES in my region also has thm for sale..maybe stores around you will too. A three pack is under 20 bucks here. What do the test kits tell you? Indentify type of mold? What do you do when you find mold? They work in two ways: The first is you can just let them incubate a day or two and visually inspect what's growing on them. This doesn't tell you much since unless you are testing in some super sterile room, there always will be something growing. I can do that with a slice of bread ) The second is you do the collection and then mail the dish off to the lab (for an extra fee of course) and you'll get a report back listing exactly what was found and the relative concentrations. Sounds like something that could be dangerous for amateurs, such as getting test results that show growth of "dangerous" molds. Could be if you don't understand what it really means. Certainly it would be good to know if spores for the more dangerous strains are present, since it would dictate a higher priority to dealing with any moisture issues. Have spores present and having a mold problem seem like entirely different issues to my uneducated brain. I haven't kept up on the mold hysteria, but I think a lot of people worry needlessly. Different story if folks are ill or there is obvious mold/mildew growth, which often is "cured" by correcting the moisture problem. Correcting moisture problems and removing badly contaminated materials can "cure" small problems with non hazardous molds, but bigger issues involving the hazardous strains require more drastic measures. |
#8
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DIY mold test kit?
On Dec 4, 12:09 pm, "Pete C." wrote:
Norminn wrote: Pete C. wrote: Norminn wrote: Roof Time Cincinnati wrote: On Dec 4, 6:53 am, "James" wrote: Whenever it is winter I tend to get scratchy throat prone to getting sinus infection just sitting at home. Since I live in a rainy winter area, I wonder if there is mold growing somewhere and leaking into the hvac. I see DIY mold test kit online. I believe they are dishes filled with agar gel. Can these kit really tell the difference between toxic mold versus not so toxic ones (e.g. mold that grows on bread)? -- Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com Yes a mold test kit can determine with great accurasy, the interior conditions. The LOWES in my region also has thm for sale..maybe stores around you will too. A three pack is under 20 bucks here. What do the test kits tell you? Indentify type of mold? What do you do when you find mold? They work in two ways: The first is you can just let them incubate a day or two and visually inspect what's growing on them. This doesn't tell you much since unless you are testing in some super sterile room, there always will be something growing. I can do that with a slice of bread ) The second is you do the collection and then mail the dish off to the lab (for an extra fee of course) and you'll get a report back listing exactly what was found and the relative concentrations. Sounds like something that could be dangerous for amateurs, such as getting test results that show growth of "dangerous" molds. Could be if you don't understand what it really means. Certainly it would be good to know if spores for the more dangerous strains are present, since it would dictate a higher priority to dealing with any moisture issues. Have spores present and having a mold problem seem like entirely different issues to my uneducated brain. I haven't kept up on the mold hysteria, but I think a lot of people worry needlessly. Different story if folks are ill or there is obvious mold/mildew growth, which often is "cured" by correcting the moisture problem. Correcting moisture problems and removing badly contaminated materials can "cure" small problems with non hazardous molds, but bigger issues involving the hazardous strains require more drastic measures.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Mold is actually toxigenic rather toxic. The same species of mold may actually (or may not) produce myxcotoxins based on its environment and the substrate its growing on. Does your home have a mositure/humidity problem or have you experienced a recent leak? A non-viable air sample might actually give you more useful information, determining if you have an elevated concentration of mold with respect to your area. What type of HVAC system do you have in your home? Have you changed the filters recently and when was the last time vents or ducts were cleaned? Hawaiimold.com |
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