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Retailers: Do You Suspect Your Store Has Mold?

If some of your patrons and workers become ill every time they enter your store, there could be mold in your building. Mold can make vulnerable people ill over time. But unless you actually see it in your building, you might not associate it with your patron or workers' illnesses. The following information can help you test your building for the presence of mold.

Check Your HVAC Closet

There are specific places in your building that could hide mold, including your HVAC closet. HVAC systems not only keep buildings cool in the summer and warm in the winter, but they also dehumidify the air inside buildings. Buildings that contain high levels of humid air can also develop mold.

Look inside your HVAC closet for signs of moisture. The walls and flooring inside the closet could be damp or covered in condensation. If you don't find moisture on the walls or flooring in the closet, check the evaporator coil for moisture. If these places are damp with moisture and/or covered in mold, you found the problem. If you don't find it anywhere inside the closet or equipment, test your entire building.

Test Your Building

Mold can grow in other places in your building, including the kitchen and restrooms. But if you don't see mold in these locations, you need to test the rest of the building for it right away. You'll need to contact a mold testing company for assistance. A testing company will use a number of methods to test your building for mold. The tests may include taking samples of dust from your HVAC closet, restrooms, and kitchenette. Mold can live in organic debris like dust. If the dust samples test positive for mold, you can take steps to remove the fungus from your building.

If the dust samples don't contain mold, a testing company may check your building's attic, basement, and/or crawl space for the presence of mold. Attics, basements, and crawl spaces can become very humid throughout the year. Mold can take advantage of the unoccupied spaces and grow. If testers detect mold in the spaces mentioned, you want to clean, sanitize, and insulate the areas right away. You also want to ventilate any spaces in your building that don't receive cool air from your HVAC system.

If your workers and customers are ill every time they enter your building, contact a testing company like Resolution Inc right away.


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