A Mold Inspection Helps You Understand The Extent Of The Mold Problem In Your Home
Posted on: 30 January 2020
If your home has a musty odor and you don't know the cause or if you have a known water leak and want to know if it's caused mold to grow in hidden places, then you need a mold inspection. This inspection provides you with a report that lets you know the type of mold your home has and the amount. Here's an overview of what happens with a mold inspection.
Your Property Is Examined Visually
An important part of the inspection is the visual examination. The inspector looks over all areas of your home for signs of high moisture and mold. Moisture can often be detected behind walls with a moisture meter or infrared camera. Mold is often present, even if it's unseen, in areas of high moisture. Other times, mold is out in the open and clearly visible. The mold might be confined to an area near the moisture, such as in the attic near a roof leak.
It's also possible for spores to spread through your home and grow in other humid places like bathrooms without vents. The inspector will identify areas of concern in your home so you know where the mold is and what needs to be done about it.
Laboratory Testing
An inspection can also include lab tests for mold. One type of test is the air sample. A sample is taken from outdoors to use as a comparison against a sample taken from indoors. The test consists of a container that collects air that has a sticky surface that traps mold spores and other debris floating in the air. The sample is sent to the lab and tests are done on the debris in the container that identify the type of mold and the number of spores obtained.
Another type of test is a surface test. This involves sending physical samples of the material to the lab. The inspector may remove a portion of drywall or collect a sample with a swab or tape. The samples are sent to the lab and it may take a few days to get the results. The number and type of mold tests you need done depend on your circumstances, so you'll want to discuss your best options with the inspector. Mold testing isn't always an essential part of an inspection, but the tests provide useful information that helps you understand the mold that's in your home and the extent of your problem.
Once the results are back from the lab and you have the inspection report, you can decide on the course of action you need to take. Cleaning up mold isn't a DIY job since it poses a health hazard, so you'll want to contact a mold remediation company if you learn your home has mold you need to get rid of.
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