Mold Testing – How to Find Out If There’s Mold in Your Home
Having a home inspection or mold inspection performed by a professional is a great way to find out if there’s mold growing in your home. A mold inspection is not only important for detecting hidden sources of moisture, but also for determining the integrity of the building envelope. A mold inspector will work with you to determine the goals of the inspection and the costs involved. Once the inspector has found signs of mold, he or she will work with you to develop a remediation plan.
The process to collect a mold sample involves collecting a sample with sterile cotton swabs. The sample is sent to a lab for analysis and culture. Bulk samples are also done, and they involve sending a piece of potentially affected drywall or furniture to a lab for testing. Mold spores can also be found in dust, which is both good and bad for your home’s history. Depending on the type of mold present, testing can be expensive.
Although mold spore levels may be elevated in the master bedroom, they are usually within the range of what is regularly found in the outdoor air. Mold spore counts above five thousand per cubic meter are usually indicative of a more serious problem. The spore count in the outside control is much lower – only 300, which is a very low level for Western Washington. However, rainy days may wildly affect results indoors, causing indoor mold levels to spike.
Professional mold inspectors will first perform a preliminary walk-through evaluation of the property. They’ll be looking for areas of poor humidity control, water intrusion, and high mold spore counts. In addition to looking for these factors, they’ll be looking for areas where there’s been water damage or excessive condensation. Additionally, they’ll be looking for any organic matter, if present. An inspection can take anywhere from two to three days.
In addition to visual inspections for visible mold growth, mold inspections also include moisture mapping, air sampling, and the checking of air conditioning. The cost of a mold inspection can vary significantly, depending on the size of the house and whether or not it requires additional testing. In most cases, however, a mold inspection is well worth the investment. The price of a mold inspection can range from $300 to $500 for a small house to over seven thousand square feet for a larger property.
A professional mold inspector will be able to identify the source of the problem and make recommendations for remediation. Depending on the extent of the contamination, remediation methods may range from simple dehumidifiers to complete replacement of building components. If the mold is visible, the mold inspector will also advise you about steps to prevent it from recurring. The best way to avoid a mold problem is to get a thorough home inspection done by a professional.
Raleigh Mold Testing 