Mold Testing & Inspection Information

Three primary scenarios exist in which mold testing and inspection should be performed by a professional. This includes serious mold problems or those involving toxic fungi such as black mold, if a home or business owner notices a musty smell commonly linked to a mold problem, and as part of standard maintenance in keeping an environment clean and safe.

Remediation

Prior to mold remediation being performed by a professional, mold testing and inspection is imperative. Without going through this step, several complications could arise to include the following:

• Spores from dry toxic mold could become airborne and attach to other things in the environment, thereby creating a future problem but also increasing health risks for people within the environment

• Type of mold would be unknown whereby an ineffective product or cleanup method might be used

• Cleanup of highly toxic mold could be performed without the professional wearing protective gear or taking the appropriate precautions

 Hiring a professional for mold testing and inspection would ensure the exact fungi species is identified, whereby the most effective and safest removal product and procedure would be used. After getting a full history of the property and any known problems, whether past or present, a full inspection would be performed from ceiling to floor, both on the structure’s interior and exterior.

With the discovery of mold, the professional conducting mold testing and inspection would take swab and air samples, safety contain them, and send them to a laboratory with American Industrial Hygiene Association or AIHA accreditation. At that point, the exact mold type, toxicity level, and volume could be confirmed. Generally, this process takes two to four days after which time the results would be known.

The professional would relay the information to the home or business owner, followed by making recommendations for mold remediation. Although there is a price associated with mold testing and inspection, this is one expense that should never be compromised. With a dangerous problem identified through mold testing and inspection, as well as the issue being rectified, the environment would be deemed clean, disinfected, and safe.