Do you Need a Mold Inspection?
How Does Home Resource Solutions Provide Thorough Mold Inspections?
Mold is common in homes, but that doesn’t mean that it should be there. It is easy to be confused about the what to do when you suspect it. You might even be wondering why you need a mold inspection if you can actually see mold. That is a fair question, but some molds are more dangerous than others, and if you do not address the question of where it is coming from, it will return. At Home Resource we have only your concerns at heart, there is no conflict of interest, we are only report on what we see, what our technology, and lab results tell us.
When is a Mold Inspection Needed?
We are usually called into a home or business for one or more of the following reasons:
- Recent Water Damage
- Visible Growth
- Strange Smell
- Health Complications
- Looking For Peace of Mind
- Real Estate Transaction
A thorough visual inspection is the most important step in discovering a contamination. I’ll go through a property and look for the same things I outlined above as well as low air circulation and high humidity. Depending on the property I sometimes also use a thermal camera to detect cool spots within walls and floors, which typically indicates a moisture problem.
I’ll also take an air quality sample both outside and inside. This allows me to calculate the estimated spore counts and compare the indoor and outdoor air quality. If the levels are higher inside than outside this is a sign of contamination. Air samples also allow me to identify the mold genus and occasionally the species, this information will help me in determining the presence of toxic molds. The lab will also identify the presence or lack thereof hydrophilic mold types caused by excessive moisture.
Many molds do not pose any harm, but seeing can be scary. It is just doing its job, we just don’t want it working in our homes. Until you test for it, you really don’t know what the implications of the mold in your home truly is.
After the inspection we will put together a report that will direct you on how to protect your home, clean the area, or if you should consider hiring a remediation company to take care of it. Many times it can be something simple, but sometimes you will need a professional to do it right. The important thing is that you have someone who can tell the difference and expertly direct you on what needs to be done. A remediation company will offer you a free inspection, because they know most of the time they will recommend they fix it at cost. So a mold inspection can save you a lot of money.
Once mold starts growing, it doesn’t take a lot for it to survive. It has the ability to go dormant if it doesn’t have the needed tools to survive, only to pick it up again when its food source returns. It’s important to know what you are dealing with, and address it before it becomes a big issue.
How does mold get into the air?
Mold releases thousands of mold spores into the air we breathe. This is not go for our health, but especially for those with respiratory issues, asthma, allergies, or sensitivities to mold. Customers are often surprised by the amount of mold in the air they breathe. It can spread throughout the home, even if it has only grown it one room.
Here is a quick recap for how our process works:
- Schedule an Appointment
- Visual Inspection of the Property
- Air and Surface Sample Collection
- Samples Sent to Lab for Analysis
- Inspector Receive Lab Results
- Inspector Provides Client with Detailed Protocol for Next Steps
Mold Doesn’t have to be scary, once you know what you are dealing with.
Serving Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Beyond.