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Residential Mold Inspection Procedures

Determining the Presence of Mold

Mention mold in a home and a real estate deal can die on the spot or a panicked homeowner might rush to the phone book to send an SOS to the first remediation company on the page. Publicity in recent years about potential dangers of living in mold-infested homes has created an entire industry built around testing for and removing mold in homes and businesses. The truth is, mold has existed to some degree in almost all structures since humans lived in caves, in many cases with no negative results. However, today's energy-efficient homes are a far different environment than the drafty houses of yesteryear, with their insulation systems designed to keep air from penetrating or escaping. Mold growing in this kind of environment is highly undesirable and should never be allowed to continue. Testing methods vary, but almost always include focusing on surface growth and airborne particles. A homeowner can buy do-it-yourself test kits at hardware stores or retain a specialist company, usually at a greater cost but with more resources.

Indications of a Problem

As noted by the Environmental Protection Agency on its website, signs that testing should be done include any unwanted presence of water in a home, moldy smells or complaints of sinus problems or headaches by occupants. American Home Services, a mold remediation company in Maryland, goes into greater detail on the symptoms of mold presence on their website, listing stains or damp spots on floors, walls and ceilings; lifting floor tiles; warped or discolored paneling; rust on metal surfaces; flaking paint and powdery substances on wall surfaces; and termite or insect infestation.
Methods of Testing

American Home Services describes its testing procedures as including visual inspection of suspect areas such as basements, attics, crawl spaces, closets and ventilation systems, followed by swab tests for surface colonies and air quality tests for airborne particles. Another private inspection company, The Mold Inspector, lists the equipment it uses online in testing as spore traps for air samples; lift tape or swabs for surface samples; vacuum traps for dust samples and other equipment including digital laser particle counters, infrared digital imaging cameras, electronic moisture detection probes, audio leak detection devices and fiber optic visual observation aids. Whatever equipment is used, the desired results are to determine the extent and type of mold growth on surfaces and in the air. It is important that suspect areas be thoroughly examined, but high tech equipment can be useful in establishing moisture levels that foster mold growth as well as its extent in hard-to-observe areas. Many types of mold find the closed-in conditions of walls conducive to growth and it is not uncommon, where water has penetrated the walls, to find mold growing on the back of drywall with no sign of its presence on the visible surface. Another area where inspection and testing is critical is the ductwork and vents in the home's heating and cooling system. Mold spores within these areas are spread throughout the structure every time the system is active, and conscientious testing companies will pay close attention there. As with every service, it is important to hire only established, qualified and certified companies for testing and removal, since health concerns surrounding mold issues are extensive and valid.