How a Mold Inspection Works
There are several ways to test for mold in buildings. The first is the air sampling method. When I do a mold inspection, I use a pump that samples a given volume of air in the building. That sample is then sent to a lab, where the mold spores contained in it are counted and analyzed.
This tells us two things: whether or not the concentration of mold spores is in the normal range, and what type of mold is present. I take an air sample outdoors at the same location and it’s analyzed the same way. Because mold spores are naturally occurring and found virtually everywhere (except hospital operating rooms, for example), the mold spore count from outside is compared to the one taken indoors. If there’s more mold indoors than outdoors, we know there’s a source of mold inside. The outdoor sample is called the “control” because it’s used to determine how much mold we expect to see in the indoor sample.
Can You Do It Yourself?
Do-it-yourself retail kits are designed to grow (or “culture”) mold spores. The trouble is, they don’t tell you if the concentration of spores is above the normal range. In fact, these tests only tell you that there are mold spores in the building–which, as I mentioned, you already know. Because of this, the kinds of test you can buy online or in hardware stores are not very useful.
In addition to an air sample, I sometimes also take a sample of visible material that looks like mold. This is called a “lift sample”. It’s sent to the lab for analysis, too. Sometimes something that looks like mold turns out to be a kind of micro fungi (related to mushrooms) or dirt, or something else unrelated to mold.
The other thing kits can’t tell you is what might be causing the abnormal levels of mold to grow in your home in the first place. Mold can only grow in high-moisture environments–this usually means a leak into the building through the roof or the siding or the foundation, or a plumbing leak. Occasionally, it can be caused by a faulty (or unused) exhaust fan in the kitchen or bathroom, or some other air-flow issue. Learn more about the basics of good ventilation in your home.
Part of the mold inspection involves trying to find the source of the mold problem. Because of my extensive experience in home remodeling and repairs, I am generally able to identify the potential source of the moisture, pinpoint the extent of the problem, and provide remediation guidelines to ensure that it gets fixed properly.
What’s Included?
The basic inspection includes up to two indoor samples (air and/or lift) and one outdoor (control) sample. If additional samples are required, there is an additional fee for each one. When I get the lab results, I forward the report to you, along with an in-depth explanation of what it means. If there is a mold problem, I will also include a remediation protocol that lays out details of how to fix the issue. You can then contact a mold abatement contractor for an estimate, using the report and protocol as a guide. Sometimes, my clients want to do the work themselves, in which case I provide guidelines and consulting for no extra charge.
When the remediation and abatement work is nearly completed, I do a clearance test. This is another air test that tells us if the mold spore count in the remediated area is in the low range–meaning that the mold abatement work is done and the affected areas can be finished.
Learn More
The Basics of Good Ventilation
How to Prevent Mold Growth in your Home