It is important to realize and understand that everyone is exposed to mold throughout their lives. Exposure to mold is virtually inevitable in everyday life because mold of one kind or another is ever-present in the indoor and outdoor environment. Thus, such exposures can be considered “unavoidable,” “tolerable,” or “acceptable” for the majority of healthy persons.

House Check Home Inspection Services, Inc. has the experience and knowledge to detect the presence of mold on your property. Mold grows throughout naturel and made made environment. Tiny particles of mold are present in both indoor and outdoor air. Mold produces microscopic cells called “spores” which are extremely tiny and spread easily through the air. This is how they reproduce. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive.

Mold Inspection and Testing

Mold Testing Purposes

If the source of moisture is not easily detected, mold testing can prove beneficial. Often a roof leak or a plumbing leak can be identified as the source. The difficulty arises when there is an odor present or when an occupant shows signs of mold exposure, but no visible mold is discovered.

There is mold that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or un-addressed. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment. The best way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.

Controlling moisture is the most critical step in solving a mold problem in order to accurately identify and rectify the moisture sources that allowed the growth to occur. In order to prevent mold from growing, it is imperative that water damaged areas be dried within a 24-48 hour period. If mold is a problem in the home, the mold must be cleaned up and the excess water or moisture removed.

There many common types of mold that are made with respect to their most common impact to human health. Many genera of molds have sources of excess moisture that can contribute to indoor mold growth. Some of the primary means species with varying characteristics of moisture enter into homes and buildings are water leakage (such as roof or plumbing leaks), vapor migration, capillary movement, air infiltration, humidifier use, and inadequate venting of kitchen and bath humidity. The temperature must also be considered because of its role in moisture transfer and condensation. The key is to reduce indoor humidity and identify the molds’ point of origin.

Contamination Sources

Mold Sampling Methods

Surface Sampling Methods

Surface sampling can be useful for differentiating between mold growth and stains, and identifying the type of mold growth that may be present and, in some instances, identifying signs of mold growth in a general vicinity. Surface sampling can improve the accuracy of the results and interpretation of the inspected environment if sampled correctly, although not required. The following are the different types of surface samples that are commonly used to perform a direct examination of a specific location.

Tape (or tape-lift)
These samples can be collected using clear, adhesive tape. For microscopic examination of collected particles, adhesive tapes must be of good optical quality and compatible with any stains the analytical laboratory may use on the specimens. Easily removed material is collected by touching the tape gently to a test surface and removing the tape with a steady force.

A wide variety of analytical methods are available to investigators to study biological agents in indoor environments. Since there are no generally accepted guidelines for fungi or bacteria, comparison with reference samples is the most useful approach. Reference samples are usually outdoor samples and samples from “non-compliant” areas.

In general, indoor fungal concentrations should be similar to or lower than outdoor levels. If fungi at a significant level are only

Call our Home Inspectors at 561-305-3789

for Professional Home Inspections and Mold Testing!

Scope of Remediation/Restoration
The area that is contaminated and the extent of the contamination will determine the scope of the remediation required. Following the completion of the remediation process, mold testing should be performed to obtain clearance.

found indoors, this often suggests indoor amplification of the fungi. Furthermore, the detection of some fungi, even at low levels, may require further evaluation.

Bulk
These are portions of environmental materials (e.g., settled dust, sections of wall board, pieces of duct lining, carpet segments, or return-air filters) tested to determine if they may contain or be contaminated with biological agents. The objective of such sampling is to collect a portion of material small enough to be transported conveniently and handled easily in the laboratory while still representing the material being sampled. Samples obtained using this method can be analyzed using culturing or direct microscopy.

Swab
These are very similar to tape samples, except a sterile wipe (looks like a long Q-tip) is used to test an area of suspected mold. Samples obtained using this method can be analyzed using culturing or direct microscopy.

Air Sampling Methods

Air samples are possibly the most common type of environmental sample that investigators collect to study bioaerosols. The physics of removing particle from the air and the general principles of good sample collection apply to all airborne materials, whether biological or from other origins. Therefore, many of the basic principles investigators use to identify and quantify other airborne particulate matter can be adapted to bioaerosol sampling. Common to aerosol samplers is consideration of collection efficiency. The following are the two most common forms of air sampling methods:

Mircor5
The Mircor5 Microcell uses spore trap cassettes in conjunction with a portable air pump to rapidly collect airborne aerosols, including mold, pollen and other particulates. Air is drawn through a small opening at the top of the cassette and spores are trapped on a sticky surface inside the cassette.

Air-O-Cell
These are similar to the Micro5 spore trap cassettes in that they are also used in conjunction with portable air pumps. The difference is in the air flow sampling rate.

The term “data can vary and may consist of the simple observation of fungal growth on a wall, analytical measurements from hundreds of environmental samples, or the results of a survey of building occupants with and without particular building-related conditions. Data interpretation is the process whereby investigators make decisions on (a) the relevance to human exposure of environmental observations and measurements, (b) the strength of associations between exposure and health status, and (c) the probability of current or future risks. These interpretation steps are followed by decisions on what measure can be taken to interrupt exposure and prevent future problems.