It’s true that an inspection can be very specific based on the circumstances or the reason that a mold inspection is needed. But even with these different circumstances, the purpose of any mold inspection is the same – to locate and find the extent of any mold growth.
You’ve decided to have a mold inspection performed and now you might be wondering what exactly happens during a mold inspection in Salina, Kansas. What can you expect from the mold inspection? Will you know right away if mold is an issue and to what extent? What happens after a mold inspection?
THE BASICS OF A MOLD INSPECTION
It’s true that an inspection can be very specific based on the circumstances or the reason that a mold inspection is needed in Salina, Kansas. But even with these different circumstances, the purpose of any mold inspection is the same – to locate and find the extent of any mold growth.
The following are the steps that the majority of mold inspection professionals will perform or are available upon request during the mold inspection:
- Visual inspection
- Incident history
- Measure moisture samples
- Surface sampling and testing
- Air sampling and testing
Based on these results, you should receive recommendations regarding remediation measures that should be taken to remove the mold.
LET’S DELVE A BIT DEEPER INTO THOSE STEPS AND WHAT THEY MEAN
- Visual Inspection:
During the visual inspection, the mold inspection professional physically looks at areas in and around your home in Salina, Kansas, to locate moisture or water issues that may be contributing to the mold as well as for mold itself. Outdoors, the mold inspector might look at the water management measures outside to see if water from outdoors is making its way inside. For example, they may check for water coming from the gutters to see if it is moving away or towards the house. Inside the home, the crawl space, bathroom, kitchen, attic, and basement are very common areas where mold can be an issue. The HVAC unit and air ducts may be checked for mold as well.
- Incident History:
The inspector may ask questions about previous or recent water intrusions that have occurred and to what extent in your home in Salina, Kansas. They may ask questions about the measures taken to dry the area and how long it took. They may also inquire about the history of the home, how old it is, if there had been previous flooding before you moved in, or other water related issues that may have occurred. They will also ask about the health of everyone who lives in the home. As mentioned in other blogs, mold can cause allergy and cold-like symptoms for people who live there. So knowing a bit of the health issues that those living there are having in relation to mold, will help the inspector.
- Measure Moisture Samples:
Many mold inspection professionals use moisture meters to find wet areas where mold may be growing. These meters measure the moisture in many types of building materials. They also can monitor the process of drying these materials. A moisture meter typically has a thin probe that can be inserted into the material to be tested or pressed directly against its surface. Moisture meters can be used on:
- Carpet
- Wallboard
- Wood
- Brick
- Concrete
Because mold often grows where moisture is high, a moisture meter can help a mold inspector locate hidden areas of mold growth in your home in Salina, Kansas.
- Surface Sampling and Testing:
Surface samples can be taken in a variety of ways. The three most common methods are:
- Bulk Samples – A piece of the sampled area is physically removed and sent to the mold testing laboratory,
- Swab Samples – Something akin to a cotton swab is rubbed across the area being sampled, often a measured area, and subsequently sent to the mold testing laboratory, and
- Tape Samples – A piece of clear tape is pressed against and removed from the area being sampled, presumably picking up and removing part of any mold that was present on the surface, and then set to the mold testing laboratory for analysis.
Surface sampling may not be necessary and may not be suggested by the mold inspection investigator given specific circumstances in Salina, Kansas. But surface sampling can be requested in any case.
- Air Sampling and Testing:
Air samples can be taken and analyzed in a variety of ways in Salina, Kansas. Those ways have been detailed in some of our previous blogs, but the most common method uses a “spore trap” and is called a “spore trap sample.” Spore traps work by having a known volume of air pass and impact a sticky surface as it passes through the spore trap sampling device. Most of the particles in the air will impact this sticky surface and are consequently captured on this sticky surface. Mold spores comprise only part of the particles in the air, which also are captured on the sticky medium inside the spore trap. When the spore trap is sent to the mold testing laboratory for analysis, the mold laboratory opens the spore trap, applies some stains to the sticky surface that the mold spores can absorb, and then identifies and quantifies the types of mold spores captured during the sampling process. There are other methods of mold sampling, including culturing or growing the mold spores captured from the air, but these are less commonly used.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CHOOSING THE RIGHT MOLD INSPECTION COMPANY
Not every mold inspection company is going to perform a mold inspection in the exact same way in Salina, Kansas. But there are things to look for and ask about before the mold inspection that can lead to a mold remediation company that you can trust.
Things to consider:
- Mold remediation experience
- Mold remediation equipment
- Fees and charges
- Mold remediation company references and reviews
- Responsible and ethical standards
- Certifications and licenses
- The use of PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) and insurance
A mold inspection can be a worrisome event because there are a lot of unknowns, but having a mold remediation company that you have faith and trust in to remediate any mold issue properly and effectively will make the process a bit easier. If you are worried about a possible mold issue in your home in Salina, Kansas, and would like to talk to us about our mold inspection process, please give FreshCo Cleaning and Restoration a call. We’d love to speak to you and answer any questions you may have–and get a mold inspection scheduled for you!
“Inspector was very respectful and were well educated and showed real genuine concern for me and my family.”
— Georgia H. in Wichita, Kansas
