Mold/Indoor Air Quality Testing
Mold/Indoor Air Quality Testing
Mold Inspections and Home Maintenance
A mold inspection starts as a visual inspection, which is a non-invasive, visual examination of the home's interior and exterior, and its various systems and components.
The scope of a mold inspection requires particular knowledge of HVAC systems, roofs, the exterior, and plumbing systems. Musty odors, moisture intrusion via a roof or plumbing leak, or even evidence of suspected mold can warrant a mold inspection.
Once mold gets a foothold, it cannot always be completely eradicated, so the best cure is prevention. Homeowners must be vigilant about checking for leaks both inside and outside and making sure their home is free of conducive conditions – the main culprit being water.
For instance, firewood stacked up against the side of the house can retain moisture from dew, rain, and snow. Leaks should be fixed as soon as possible. And indoor humidity and moisture should be controlled by making sure appliances, such as the clothes dryer and dishwasher, are vented properly, and the vents themselves are operating as they should.
Windows are another place prone to mold growth if the frames are old and damaged, or the seals on the panes have failed. And basements and crawlspaces are notorious breeding grounds for mold, especially if they're used only for storage, the windows are old or damaged, and/or the area experiences occasional flooding.
Testing
Mold testing involves two main methods: air sampling and surface sampling. Both types require analysis by a certified laboratory. In some cases, the local health department can test the mold samples. But it's more common for a private lab to perform the analysis and generate the results in a report, and the cost is included in the price of testing.
Along with the sampling equipment, the tools commonly used for a mold
inspection of the home's interior include the following:
- moisture meter: This basic tool is used to detect moisture instructural components. There are invasive and non-invasive models available.
- humidity gauge: This measures the humidity level inside a room or building.
- thermal imaging or infrared (IR) camera: Where visual inspection is not possible, especially for suspected water intrusion that's inside structural components, damp and wet areas can be detected non-invasively with thermal imaging. Problem areas will show up as dark gradients.
- borescope: This is a camera that can visualize suspected mold growth and other problems inside plumbing pipes and structural elements through an opening in the component.
- rotameter: This device measures the air flow rate, which can be helpful to determine if the home has conducive conditions for mold growth.
Air Sampling
Air sampling is conducted indoors and outdoors using spore traps or canisters. This less-common method is used for homes in areas suspected of having high concentrations of mold spores. The outdoor samples are used to create a control or baseline to determine the level of contamination, and then the control is compared to the indoor samples. When taking the outdoor sample, the technician should be alert to environmental conditions that can affect the results, such as wind, rain, snow, and fluctuating temperatures.
Surface Sampling
Surface sampling is the more common and easiest method for testing for
indoor mold.
Here are some methods of surface sampling that can be performed:
- tape sample: This is the most common method of sampling visible mold, as it allows the technician to collect several samples in different parts of the home quickly to send off to the laboratory.
- swab sample: A cellulose swab with a liquid preservative is used to collect any suspected mold for laboratory testing.
- carpet sample: In rooms where there is carpeting, testing can be performed on vacuumed contents or even a snip of the carpeting. Typically, carpets that have visible mold or have tested positive for mold should be discarded and replaced, as it's nearly impossible to remove all traces of mold from carpet fibers, where mold will likely continue to grow.