What to Expect During a Mold Inspection
Do you suspect that you have mold in your home, but not sure how to check for it? Consider bringing in a professional to inspect for mold in your entire home so that you can get the answer you are looking for. In order for mold to grow in your home, it will need three things to survive: a surface to grow on, moisture, and a food source like dust. Here is what you can expect during a mold inspection.
Check Moisture Readings
The first thing the mold inspector will do is go around your home and take moisture readings through an infrared camera. This is possible because moisture is going to result in places that are cooler in temperature compared to the rest of the home. The inspector can very easily sweep over your home and look for spots that are reading as cooler than normal, and then verify if there is a problem by using an actual moisture meter.
Investigate Common Trouble Areas
You may be surprised at how sensitive the infrared camera can be at detecting slight variations in temperature. While it works fine for most surfaces, it will not work that great on ceramic tile. Further investigation will be done in the bathrooms and kitchen where ceramic tile exists to take moisture reading levels. A mold inspector will check the bathroom more thoroughly with a moisture meter, looking underneath sinks or places where moisture tends to collect the most. They'll also check in closets since they remain closed most of the time and provide a good environment for mold to grow.
Check the Humidity
Humidity levels around your home will also be inspected, which is measured by a percentage of humidity in the air. Ideally, you'll want to keep the humidity levels in your home anywhere between 30% and 50%, though it is normal for indoor humidity levels to go up after it rains outside. It may be recommended to install a dehumidifier on your HVAC system to better control the humidity.
Take Air Quality Readings
Small air quality samples can be taken to see what mold particles are in the air within your home. This is done by using a device to force air in the room to pass through a container that traps the mold on a laboratory slide. It can be later analyzed to see how much mold is in each room. A control sample is also taken outside the home to let you know how much mold is naturally in the air outside your home and compare the two.