Solved! Who Do You Call for Mold Inspection?

Whether your home has suffered a small leak or a major flood, he’s the one to call for a mold inspection.

Question : There is a strange smell in my house that I think is mold. I don’t know who to call to inspect the mold: a plumber or another type of contractor? Can I get a free mold inspection or do I have to pay?

answer : Suspected mold, visible or not, can be a cause for concern when found in the home. However, a mold inspection can alleviate these fears and help determine a plan of action. Whether you want to know how to get rid of black mold or you’ve just experienced a major leak or flood and want to make sure mold hasn’t formed, the following steps can help ensure your home is safe and free of major mold problems. Read on to find out who to call for a mold inspection and for other helpful mold information.

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You can call a mold inspection and remediation company to inspect your home.
The first call to make when you suspect a mold problem in a home is to a mold inspection and remediation company. These professionals have seen it all and have both the experience and equipment to inspect a home for mold. Mold inspection services are performed on individual rooms as well as entire homes, depending on the need. Mold inspection services can be especially helpful in the event of a water or flooding problem, as mold can form where it is not immediately visible. Mold inspections cost between $300 and $500 and can take between 2 and 6 hours. Testing can cost an additional $200 to $350. The inspector may also perform a basic airborne mold test. These tests will determine if remediation services are needed.

If mold is visible, a mold inspection is not necessary.
The most dangerous molds are those that are hidden in plain sight. If you smell mold but can’t see it, it’s probably a sign that mold is growing under or behind surfaces in your home. It is in these cases that a professional mold inspection is warranted.

Visible mold, while sometimes alarming, means that a professional mold inspection is not necessary, as mold treatment is the same regardless of the type of mold. In most cases, visible mold can be treated with DIY solutions, depending on the surface. If the visible mold is gone but the musty smell remains, there may still be hidden mold present.

Some companies may offer free mold inspections, but there’s a catch.

Wondering if there’s a method for how to get a free mold inspection? Customers will want to be wary of professionals who advertise or offer free mold inspections, since they likely have a financial incentive to find issues in a home that only they can fix. Because a level of mold is present in every home, these companies won’t be outright lying if they claim to discover mold in the air or on surfaces. However, no current thresholds exist that determine if a concentration of mold is hazardous, so if you don’t smell mold in the home, it’s likely not an issue that needs to be addressed. A health department mold inspection may be the best bet for a fair, unbiased report of mold in a home. There are also mold inspection companies that don’t perform remediation work, which minimizes their financial incentive to find mold in a home.

Mold is a fungal growth that forms on damp or decaying natural matter. 

Sometimes referred to as mildew, mold is generally the result of excess moisture. Indoor mold spores float through the air and reproduce once they land on a favorable surface that allows them to grow and form new mold colonies. Mold feeds on organic or decaying material, so it’s common to find it on drywall or wood.

Although some molds can produce toxins, molds themselves are not poisonous or toxic. Mold inside the home can still pose a health risk, however, for people with allergies, respiratory diseases or infections, or asthma. And although some level of mold will always be present and mold cannot completely be removed from the home, the best way to prevent or control the growth of mold is to eliminate sources of moisture.

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Exposure to mold can cause a variety of health problems.

Congestion, wheezing, and red or puffy eyes are just some of the symptoms that exposure to mold can cause in those who are sensitive to it. Workers who have direct and extended exposure to large amounts of mold are likely to see more severe reactions such as fever and shortness of breath. Some recent studies even linked early exposure to mold to the development of childhood asthma, especially among kids who are genetically susceptible to respiratory conditions.

Mold testing can be performed on air and surface samples. 

Most mold testing requires taking samples of either the air or surfaces in a home to figure out what type of mold is present or whether it’s likely to spread and cause more damage. Air samples use a spore trap, which has a sticky surface on a strip to capture the spores that travel through the air. The strip is then sent to a laboratory for analysis and results.

Surface samples can be tested using one of three methods: bulk, swab, or tape. In a bulk sample, a piece of the surface is removed and sent to a lab for testing. For a swab sample, the area in question is swabbed with a sterile material, and the swab is then sent to a mold testing laboratory. With tape samples, a piece of tape is pressed against a surface that has mold present, then lifted and sent to a lab for results.

It’s important to note that determining the exact strain is not important when treating mold, as all molds are tackled in the same manner. Customers will want to be wary of companies that attempt to make their services look more valuable by claiming to treat various molds in specific ways.

Mold inspection costs an average of $650.

Mold inspections cost about $650, regardless of whether it is a black mold inspection or an apartment mold inspection. A mold inspection is typically the best first step in determining how extensive a mold problem is and whether major remediation needs to be done to make the space safe again.

For those who’d like to sidestep the cost of a professional inspection and try to perform a home mold inspection themselves, the best mold test kits range in price from $30 to $90 and can be purchased easily online. DIY mold testing can be useful and more cost-effective if the suspected mold is contained to certain areas, like a bathroom or under the kitchen sink. However, it’s important to remember that the results can vary and in some cases can even be inaccurate if the tested material comes in contact with other airborne contaminants. Customers will want to closely follow directions to ensure accurate results.

Professionals should treat large or widespread areas of mold. 

One small area of mold can be treated with DIY methods, but any widespread areas that have mold should be handled by a professional. The EPA recommends professional mold inspection and treatment for patches of mold larger than 10 square feet. Homes that have experienced major water leaks or flooding will most likely need the help of a remediation specialist who can not only find where the mold is growing but also remove it and put measures in place to prevent it from coming back. The best mold removal companies will also have the required equipment, such as industrial fans, to help with airing out the space. Plus, if they have to remove drywall or go through walls, they’ll be able to repair the areas afterward.

Q. How do I get my house tested for mold?

You can hire a mold inspection or remediation company, or you can use a DIY test kit for small areas of suspected mold.

Q. What are the signs of mold sickness?

Congestion, wheezing, and red or puffy eyes are just some of the symptoms that exposure to mold can cause in those who are sensitive to it. Workers who have direct and extended exposure to large amounts of mold are likely to see more severe reactions, such as fever and shortness of breath.

Q. How long does it take to get sick from mold exposure?

Symptoms can appear 2 to 9 hours after exposure and last for 1 to 3 days.

Q. Do air purifiers help with mold?

Air purifiers provide one way to help reduce the spread of mold spores in the air. However, they can only clean up airborne spores—they don’t treat any active mold already growing on surfaces.

Q. Should I call a professional to get rid of mold?

The EPA recommends hiring a professional for mold remediation for areas of mold larger than 10 square feet.

Q. What does toxic mold look like?

Black mold is the most common toxic mold that comes to mind, and while its name suggests a black color, it can also be blue, gray, or green. Black mold looks like an irregular stain.

Q. What kills black mold instantly?

It’s not necessarily possible to kill mold instantly, but vinegar is one of the more effective mold-killing solutions as it kills the surface layer and the underlying membrane.

Q. Can I sue my landlord for mold?

You may be able to sue your landlord for mold if you have any losses relating to mold, such as a health problem or property damage.