Important Questions To Ask Your Mold Inspector

In part, because of the detrimental effects it can have on human health, the evolving field of mold and mold inspection is reaching peak awareness levels. Unfortunately, even with this increased awareness, not enough people are cognizant of the problems mold can cause, where to look for it, what it looks like, etc.

If you’re suffering from any of the following conditions, you could be in big trouble if a mold issue exists in your home or workplace:

MCS
CIRS
Lyme disease and other health problems

If you even suspect that you may have the smallest of mold problems, it’s time to contract the services of a mold inspector. Better safe than sorry.

With that decision made, we’re going to offer some suggestions as to what questions to ask to make sure that the mold inspector you’re considering is qualified.

Is Remediation Part of Your Service?

Not all mold inspectors do remediation. Some are solely responsible for field and/or laboratory testing. You may have to book a separate service for mediation.

Recommendation Protocol – Do You Write It?

Simply put, this is asking the question: “Regarding how to fix any identified mold problems, will you be writing a work plan?” If they want the job, there’s only one right answer to this, and that’s “Yes, we will.”

Will My HVAC System Be Tested for Mycotoxins and Mold?

Again, they must say “yes” if they want the job. Your indoor air quality is greatly contributed to by your HVAC system. For these types of system tests, the preferred method is going into the ductwork and air handler unit and collecting dust samples. Don’t let them get away with simply saying that they’re going to test the air.

Can You Tell Me What Mycotoxins Are?

With certain species of mold, a secondary metabolite is referred to as a mycotoxin. Why secondary? Specific mold species may not always produce these mycotoxins. They kill living organisms such as other types of mold. Unfortunately, they can have a big impact on our health because we’re living organisms too!

Ask Them to Identify Mold Tests like HERTSMI, ERMI, and MSQPCR

HERTSMI – The same sampling method as below (ERM) is used for testing here. Five molds are included in the panel.

ERMI – This stands for environmental relative moldiness index. The following (MSqPCR) is used to identify these possibly present mold species. In this system, developed by the EPA,36 molds are included in the panel.

MSqPCR – Used to identify possibly present mold species, this stands for mold-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction. It more or less formats mold DNA .

For a Full Home Inspection, How Long Will It Take?

For a comprehensive and thorough inspection, no less than two hours should be spent by a mold inspector in your home. In fact, depending on the size of your house, it could take as many as five hours. It’s not completely unheard of, either, for inspection to run eight hours if the home is massive.

What Does the Inspection Process Include?

Here’s a rough rundown of things that should be included in a typical inspection:

The exterior of the home should be inspected for water intrusion.
To identify mold growth in certain areas, an inspector may use moisture meters and infrared cameras.
The HVAC system must be inspected.
Though not typically part of a living space, crawlspaces and attics must be inspected as well.

Iris Environmental Laboratories – The Experts

Need a mold or asbestos inspection done in your home or workplace? Call the specialist at Iris Environmental Laboratories. For both private and commercial properties, we specialize in field inspection and analysis for mold and asbestos. That includes testing the air quality in a building.