Mold growth can pose serious problems to the health of your workers or family. Moving into a new house can be a very exciting process until you find that there is mold in one or several of the rooms. Mold is a fungus that thrives in moist places. If a house has suffered flooding or has a malfunctioning AC, there is always the possibility that there will be mold. In some residential areas, mold can also occur in places such as bathrooms, laundry rooms and any other space that is constantly exposed to moisture.
Mold reproduces by releasing spores which can then be inhaled by people occupying the building. This in turn can cause serious health problems including respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
Why Mold Inspection Matters
Buying a home is a major investment. This means that it makes sense to ensure that you are getting the best possible value for your money. Many people will often bring in experts to evaluate the structural soundness of a building before they make a purchase. However, many people overlook the need to bring in a mold inspection expert. Having your new home inspected for mold can be crucial for a variety of reasons. Mold is not always visible and non-experts might not always be able to tell you if you have a mold problem or not. For example, if mold is located in between the insulation or the AC system, it is likely that it will not be detected by a cursory glance. Secondly, not bringing in a mold inspection expert can end up costing you thousands of dollars in mold removal costs as well as medical expenses.
It is significantly cheaper to spot mold problems before you make the purchase so you can either reconsider the buying decision or factor in the cost of fixing the problem when negotiating the price of the house.
What Mold Inspectors Look For
When mold inspectors are looking for mold in your house, they typically look out for discolorations on the walls, floors, and other surfaces that are prone to mold infestations. They also look for areas with tell-tale signs of water leaks or areas with standing waters. These kinds of places are the ones most likely to have mold problems. Peeling paint especially on walls that separate rooms like bathrooms and laundry rooms is often an indicator of leaks which in turn makes it likely that there could be a mold problem. Inspectors also look out for musty odors which mold infestations give off. Mold inspectors will also carefully inspect bathrooms, laundry rooms and other spaces that are prone to mold infestation.
To be absolutely certain, mold inspectors will also take samples for testing. To do this, they run an air-quality test as well as take direct samples from surfaces. These are then laboratory tested to give a clear picture of the extent of the problem. Remember that mold spores tend to be all over. Problems however arise when your home has higher than normal levels of mold.
Looking for top-notch mold inspection and testing services for your prospective new home? Get in touch with Iris Environmental Laboratories! We provide pre-sale mold inspection services to help our clients keep their homes safe. Call now at 1800-908-6679 to find out more about our pre-sale mold inspection services or fill up our online form to be contacted by our consultants.