Entire Home Mold Testing Effectively test your entire home for toxic mold,
black mold,
and/or any type of mold growth by hiring a
Certified Mold Inspector.
Find a
Certified Mold Inspector and/or
Certified
Mold Remediator.
Be trained and certified as a
Certified Mold
Inspector,
Certified Mold Remediator,
and/or
Certified Environmental Hygienist.
Learn the 25 steps for safe and effective
mold remediation.
Q.
Once a house has been officially "treated" for black mold, carpets
removed, drywall and windows torn out, what are the chances of it
re-occurring? [March 27, 2004]
A. Mold may return again as a serious health threat
because many mold problems are not properly remediated in the mold
remediation process because many mold contractors are poorly
trained, and they often take short cuts to save time and increase
their profits. Because of defective remediation procedures, often
there are more widespread mold problems AFTER mold remediation than
before. Learn the steps required for safe and effective
mold
remediation. It is very important
that after mold remediation [whether professionally-done or do it
yourself] that an independent, unrelated
Certified Mold Inspector do careful physical inspection and
mold
clearance testing to make sure that the mold problems have been
effectively and safely taken care of. Assuming that the mold
remediation job was done properly, safely, and effectively, mold
problems can still re-occur in the future because of such factors
as: (1) continued or future maintenance neglect of the property that
leads to roof leaks, siding leaks, and plumbing leaks; (2) sudden
breaks in water supply and sewer lines; (3) water damage from
storms; (4) water entry through concrete floors, walls, and
foundations with no or degraded water barriers; (5) high humidity
[60% or more] some or all of the year in some or all areas of the
house; (6) intrusion into the house by an above-average number of
airborne mold spores from too-close or too-dense outdoor trees and
vegetation, as well as from nearby moldy houses or buildings; and
(7) regularly tracking indoors lots of outdoor mold spores on the
bodies of cats and dogs [letting pets come indoors or live indoors
is mold-wise a bad idea], and on residents' shoes [which should be
totally banned, including visitors, from entry into any house],
clothing, and hair.
Q. I am
possibly seeking a mold inspection in my home, particularly in the
crawlspace. Since I have turned on my AC this summer, I have noticed a
strong odor coming from the vents. (I have baseboard electric heat in the
winter and did not notice this smell this past winter.) Upon further
inspection (pulling off the cover to the crawlspace) I noticed the same
foul odor there. I suspect that my AC is drawing some of its air from the
crawlspace and I would like to know if I have a mold problem growing under
my 1975, 1400 square foot ranch style home. What type of inspection do you
do? What does it require on my part? I live in North Manchester, IN and
would be interested in finding out what you can do for me.
[June 29, 2003]
A.
Heating and cooling equipment and ducts can cross contaminate mold spores
and mold infestation from one area [such as your crawl space] to other
areas [such as your entire house!]. Your first step should be to mold test
the crawl space air, the air of the various rooms of your home, and the
air flow out of heating/cooling ducts. You can do this either with a
Certified Mold Inspectors
in Indiana or
using do it yourself mold
test kits from a large hardware, home improvement, or safety store.
You will need to find and stop the water source that enables mold to grow
in your crawl space. You can use a low-cost
Mold Home Remedy Recipes available at
Mold Mart.