You can’t expect anything good from mold. That’s obvious. But its adverse effects come as a surprise – both on health and at home. Mold is a pollutant affecting your home and family. When it comes to health issues, it causes respiratory issues, allergies, infections and asthma attacks. Mold is also responsible for wood decays, drywall damages, HVAC systems, and insulation issues. That’s not it. Mold is also to be blamed for indoor air pollution.
That’s why it’s important to identify any mold issues before they become the bane of your life. Proper and thorough air quality testing is your way to go. The specialists conduct extensive air quality tests for mold to protect your family from its side effects.
This testing determines the presence of mold and its spores. Levels or type of mold and where exactly they are hiding. Grand Home Inspection will take you through the whole process. So you know what exactly is covered in the process of air quality testing. And what are the perks of getting one?
So, let’s start with
What to Expect in an Air Quality Test for Mold
Air quality testing is the most reliable way to find hidden mold patches in your home. It gives you objective insights into mold levels. So, you remediate it accordingly. For this purpose, you need to choose the right inspector first. The professional inspectors will conduct air quality testing on your home’s air samples.
Taking it further, let’s see what steps it takes to conduct an air quality test for mold.
Consultation and Assessment
Your chosen professional mold inspectors will start with a consultation. They will assess your home’s condition to look for visible mold growth. And identify areas with moisture issues or water damage that are promoting mold growth without you noticing.
Your inspectors will also discuss your health concerns and symptoms with you. So you can understand potential mold exposure and its risks.
Selection of Testing Method
Here comes diversity.
There are a few different air sampling methods that your inspectors prefer to test for mold. If we look into common options, it includes using an impaction sampler. To collect spore samples on a slide. The inspectors can also use a cassette to trap spores for lab analysis. Or a culturing plate to grow mold samples.
But it really depends.
Based on your home size, location, and suspected areas of mold patches. So your inspectors will decide on the best air quality testing method accordingly.
Sampling Locations
The inspectors will determine strategic air sampling locations. To cover any areas of concern, like bedrooms, bathrooms, basements, crawl spaces, and living spaces. They can also sample outside air as a baseline comparison. Once the inspectors take enough samples, they provide an accurate analysis of the airborne mold levels in your home.
Sampling Process
At each location, air is sampled for a specific set duration. It could range from 1-10 minutes per sample. The air quality inspectors will set up the collection equipment. Then, calibrate the rate of airflow and collect the sample. In the end, they will log all testing information.
Documentation
When the data from air quality testing is collected, it’s recorded through proper documentation. This document mentions sampling locations and the collection methods used. It also tells you the start or stop time, flow rates, and weather conditions.
This document also contains images as evidence. Through this detailed documentation, you’ll get accurate results of air quality test for mold.
Results
The samples are then sent to an accredited laboratory for final analysis. Which usually takes 1-2 weeks. You will get a report listing the mold spores found. Mentioning their types and concentrations at each location. The inspectors can then interpret if levels are normal. Or indicate problematic mold growth.
How Air Quality Testing Helps for Mold
When you are facing some serious mold risks, air quality testing provides the data you need.
When, where, and how much – are the types of information you need to know. Through a proper air quality test for mold. The detailed insights will help you make better decisions for your family. That’s what your inspectors help you with.
Let us take you through the perks of air quality testing for mold.
Identify Mold Presence
The inspectors will detect mold through air samples. That may not be visible or accessible to your common eye. This will help you confirm if mold is actually present in your home – based on scientific evidence.
Quantify Mold Levels
The inspectors conducting lab analysis will reveal every little detail. They determine the concentration of mold spores per cubic meter of air. This quantifies the extent of contamination.
Identify Mold Types
The lab results identify the exact species of mold present. They will identify whether it is Aspergillus or Cladosporium. So you can treat or mitigate accordingly. Because different mold types have different health risks.
Comparison with Outdoor Air
Consider outdoor air samples as a baseline to differentiate between normal environmental mold and elevated indoor levels. This way, you can take active steps according to your specific mold levels.
Assess Indoor Air Quality
The air quality testing will give you a thorough analysis of everything about mold. Such as the number and types of mold spores, particles, and allergens – found during inspection.
Prevent Future Issues
Any type of inspection is done to save you from future risks. So does the air quality testing. When you conduct a proper air quality test for mold, you prevent the risk of it from spreading. And from causing greater property damage or health risks.
The Bottom Line
To put our discussion in a nutshell, air quality testing is the most accurate way to identify mold growth in your home. And there shouldn’t be a second say about it. It’s true that you can catch mold by only looking at the dark black or green patches.
But you don’t exactly know where the more of it may lie. And what risks is your indoor air containing?
So we suggest conducting a thorough air quality test for mold. To protect your family from health risks and your property from depreciation. Scroll through our blog section to learn more about inspections.