A mold problem in your home poses risks to both your family and your property. As such, it must be identified and dealt with swiftly. Is there mold in your Los Angeles home? According to Los Angeles mold testing expert Jason Harris of Same Day Mold Testing, hiring an independent mold inspector is the best way to determine whether mold is present and what should be done to address the problem.
The Role of the Mold Inspector
If you suspect mold in your home, the first thing to do is contact a mold inspector. The mold inspector’s role, Harris says, is to answer the following questions:
1. Is there mold present in my home?
2. If so, what should be done about it?
Although companies certainly exist (in Los Angeles and beyond) that offer a free or low-cost inspections in addition to remediation services, Harris cautions that this type of “test and removal” company may not provide you with the most objective assessment. “Because the industry is self-regulated,” Harris says, “this is a classic case of ‘buyer beware.’ Hiring a ‘test-only’ inspector eliminates the potential for a conflict of interest.”
What Happens During the Inspection?
The inspection itself, Harris says, first involves a visual inspection of the property. “We look at all surfaces – walls, ceilings and floors – and all areas in which mold is suspected,” he says. “We’re specifically looking for moisture sources or visible signs of mold.” Sometimes, he says, the crawlspace may also be checked. In addition to the visual inspection, the area is also checked for damp, musty or foul odors, which can sometimes indicate the presence of mold.
Once the initial visual and smell tests have been completed, the inspector will take a humidity reading inside the structure. “This will tell us,” he says, “whether excessive moisture is present, which could be conducive to mold growth.” Walls and other surfaces can also be tested for excess moisture, he says, using a non-invasive device called a “moisture meter.”
Depending on what is discovered during these initial checks, the inspector will determine whether there is sufficient evidence of mold to warrant additional tests. If there is, then several types of samples may be taken, including air samples, surface samples and, if walls are severely degraded, “bulk” samples. These samples will be sent on to a laboratory for testing.
What’s Next?
Once the inspector has completed testing and laboratory results are back, Harris will complete a report that should tell you clearly whether or not a mold problem exists and, if it does, what exactly should be done to correct it. With these recommendations in hand, he says, you can then hire a remediation company to contain and remove the mold (along with moldy materials) and clean the air to eliminate airborne spores.
Because the mold removal process can be costly and destructive, Harris says it’s important to hire a licensed contractor to do the work. “Mold remediation can be an expensive process,” he says, “so you want to have some recourse in the event that something goes awry.”
“If you suspect you have a mold problem in your home, it’s important to act quickly,” says Harris. “Enlisting the help of an independent mold inspector who will work in cooperation with a licensed, professional mold remediation company is the best way to ensure that your mold problem is resolved quickly and effectively.”