Mold Testing:
Air Quality Assessments for Your Home
With more than 16 years of experience in mold testing, Reliable Home Inspection Service is an excellent choice for giving you the peace of mind you deserve! Our mold inspector and co-owner of Reliable, John Kerrigan, is certified by the Indoor Air Quality Association and passionate about air quality. We use tried and true technology and send our samples to one of the best labs in the country, Pro-Lab where every report is reviewed by a doctor of microbiology.
When to get a mold test?
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When moving. Especially if the home has a history of mold or water damage.
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If you see signs of mold or smell something strange. Especially if you smell something strange, but can’t see anything.
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If you’ve noticed water damage.
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If you have mold sensitivities or allergies
Offering mold inspections and sampling to Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.
What are the effects of mold in my home?
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Per the CDC, "Other recent studies have suggested a potential link of early mold exposure to development of asthma in some children, particularly among children who may be genetically susceptible to asthma development, and that selected interventions that improve housing conditions can reduce morbidity from asthma and respiratory allergies."
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Per a recent study by the National Institute of Health, " Inhalation is considered the primary way that people are exposed to mold. Mold spores and fragments can become airborne and get into the air we breathe. People may also be exposed to mold through the skin. Workers should be properly protected with safety equipment when remediating, or cleaning up mold after a disaster. In some cases, people may be exposed to mold through their diet. Climate change is a concern for mold spread because conditions inside buildings are influenced by the environment outside them. Building deterioration may result from extreme weather events, increasing the likelihood of mold growth. Under climate change, allergenic mold levels may rise through increased indoor dampness and warmer temperatures."
Why get a mold test?
Everyone is exposed to some amount of mold on a daily basis, most without any apparent reaction. Generally, mold spores can cause problems when they are present in large numbers and a person inhales large quantities of them. This occurs primarily when there is active mold growth. For some people, a small exposure to mold spores can trigger an asthma attack or lead to other health problems. For others, symptoms may only occur when exposure levels are much higher.
The health effects of mold can vary. The production of allergens or irritants can cause mild allergic reactions and asthma attacks. The production of potentially toxic mycotoxins can cause more severe reactions and in rare cases death. There are possible links between mold and the development of asthma in young children.
You should consider mold testing before buying a home. Mold remediation can cost thousands of dollars, with some homes costing as much as $10,000 to remediate. A test can help you avoid any future unforeseen remediation costs. The CDC found that 47% of US homes have mold problems, so a mold test is a no-brainer when buying a home.
Mold in Your Home: Mold FAQS 101
"Mold spores are literally everywhere; controlling moisture is the key to preventing their growth. Sources within homes, businesses, and schools include leaks through roofs, walls, and basements; condensation on windows and in bathrooms; standing water in drains, on floors, and in heating, cooling, and dehumidifying equipment; heating/cooling ducts; and wet floors and carpets. Preventing mold growth requires preventing leaks, removing standing water, venting areas prone to condensation (especially bathrooms and kitchens), and immediately drying or removing damp carpets and furniture. Mold-inhibiting paints can be used indoors, and air conditioners and dehumidifiers can be used in humid weather. (Poison.org)"
To find mold that might be growing in your home (HUD.gov):
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"Search for moisture in areas that have a damp or moldy smell, especially in basements, kitchens and bathrooms.
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Look for water stains or colored, fuzzy growth on and around ceilings, walls, floors, windowsills and pipes.
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If you smell a musty odor, search behind and underneath materials such as carpeting, furniture or stored items.
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Inspect kitchens, bathrooms and basements for standing water, water stains and patches of out-of-place color.
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To control moisture problems and mold:
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Fix any water problems immediately and clean or remove wet materials, furnishings or mold.
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Clean up spills or floods within one day. If practical, take furniture that has been wet outside to dry and clean. Direct sunlight prevents mold growth.
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Dry all surfaces and fix the problem or leak to prevent further damage.
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Install a dehumidifier when a moisture problem is evident or when the humidity is high."
What kind of sampling is right for you?
In most circumstances, we recommend taking air samples:
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Air samples collect material from the whole room including out-of-sight areas such as vents or ducts.
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Breathing in moldy air causes health problems so we recommend checking the air.
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The air has more living mold and living mold is more harmful. Surfaces may have higher amounts of mold, but much of it is likely to be inactive or dead.
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If you can see mold growing, you know it's mold, so why test?
In specific situations, surface samples are suggested:
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If you know you have sensitivities or allergies to a particular strain of mold and know where mold is definitely present.
How is a Mold Air Quality Assessment performed?
With an air sample test, we take three samples. The first sample is of air outside the home. There’s a little bit of mold around us all the time, so we want to be able to compare the general mold environment with the air in the home specifically.
We use the second two samples to check rooms in the home. If you have specific places you'd like us to test, for example, a room with an odd odor with no visible cause that’s the room we’ll test. If you’re aware of a history of mold in any part of the home we’ll check there instead.
If you don't have a specific room in mind we'll usually test the bedrooms, where people spend the most time, and/or the basement which is prone to moisture.
