Call AWA Environmental Today for a Comprehensive Mold Inspection

By  //  January 15, 2020

Mold can cause a range of health issues including allergic reactions, respiratory problems like asthma, and even runny noses. As such, it is vital that you carry out a mold inspection to ensure that there is no infestation in your home.

Mold can cause a range of health issues including allergic reactions, respiratory problems like asthma, and even runny noses. As such, it is vital that you carry out a mold inspection to ensure that there is no infestation in your home.

AWA Mold Inspections carries out a comprehensive inspection of your home using various techniques and equipment to ensure your house is free of mold and your family does not suffer from any health complications.

This article will examine how AWA Environmental carries out an inspection. So without further ado, let’s go!

VISUAL INSPECTION

The first step of the process is the visual inspection where a certified inspector will review all accessible areas of the house to check for any points from where water and moisture could penetrate. Simultaneously, the inspector will check for visible signs of mold growth.

This part of the process is very important as any entry points for moisture and water could be closed off, preventing any future infestation. The visual inspection will also tell you if there is any damage to the property because of the mold or water.

Depending on the size of your home, the inspection can take anywhere between 20 minutes to 2 hours. It is advisable that this stage (or any other stage in the process) is not rushed as one oversight will mean future complications.

MOISTURE READING

While a visual inspection is important, moisture can be difficult to detect with the naked eye or through the sense of touch. There are also some materials, such as plaster or wood, which will feel dry even when moisture is trapped inside them. 

As such, a moisture meter is necessary to detect whether moisture is actually present in any given material or environment. This will also help the inspector in locating any moisture or water sources in the home.

THERMAL IMAGING

After the moisture reader, the inspector goes on to use thermal imaging. Cooling caused by water will show up in a very specific way on a thermal camera, which can help in detecting leakages even behind walls.

Thermal imaging will also help locate condensation points inside the house, which are known to cause mold infestations.

AIR SAMPLING

At this point, if the inspector is suspicious of any mold infestation then he will proceed to collecting air samples. These samples are collected from various locations in the house, especially those areas where the inspector suspects a mold infestation.

By collecting microscopic particles from the air, inspectors forward the same for analysis under a microscope and for other tests in a lab.

This analysis will help identify whether there are any mold spores and toxins in the air, along with giving an indication of the severity of the infestation.

SURFACE SAMPLING

Finally, there comes the surface sampling stage. As the name would suggest, samples are taken of any visible mold growth and forwarded to a lab for analysis.

As with the air sample, these tests will help identify if the growth is black mold and give an indication of the severity of the infestation.