While most homeowners know what to look for when they sense the presence of mold, sometimes it is not always that easy. In addition, some spores or strains of mold can be so dangerous and spread so rapidly, that it’s best to hire a professional mold inspection company. The Environmental Protection Agency supplies a list of local professionals you can choose from and trust. In fact, there is an organization called the National Association of Mold Professionals that trains and certifies experts to perform duties in the mold inspection field. A course must be passed so that everyone who applies has a full understanding and knowledge about the various strains of mold, how and why they spread, and an understanding about the standards that must be upheld when performing a mold inspection. Safety standards and practices should also be observed to protect both the inspector and the homeowner or building occupants.
When a mold inspection is performed, the mold needs to be contained and a sample should be taken. This sample can be in the form of small spores placed in a sealed container, water samples, or material samples. In the case of material samples, a piece of carpeting or flooring, or even a part of the wall may need to be taken in order to get it tested. The mold inspector then takes this sample to a lab, or they may even have mobile lab equipment there to test the mold so they can identify the strain. This is the basic layout of a mold inspection, but the next step would be to kill the mold effectively. Once all of the mold is dead, it needs to be safely removed and then steps should be taken to “mold proof” the home so that it does not come back later on.
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