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It is very common for homeowners to be concerned with the air quality in their homes after all according to recent statistics Americans spend over 90% of their time indoors.
While testing may not necessary in every scenario it is often conducted to determine a variety of factors including:
- levels of airborne mold/spore in the air your currently breathing
- level of toxicity of mold in your home and possible heath effects resulting form exposure
- direct sampling determines the exact species of mold/spore in a specific area
- cavity sampling whether there is mold growing in a suspect area
- and most importantly.... Whether or not the air in your home is harming the health of your family
Testing your home for mold gives you a laboratory analysis of the exact microbial organism in the area or on the surface sampled providing you with bullet-proof documentation should your case go to litigation between:
- homeowner-insurance company
- homeowner-builder
- tenant-landlord
- previous homeowner disclosure issues
Although there is mold in all of the air that we breath there are millions of cases where living in an enclosed environment with concentrated level of mold have caused severe health issue. Anytime the air in your home is holding more mold/spore than the air directly outside your home there is cause for extreme concern. This is why the standard air testing protocol followed by our inspectors and also required by every major certifying school in the industry is to test breathable air on each level of the home and take 1 outdoor control test(to determine/gauge exactly what indoor levels should be).
Air Testing- Air testing is done by using a vacuum draws air through a hose with a small cassette on the end typically on a tripod that is raised about 4-5 feet off of the floor (The air you breath between sitting and standing positions). The vacuum draws a set number of liters of air through the cassette that has a special adhesive that grabs all airborne particles. The cassette is then immediately shipped overnight a 3rd party laboratory. The results are delivered directly to you as well as the inspector for review. Please contact your inspector upon reviewing your results for his insight/recommendations.
Direct Sampling- a direct or "tape lift' sample are commonly taken to determine the type(s) of mold in a small specific area. The tape or slide is then shipped overnight to a 3rd party laboratory, in the same fashion as air samples, with the results being forwarded directly back to you.
Cavity Sampling- a cavity sample is the same concept as an air sample only the cassette is placed in wall, ceiling, or floor cavity suspected of having an active growth of mold such as between concrete block walls and finishing materials such as drywall or paneling or near water damage on a ceiling with a suspected plumbing leak.
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