Health Hazards

[ASBESTOS] [LEAD] [RADON] [VOCs] [FORMALDEHYDE] [MOLD & MILDEW] [ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS]
[INDOOR AIR QUALITY] [UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS] [LANDLORD TENNANT RESPONSIBILITIES]
hazards  mold & mildew

mold & mildew
The mold inspection has become a standard of the pre-purchase due-diligence for both buyers and sellers. It is critical that such an inspection is conducted thoroughly and by a trained professional with experience in the identification of water entry problems and indoor air quality issues. The key points that the inspection should address include:

Is the house or business currently impacted by mold ?

Do hidden mold concerns exist within the house ?

If mold or hidden mold concerns exist, what is the cause and origin of the moisture problem ?

What steps must be taken to correct the source of the water/moisture entry problem and to address removal (remediation) of the mold ?

Finally, the inspection must be to provide a cost to fix the problem and cost for remediation so that the buyer and seller can make an informed decision as to proceed with the transaction or cancel the purchase.

The inspection should include the conducting of ambient air testing of all rooms within the house. As part of our inspections, air sampling is performed in every major room, including bathrooms and utility rooms to serve as a hidden mold concern diagnostic tool. If an elevated level of water damage indicator fungal species are identified in a specific room, it is commonly an indication of a hidden problem. In such cases, in the absence of visual indicators, more invasive testing (wall cavity or cores) may be necessary as a follow-up.

Many of our competitors will only sample 2-3 rooms within a house due to the costs associated with laboratory tests. This limited level of sampling can and often will miss hidden concerns that may be associated with plumbing problems and or roof leaks that may be present in minor untested rooms.

HVAC systems are a major source for mold related indoor air quality problems. Ductwork and moisture air handler units are a haven for dust and dirt accumulation that can be the breeding ground for hidden mold growth. Our inspections routinely include the conducting of comparison testing with the A/C system on and off to provide an assessment of the sanitary condition of the hidden portions of the ductwork and air handler unit. Surface samples and/or swabs are taken from the inside surfaces of the ductwork as a direct measure of both mold and dust and dirt build-up.

The inspection should also include the conducting of wall cavity testing to evaluate for hidden fungal concerns in exterior and/or plumbing wall cavities. Wall cavity tests are performed in areas where water concerns are indicated or suspected.

Building material moisture testing is performed with both infrared cameras (infrared thermography) and moisture meters which allows the assessment of all building materials even those that are not accessible..

The inspection report is concluded with water/moisture entry correction recommendations as well as detailed mold remediation protocols and costs estimates.

Provided below is a comparison of our standard inspection services versus what the competitor is providing on their pre-purchase home inspection.

Comparison of Mold Inspection Services

Service

EnviroHome’s  Inspection

Competitor’s Inspection

Inspection for Moisture/Mold Concerns.

Visual inspection of the home for mold and water entry

yes

Yes

Surface testing to document existing mold concerns

yes

Building material moisture testing

yes

Infrared (IR) Thermography moisture assessment

yes

Visual inspection of moisture entry concerns

yes

Ambient air testing and outside comparison

all rooms within the house

1-3 rooms

Evaluation of A/C temperature and humidity controls

yes

Ductwork/A/C System Testing. 

Comparison ambient air testing with the A/C on and off

yes

Surface testing of the ductwork, coil and air handler cabinet

yes

Visual inspection of the interior components of the air handler and duct work

yes

Hidden Fungal Concerns

Wall cavity testing to identify hidden mold concerns

yes

Wall cavity testing of cabinet stools and behind cabinets to identify hidden mold concerns

yes

Final report

yes

Check List

Remediation Protocols (if necessary)

yes

Total number of samples

15 to 30

1 to 4