Wondering if you should have a mold test performed at your home or business? It really depends on your situation. Many mold remediation companies will tell you that you need a mold inspection, but the reality is that if you see visible mold, a mold inspection may not be necessary. Sometimes, mold remediation companies will require a mold inspection test anyway as proof to insurance companies that mold remediation work was necessary.
In general though, it is a good idea to have a regular mold inspection just to ensure that the environment in your home or business is safe for your family or employees.
When Should I Have a Mold Inspection?
There are several instances where you should have a mold inspection, including:
- There have been plumbing leaks or other water issues such as flooding at your property, elevating the risk of mold growth in walls, carpets, in vents, or in subsurface flooring.
- When mold is not visible, but the smell of mold is present. A mold inspection can help you accurately determine whether mold actually exists, how much, and where it is located.
- After you’ve had mold remediated, having a follow up mold test to ensure the mold is actually gone is a good idea.
- Ongoing health concerns are another reason to have a mold inspection. If you, your employees, or family members have persistent health issues with no definitive cause being pinpointed, it may have a good idea to have a mold test. Mold can cause a wide variety of negative health effects, so a mold test can help determine if mold is the root cause or if something else is at fault.
- If you are in the process of buying a property, you should always have a mold inspection to ensure that you are not purchasing a property with a potentially major (and expensive) problem.
- Lastly, if you are simply interested in the indoor air quality of your home or business, a mold test can be a good way to determine how healthy the air you are breathing in is.
What a Mold Test Should Include
A professional mold test should include four types of inspections and tests:
- Visual Inspection
- Environmental Assessment
- Surface Sampling
- Air Quality Analysis
These will test for the presence of mold in a variety of ways, giving you a more complete picture of if you have mold in your property and to what extent if you do.
Where to Find Mold Testers?
At Action Restoration, we do not perform mold tests ourselves. We specialize in mold remediation, so performing mold inspections can be a conflict of interest. We recommend that you always look for a mold removal company that uses third party mold verification testing to ensure that you are not being taken advantage of.
If you’re in the Gulf Coast region, call Action Restoration today. We will provide you with references for trusted mold inspection companies. In the event that mold is found, Action Restoration can provide industry leading mold remediation service to homes and businesses throughout Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.
We will assist you with your insurance claims to ensure that everything is filed correctly so that your repairs can begin as quickly as possible.