Everything you need to know
What to Expect from A Mold Inspection
Do you or a family member suffer from allergies, frequent headaches, or breathing problems? If so, the reason could be because you have mold in your home. Mold isn’t always visible, which is why you should have a professional mold inspection performed. Here’s what to expect when you schedule a mold inspection in Orlando.
Step 1: Scheduling an Appointment
The process begins when you schedule an appointment through our website. We’ll then reach out to you in order to confirm the appointment and ensure our inspector is there on the agreed-upon date and time.
While waiting for your inspector to arrive, take note of any areas where mold is likely to be growing. For example, if you have recently experienced flooding or burst pipes, you could have mold as a result of water damage. This information can be very useful and can give the inspector a place to use as a starting point.
Step 2: The Inspection
On the day of your mold inspection in Orlando, a certified inspector will arrive at your home. He or she will then go about the process of inspecting your property. The inspector will look at any locations you have previously pointed out, but may also check other areas such as:
- Ductwork
- Crawl spaces
- Walls
- Floors
- Windows
Mold can grow in rather unusual places, which often makes it easy to overlook. As such, your inspector will use equipment such as thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters to help detect possible areas of mold growth that can not be seen normally.
Step 3: Collecting Samples
During the inspection process, a number of samples will be collected. These can include surface samples as well as air quality samples. Surface samples are taken from the surface of the mold with a cotton swab. Your inspector will carefully bag and label each specimen, using best practices to keep from inadvertently spreading mold spores in the process.
Your inspector will use equipment such as thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters to help detect possible areas of mold growth that can not be seen normally.
Step 4: Testing Samples
Any samples taken during your mold inspection in Orlando will be sent to a laboratory for further testing. It’s important to have all samples tested, even those that might quickly be identified as mold. Just because something looks like mold doesn’t mean it really is. And just because you can’t clearly see mold does not mean it isn’t present.
Professional testing will either confirm the presence of mold or rule it out completely. When filing an insurance claim, having documentation to back up your assertion makes it more likely you will receive just compensation. If you plan on selling your home, having a report that says your home is free of mold could help you attract more buyers.
Step 5: Receiving the Report
After we receive the results of your lab tests we begin analyzing the data and compiling a report of our findings. If a species of mold is found to be present, the report will provide information on the type of mold and the extent of the damage. It will also describe where the mold is on your property.
Not all mold poses the same degree of risk. Accordingly, your report will also contain information about the type of risk you are facing as well as any measures you could take in order to mitigate them.
If included in your package, we will also include a remediation protocol in addition to your report. This section will outline the steps you should take to eliminate your risk and prevent mold from coming back again in the future. Once you receive this information, you can then sit down with a mold remediation company to discuss the next steps.
Step 6: Eliminating Mold
Spores can easily spread whenever the mold is disturbed. As a result, mold removal specialists always wear personal protective gear when working. Depending on the location of your mold, you may also need to wear protective gear such as a mask.
Technicians will carefully scrape away mold, ensuring all spores are completely eliminated. Next, the surface will be cleaned using a disinfectant cleaner such as chlorine bleach. This leaves everything as sanitary as possible and creates unsatisfactory conditions for future mold to grow in.
Step 7: Post-Remediation Testing
After your remediation company has finished removing and treating the mold in your property, we recommend having post-remediation testing. This is a crucial step in the overall process. It can help ensure that the remediation protocol was followed correctly and that spore counts in your home are at a safe amount. Once the specialist is satisfied with the results, you will then be able to view them for yourself. Compare the final results with those listed in your remediation protocol to guarantee that nothing has been overlooked.
Step 8: Preventing Future Mold Infestations
Just because your mold has been remediated does mean it will not reappear again in the future. To be on the safe side, you should have your Orlando home re-inspected at least annually. You may also consider another mold inspection after experiencing conditions that would make mold likely such as flooding.
There’s plenty you can do to prevent future mold growth from happening, such as:
- Using a dehumidifier in rooms with high humidity levels
- Having air conditioning ducts professionally cleaned on a regular basis
- Cleaning up water damage as soon as it occurs
- Adding more ventilation if what you currently have is inadequate.
Don’t Put off Having a Mold Inspection
If you are concerned about mold inside your home or business, don’t ignore the problem. Have a professional mold inspection in Orlando and have peace of mind knowing that your issue is being handled right away. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
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