Certified Mold Inspector’s Toolbox
The mold inspector you hire should have a valid certification, carry worker’s compensation insurance and professional liability insurance. Years of experience investigating mold problems and indoor air quality are also useful because there are several tools a certified mold inspector can use to assist with his/her investigation. Here are some of the tools you should be on the lookout for when the certified mold inspector arrives at your property:
Flashlight – a powerful, high lumen flashlight is essential for visual detection of mold in dark spaces like behind appliances. A professional mold inspector with years of experience knows that a high-powered flashlight is a necessary component to a thorough mold investigation. The type of work calls from more than a MagLite sold at typical hardware stores.
Digital Camera – Mold professionals that take their job seriously use digital cameras. Yes, smart phones have great camera. But there’s nothing more annoying than receiving a call, a calendar reminder or text message while taking photographs of suspected fungal activity. A digital camera is a stand-alone tool use to document the events during the inspection and provide evidence a thorough mold inspection was performed.
Knee Pads – detecting mold in low places like under sinks and crawlspaces require good knee protection because there swill be a lot of kneeling and pressing the knew against the ground. Avoid personal liability by insisting that your mold expire wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) that will ensure safety during the entire process.
Respirator – When there is a musty odor and/or visible signs of mold growth, a mold professional should be equipped with a full-face respirator. Ethical mold inspectors will use this when he/she feels is appropriate depending on the condition of property. This should no be used asa scare tactic but rather as another piece of PPE to avoid undue mold exposure. Remember: experience mold investigators are disproportionately expose to mold versus the general public because they are called out daily in their line of work. Full-face respirators are the best protection against mold making contact with the respiratory tract and eye membrane.
Moisture Meters – Mold problems arise from moisture making contact with materials such as drywall, wood and organic products like leather. Mold enzymes break down these materials with the assistance of moisture. The moisture and the mold decomposing the materials usually produce a musty odor. There are several types of moisture meters. Discerning mold inspectors usually have an invasive moisture meter to penetrate walls and a non-invasive meter to apply to surfaces without damaging them. The last thing you want is a bunch of punctures to your wall to detect moisture when a non-invasive moisture meter would have done the job without the damage to your nicely painted walls. Thermal imaging cameras are hi-tech gadgets that detect moisture (varying temperatures), not mold. A wall can be dry and full of mold inside the wall cavity and a thermal imaging camera won’t detect the mold.
Air Sampling Pumps – A mold investigation is incomplete if there is no sampling. An experienced inspector can tell i what s/he sees is mold, but you should insist on a mold sample to verify the type of mold and concentration. The cost of mold testing (sampling) should be separate cost because the samples will be analyzed by a third party accredited elaborator. Several types of samples can be collected on-site: swab, tape lift, bulk material and air sampling.
- Bio Pump Plus
- Bio Pump Plus is a high-tech air sampling pump that is used for collecting air samples indoors and outdoors.
- E-Lite Pump
- E-Lite pump is a rugged pump best used for collecting wall cavity samples from walls, ceiling and floorboards. A thorough mold inspection should include a combination of air quality and wall cavity sampling when water damage is the issue.
Remember the following points when considering a mold professional to investigate water damage or indoor air quality concerns at your property:
- Mold inspectors should be certified, insured and experienced.
- Certified mold inspectors should be independent, test-only professionals that do not affiliate with mold removal companies.
- Certified and insured mold professionals arrive equipped with all tools that are necessary to perform a complete and thorough analysis of your property.