Mold inspection is very essential for the safety and welfare of you and your family. Mold is a fungus, like any other fungi, it requires moisture to flourish. Even if the mold is in smaller quantities, it can become airborne in the home and can lead to various health-related issues. Along with health problems, mold can also cause structural damages. So, it’s very essential to get rid of it by mold remediation.
Mold spores can be found in every nook and corner of the house. It would be tough to get rid of all the mold spores from your house completely without the help of a huge industrial cleanroom filtration system. But fortunately, mold can only be formed when they are present on the surface of the moisture. So, you can stay away from the mold if you keep your home dry. The best remedy for not allowing the mold to enter your home is by cleaning up spills and any other repair leaks in your home which helps the moisture to diminish.
If the mold develops in the visible areas, you don’t need any special equipment to detect it. You can see it with your own eyes clearly. If you can see the mold anywhere in the cracks, corners, and edges of the wall, it means that it is growing and spreading more spores.
Mold inspection is nothing but a visual inspection of the house. Apart from a flashlight, you don’t need any specific infrastructure, you might need a few tools to access the areas which are restricted. Some mold inspectors might use cameras too. The usual mold inspection and testing consist of a thorough inspection of the areas which are likely to be affected by the mold. If there is a chance of mold growing in the places which can’t be accessed, the inspector might need to damage the drywall section or have a better look at it.
After the inspection, if you find mold, it’s better to go for a remediation plan. If the mold is less, you can do it by yourself or else it’s recommended to hire a professional for mold remediation. If you are doing it by yourself or hiring a professional, ensure you begin with removing the source of the moisture that’s allowing the mold to grow.
How Much Does A Mold Inspection Cost?
The cost of mold inspection varies on multiple factors like the size of the house and if the inspector needs to destroy any parts of the house to complete the inspection. It’s obvious that a larger house will take more time to inspect and thereby cost you more money.
The cost of mold inspection varies slightly from region to region, but not by a big margin. So, a rough estimate for mold inspection would be around $350 to $400 for mid-sized houses, for larger houses which are more than 4000 square feet would cost around $700 to $800 range.
What is mold?
Mold is nothing but a fungus that grows in the form of multicellular filaments called ‘hyphens’. Mold is ‘heterotrophic’, this means it cannot make its own food but it gains nutrients from other organic substances. Although mold has no mobility, it can spread very easily and quickly to neighboring organisms.
There are many different types of mold. Rhizopus stolonifer, Penicillium, Aspergillus are a few well-known types of mold. Each of the mold types has different characteristics. The presence of mold in the house can be dangerous to the people living around it. It can cause health-related issues like eye irritation, throat irritation, and wheezing, etc. So, it’s always good to hire mold inspectors and get rid of it.
Types of Mold in the Home
Mold found in the home usually comes under three categories.
- Allergenic: This type of mold causes allergic reactions like asthma attacks.
- Pathogenic: This type of mold is likely to cause health problems to people who are suffering from chronic sickness.
- Toxigenic: This mold produces toxic substances which are very dangerous for health.
Under these classifications, there are different subtypes of mold that come under. Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Trichoderma, Ulocladium, Serpula Lacrymans, Fusarium, and Stachybotrys chartarum.
When to inspect for mold
You have to be aware of a few indications around you that say you need a mold inspection. You can smell mold but couldn’t see it, you have allergic symptoms, and water issues and plumbing leaks in the home are a few indications you should look for.
You can also go for mold inspection when you sell or buy a home or you need to prove to the tenants or landlords that there is no mold in the home.
What affects the cost of a mold inspection?
The cost of the mold inspection is usually influenced by two parameters: One is the size of the house being inspected and whether or not the inspector needs to destroy any parts of the house like drywall and paneling to complete the inspection.
For mold removal costs few other factors will also add up. Like the size of the area being affected by mold. For instance, let’s say less than 20 square feet is being affected by mold, this is considered a small and easy job so it can be finished in less than $500. The material that’s been infected by mold also matters. Porous materials like drywall, concrete, and wood, etc need more manpower, so it will cost more. If the mold damage is due to contaminated sewage water, then it would need more equipment to complete the process.
Average Cost of Mold Inspection by Type
The average cost of mold inspection varies from $500 to $900 for labor and testing for a 2000 to 2500 square feet home. There can be a number of mold types that can be present in a home. Black mold can be very toxic and can cause allergic reactions as well. So, these toxic forms of mold removal might cost you more because it needs more safety equipment. The costs vary because different types of tests are needed to find out different types of mold.
Alterna mold type- $400 to $500, Aspergillus- $400 to $500, Aureobasidium- $400 to $500, Chaetomium- $400 to $500, Cladosporium- $400 to $500, Penicillium- $500 to $600, Trichoderma- $500 to $600, Ulocladium- $500 to $600, Serpula Lacrymans- $500 to $600, Fusarium- $500 to $600, Stachybotrys chartarum- $500 to $600. So, these are the basic prices for different types of mold inspection.
Black Mold Testing
To test the presence of black olds, you can buy a mold testing kit online or some shops nearby, it would cost around $50. But for a professional home inspection, it might cost around $500 to $800.
white mold mildew inspection
White mold is a powdery fungus made up of different fungal species. The inspection typically costs around $500 to $800.
Pink Mold Testing
Waterborne is usually called pink mold. It is usually found in shower curtains and bathroom tiles. Like most types of molds, pink mold is also dangerous for health. So, once you find it, it’s better to get it removed from a professional. The inspection typically costs around $500 to $800.
What Happens During a Mold Inspection?
In the mold inspection process, the inspector initially asks the house owners what the suspected mold areas need an inspection. Then the inspector is likely to check the areas where there have been moisture and water problems in the past. There might be inaccessible areas to inspect, so the inspector would break or damage a section of it to get a better view. If there is some mold detected, the inspector will find the source of that mold and ask the homeowner to develop a remediation plan.
It is recommended that if you can see the mold clearly by yourself, there is no need to inspect the house. You can directly proceed with a remediation plan that helps to get rid of the mold.
How to Find the Right Mold Inspector
To find the right mold inspector, you can search online or ask your friends to refer to a professional mold inspector. But before you sign up with an inspector, check their portfolio, certification, and experience, etc. Ask for a free quote to know what they will offer.
In the initial consultation, the session asks them for the equipment they will use for the inspection. The basic mold inspection tools are a moisture meter, flashlight, hygrometer, infrared camera, and air quality pump, etc. Without this basic equipment, it’s hard to carry out a quality mold inspection process.
Do you really need a mold inspection or testing?
If you are doubtful of mold present in your home, then it’s recommended to get it to get the inspection done. For instance, if you could smell the mold but couldn’t detect where it exactly is, then you need an inspection.
You shouldn’t neglect the inspection if you are doubtful of the mold’s presence in your home. Mold can not only cause structural damages, but it can also lead to many diseases like throat irritation, eye irritation, cough, and wheezing.
