Mold spores may be microscopic in size, but they can cost a homeowner thousands of dollars in repairs and cleanup if they are allowed to disseminate throughout a building. If mold does spread, it could irritate building dwellers with allergies. Exposure to mold can intensify asthma symptoms and lead to sneezing, coughing, wheezing, nasal problems and itchy eyes among those with common allergies.
A commercial building or home inspection provided by Alban Inspections include thorough mold testing that can help identify potential breeding grounds for mold. Property owners in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia and Pennsylvania have relied on Alban Inspections for the last 20 years to address their mold and energy concerns. Working with a property owner, an Alban Inspections professional can address these problems and suggest cost-effective methods for owners to achieve energy-efficient homes, such as by installing CFL bulbs.
How environments become conducive to mold growth
Mold spores require moisture to grow. Buildings in which internal relative humidity levels exceed 50 percent may be in danger of stimulating the growth of mold spores. Within the home, mold growth can be accelerated by flooding, condensation, plumbing leaks, improper ventilation of bathrooms and kitchens, deficient construction or grading, gutter and draining problems, and even improper dryer exhaust systems. Mold is especially common in rooms that are often moist, such as bathrooms or kitchens. Basements are especially prone to mold growth because they are underground and often poorly ventilated. Furthermore, any cracks in the structure's foundation could allow moisture from the ground to infiltrate into the building.
Flooding is one of the more common causes of mold growth, especially following wet seasons or plumbing equipment malfunctions. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that standing water be cleaned up within 24 to 48 hours in order to prevent mold from spawning, many property owners have trouble properly doing so because water can easily seep into inaccessible areas.
Mold can also grow in HVAC systems, which can spread mold spores throughout a building, further diminishing air quality and elevating health risks. An HVAC system may need to be cleaned by a professional service if mold is suspected to be contained within it. Mold testing should be conducted in areas of a building in which a property owner suspects growth could be occurring. In addition to HVAC units, mold can be commonly found behind walls and beneath carpets. If a mold infestation is extensive, homeowners should not try to tackle the problem on their own. In these instances, affected areas of the home will likely need to be replaced, which requires professional assistance.
Strategies for homeowners to reducing and prevent mold
Property owners can save themselves time and money by employing simple, cost-effective mold prevention strategies provided by Alban Inspections.
First, they should ensure that rooms are always well ventilated, either with fans or open windows. In rooms where this impossible or impractical, property owners should run a dehumidifier. Also, whenever possible, humidity levels should be kept low, air temperatures should be kept high and cold surfaces should be insulated to prevent condensation buildup. Home dwellers can also reduce the amount of time spent doing behaviors that produce moisture, such as bathing and cooking.
The exhaustive Alban Inspections method of mold testing
Mold testing is an integral component of home and commercial inspections provided by Alban Inspections. Alban Inspectors professionals can identify areas infiltrated by moisture and determine what other conditions could be contributing to mold growth. They will then interview building dwellers to determine whether the air quality has deteriorated and contributed to any health problems.
An inspector will then sample and test visible molds, in addition to testing the air if visible mold is not found. Using all of this information, experienced inspectors will be able to compile a report summarizing their findings and providing solutions to the property owner.
