What is Mold?
You may be asking yourself about a potential mold concern impacting your indoor space and wondering, "how bad is this issue?". Whether it is a first-time visual sign of mold on a surface, or a recurring issue that you have tried to correct for some time, knowing the root cause and signs of more significant mold growth is the best way to determine the best way to fix it and prevent it from coming back.
Mold requires three conditions in order to develop: moisture, heat, and a food source. Moisture can come from a variety of different sources, like roof leaks, pipe bursts, cracks in foundation, faulty appliances, and much more. Within an indoor space, there is typically enough heat for indoor mold to start growing, most commonly in attics where there is a high amount of heat rising from the main living area. Finally, a food source includes any porous or friable material that mold can feed off of in order to grow. This can include building material such as wood structural components, drywall, plaster, insulation and more. Additionally, clothing, soft goods, furniture and bedding can also be impacted.
This section will go over different aspects of Hudson's approach to mold testing, and answer some commonly-asked questions.
When should you have a mold inspection?
Whether you have been impacted by a water leak, pipe burst, appliance failure, or any other water damage concern, it may be appropriate to conduct a mold test if there has been a period of time between the leak and discovery of damage.
If you have found visible signs of potential mold, the only way to confirm if it is mold, how severe it is, and how to best correct it is to have a mold test performed. This will determine the type of mold present, confirm potential spread to other areas, and more.
Mold is a major contributor to poor air quality within homes, and mold spores are a common allergen that impacts millions of homeowners. Whether you have been having long-term health effects, or new symptoms have cropped up, mold may be a leading cause in this.
Whether you are purchasing, selling or renting a property, Hudson highly recommends a mold inspection to ensure there is no mold concern prior to closing. This will prevent any headaches, complications, or additional real estate costs that may arise from an unknown mold concern, as well as confirm whether the property is safe for those with allergies or immune system issues.
Many times, when a property undergoes a renovation or remodel, suspect mold can be discovered behind surfaces or in hard-to-reach areas. In New York, companies are REQUIRED to have an independent mold test performed if greater than 10 square feet of suspect mold is discovered. This ensures the property owner receives an unbiased protocol that covers only the necessary steps for removal.
Should you be interested in having a mold inspection as a precaution, whether you suspect a mold concern or not, Hudson would be able to do a full walk-through of the property to assess any issues that may be present, or to confirm that the property is normal and not impacted by mold or water damage.
What is involved with a mold inspection performed by Hudson?
Not all mold problems are the same, so it is important to get an understanding of what problems you might be experiencing, what areas of the property they are impacting, and figure out the best way to correct this. Hudson takes a industry-standard approach to identifying what issues would be present and uses that to inform you about what measures can be taken, if any.
There are several steps that go into performing a thorough, independent mold inspection:
1. Consult with a professional at Hudson regarding your suspected concern, or submit a request through our website.
This will allow for our team to collect as much information as possible regarding your suspected mold concern, whether it be a more obvious issue like water damage or suspect visible mold, or if it is an investigative process to try to uncover an underlying issue. Once you speak or request through our website or over the phone, Hudson will schedule a licensed and certified mold assessor to come to the property for a first-hand inspection.
2. Thorough preliminary inspection of the property based on information given.
Once our professional arrives on-site, they will discuss previously-provided information about the situation at hand and go over any other details that may be relevant to the inspection. The inspector will walk you through these problem areas, discussing their initial findings, as well as looking in other areas that could be impacted. Most common areas of concern are:
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Attic
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Basement
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Bathroom(s)
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HVAC System / Forced Air System
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Bedroom(s)
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Kitchen(s)
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Garage
Along with a visual inspection, the inspector will also collect moisture, humidity and infrared thermal image readings from these areas to determine moisture content within surfaces, which may be an indication of mold concerns within or behind surfaces and out of site. HVAC inspections will also be beneficial in identifying potential mold concerns within the various components of the system that may be distributing mold spores throughout the property.
3. Mold Sampling and Laboratory Analysis
In order for the professional to confirm the severity of a mold concern in each area inspected, sampling must be performed to identify airborne and surface mold presence. Surface sampling is key to identifying what type(s) of mold is present on surfaces, which can also indicate how long the problem has been present. Air sampling is essential in understanding how any surface mold has impacted the air quality in these areas, and gauge potential cross-contamination from a directly-affected area to other areas that may not be impacted. An exterior sample is collected from outside the property as a control sample to compare to those collected indoors.
Professional lab analysis is performed on samples, with results being turned around within one business day. These lab results will indicate any and all mold spore types and amounts in each sample/area, allowing for our inspector to determine impacted areas and the best approach going forward.
4. Independent Inspection Report
Within 2-3 business days, the inspector will issue a full report to you summarizing their findings on site, including any and all details related to water damage, mold concerns and the issues at hand. This report will also include a copy of laboratory results related to any sampling performed to confirm information summarized in the report. This report is concise, easy to understand, and is not bogged down by unnecessary information or technical jargon.
This report will also include any recommendations the inspector has for remediation or cleaning efforts. These recommendations will be tailored around the findings within your property, and will only include necessary steps for remediation to be performed in areas where it is required. This report can be provided to remediation teams of your choosing, which can be used to conduct the work as needed.
Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ)
I have what I think is black, "toxic" mold. Am I in immediate danger?
There are many common misconceptions about mold, particularly when it comes to "black mold". Mold can appear in a variety of different colors and consistencies, and just because it is black, doesn't mean it is immediately threatening. However, if you suspect you have a mold issue, it is best to limit your exposure and time spent in affected areas and have it inspected as soon as possible.
What kind of health symptoms can mold cause? Am I being affected?
Every person is different, and each person may have a different reaction after mold exposure. Some may experience little to no symptoms, and others might be more sensitive and be more affected. Common symptoms are allergy-like symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose and breathing difficulties. Other, more severe symptoms may include shortness of breath, asthma, headaches, and other neurological effects.
Hudson highly recommends having a mold inspection if you experience these types of symptoms more when in a specific property, or if these symptoms worsened recently when at home.
When is the best time to conduct a mold inspection? Does the time of year affect testing?
There is no "best time" to conduct a mold inspection within a property. Time of year has some impact, but typically an indoor environment stays around the same living temperature throughout the year (between 60-75 degrees), which stays consistent year-round. We always urge customers to consider having a mold inspection performed as soon as they suspect an issue is present or very soon after a water damage event occurs. Waiting too long can magnify the issue if left unchecked.
Do you accept insurance? How is an inspection paid for?
Depending on your homeowners' or renters' insurance policy, if you have a claim open following a water damage event or an exterior damage claim that caused water infiltration, your insurance provider may cover mold inspection services under your claim. Talk to your insurance provider or contact our office for more information and assistance.
If you do not have an insurance claim open, Hudson also accepts direct payment with personal check or credit card.
How long does the whole process take?
Hudson understands that these situations are sensitive and time is of the essence. We are proud to say we are able to schedule an inspection within 48 hours of first contact, and provide you with an inspection report within 2-3 business days following the inspection. This will ensure you are prepared in a swift manner to take care of any mold issue at hand.
Is the mold inspection process invasive? Will you be removing material to get a better look?
We do not perform any invasive work with our inspection process. Hudson utilizes non-invasive devices and technology to get a look within and behind surfaces. All of our equipment and devices are compact, portable, and do not cause a lot of noise.
I just had remediation done based on your recommendations. What's next?
Following remediation, it is a good idea to consider having a follow up, post-remediation verification to ensure all of the remediation and cleaning recommendations were followed. This inspection will be performed by the same inspector that conducted the initial inspection, and will confirm that all problems have been resolved and nothing was left behind. If there are issues still remaining, additional recommendations will be provided.