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MOLD SERVICES |
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| TESTING SERVICES |
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| ANCILLARY SERVICES |
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| INFORMATION |
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ABOUT MOLD INSPECTIONS |
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 The
presence of mold in homes, schools and business
is of growing concern in California and the rest
of the U.S. Mold can thrive on
virtually any organic material such as wood,
paper, carpet, food, insulation, etc. Just add
water and in 48 hours mold can begin to grow.
Any time water intrusion occurs, be it a major
flood or a minor plumbing leak that was not
immediately and thoroughly dried out, there is a
high probability of mold growth. Mold can cause
significant aesthetic and structural damage to
building materials and other personal property.
Indoor mold growth can also negatively impact
indoor air quality and pose certain health risks
to occupants.Mold often grows behind walls
and inside ceiling and floor cavities long
before it is ever detected. By the time you
start smelling an unpleasant odor rest assured
mold has been growing somewhere for some time
and every day is growing more. If you suspect
you have mold growing indoors, the time to act
is sooner rather than later.
Mold inspections
and
mold testing
are the means to identifying indoor mold problems.
Most often inspections and testing work best in conjunction with
each other, however, there are instances when
certain questions can be answered with one or
the other. Understanding the difference between
inspections and testing will help you get the
answers you're looking for. This web page
focuses on mold inspections. For information
about mold testing
see our
Mold Testing page.
For
more specific information regarding your
personal mold inspection questions
and concerns, call AMI to speak to a Certified
Professional.
1-800-369-8532
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What Is A
Mold Inspection? |
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An AMI mold inspection is a non-destructive
visual inspection for mold and conditions that
cause mold in buildings. The purpose of a mold
inspection is to identify and document visible
evidence
 of mold growth, moisture
issues, and other
suspect conditions that are indicators of indoor
mold growth. With state-of-the-art technology
such as infrared thermal imaging cameras and
electronic moisture detection equipment, no
physical damage is ever done to any structure.
If your mold
inspection is conducted without infrared
thermal imaging, your inspection may be
inconclusive.
While infrared does not specifically detect
mold, it does provide Inspectors with the
distinct advantage of quickly and accurately
identifying conditions where mold typically
grows. Thermal imaging cameras are now the
standard by which true IAQ professional
investigators are measured. Yet very few mold inspection companies use thermal
imaging technology because of the high cost of
infrared cameras. Those who do use infrared charge an extra $200 to $500 in
addition to their standard inspection price. AMI
mold inspections include thermal imaging
technology at no additional cost. That means you
get a lot more for your money and a much more
reliable mold report.
For more
information about the role of
infrared cameras in mold
inspections visit our
Thermal Imagining Page.
AND REMEMBER.... before you choose a mold inspector,
be sure to visit our
Mold Scams Page
to learn how to avoid the most
common mold-related rip-off schemes.
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What Will I Learn From A Mold Inspection? |
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The goal of a mold inspection is to determine: |
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- Is mold growing or has mold growth
occurred indoors
- What conditions exist that would cause
indoor mold growth
- What areas of the structure have been effected
- What conditions still exist that may promote further mold growth
- What steps should be taken to properly
address your mold issue
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What Will I Not Learn From A Mold Inspection? |
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Sometimes indoor mold growth is obvious and
other times it's not. Sophisticated equipment
and years of experience are vital assets in
identifying indoor mold problems that may
otherwise go unnoticed by an untrained eye. But
when it comes to hidden mold, there are certain
limitations to a physical inspection that
require a more scientific approach to
determining whether a “suspect condition” is a
mold problem or not. When a suspect condition is
found in a mold inspection, mold testing may be
the only way to confirm or rule out indoor mold
growth when you can’t visibly see any mold.
Mold testing is also the only way to
determine the likelihood of health risks that
are commonly associated with indoor mold growth.
A mold inspection will not tell you what kind of
molds are present inside a structure, or if the
airborne mold spore levels are potentially
dangerous to your health. Answers to those
questions can only be determined by testing.
Mold testing is done by collecting samples,
either from a surface or from the air, and
having them analyzed by an accredited laboratory
that specializes in mold analysis.
For information on mold testing services visit our
Mold Testing page.
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Examples Of Hidden Mold Growth |
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The only suspicion of hidden mold in
this bathroom was a musty odor. The top
half of this picture shows no visible
evidence of mold growth. And, even
though the tiles were dry to the touch,
our moisture detection instruments
revealed damp conditions behind the
tiles. An air sample from this room
confirmed the suspicion of indoor mold
growth with airborne mold spore levels
over 50 times higher than normal. Inside
the wall was full of mold. |
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Long before you can smell or visibly see
a mold problem the water intrusion that
caused it is likely to have occurred for
some time without your knowledge. Shower
door frames can leak at corners allowing
small amounts of water escape. During a
single shower these leaks are usually
insignificant and often go unnoticed. By
the time they are noticed it's usually
too late. After many showers over weeks,
months and even years, the damage is
done. |
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This is the same bathroom as the picture
above. A significant amount of mold was
found under the carpet, behind the
baseboards, and inside the walls. If a
shower is located on the first floor,
water is likely to wick up into the
walls and keep spreading out across the
bathroom and sometimes into adjacent
rooms. If the shower is on the second
floor, water damage and mold growth can
spread through the floor and into the
ceilings and walls below. |
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Mold growth can occur in places we would
never expect.
It can cause significant damage to
property, produce embarrassing foul
odors, and cost thousands of dollars to
repair. But the tragic side to mold is
the harmful effects it can have on the
health of people and animals that live
and work in mold contaminated buildings.
According to the Center for Disease
Control (CDC), exposure to molds can
cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness,
eye irritation, wheezing, or skin
irritation, chronic lung illnesses, and
may develop mold infections in their
lungs. The CDC concluded that "excessive
exposure to mold-contaminated materials
can cause adverse health effects in
susceptible persons regardless of the
type of mold or the extent of
contamination."
1
For more info of the
health effects
of mold click here. |
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What Credentials Do AMI Mold Inspectors Have? |
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AMI Inspectors carry multiple certifications
from one or more of the following certifying
bodies;
The AmIAQC
- American Indoor Air Quality Council -
promotes awareness, education and certification
to Indoor Air Quality Professionals and
establish credible Council-certifications that
provide lasting value to IAQ professionals,
their clients and the public. Only AmIAQC certifications are fully accredited
by the Council of Engineering and Scientific
Specialty Boards (CESB).
The CESB
was created in 1990 by the engineering and
technology communities as an independent body
which accredits certification programs organized
and operated consistent with sound
credentialing practices tailored to the needs
of engineering and technology specialties.
The ESA -
Environmental Solutions Association - is a
membership-based training organization formed
exclusively to provide industry professionals
with the training and education necessary to
confront today's Indoor Air Quality issues. ESA
is a major provider of educational courses for
the IAQ issues of Radon, Mold, VOC's, Allergens
and Bacteria. Our courses are recognized to be
the most up-to-date in the IAQ industry.
In addition to qualifying for these
prestigious industry certifications, AMI
Certified Mold Inspectors are required to meet
rigorous standard practices and annual
re-certification credits to maintain their
certifications.
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REFERENCES:
1 Mold Prevention Strategies and Possible Health
Effects in the Aftermath of Hurricanes and Major
Floods - Center for Disease Control & Prevention
June9, 2006
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AMI is an
accredited
Better Business Bureau
Company |
MOLD SCAMS
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Are Free Mold Inspections
and Samples Really Free?
Free always sounds good until you find out
what it really costs.
In a perfect world you could trust
everyone, but it's not perfect yet. Be aware of
the most common mold scams and how
to avoid becoming the next victim... click here.
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TECHNOLOGY AT WORK |
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AMI sets the standard for mold
inspections with state-of-the-art building
diagnostic technology.
See the AMI difference!
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TOXIC MOLD IN NEW HOME
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As Seen On Fox News
Click to watch it now.
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ALL ABOUT MOLD |
Are you concerned about mold?
With the abundance of
information available on the
internet and other media sources
it can be difficult to separate
the facts from all the hype. But
not anymore. Now you can get
straight talk from some of the
Nation's leading experts with
AMI's Certified Mold
Inspector Hotline.
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Click here
to read it online
OR call toll free
1-800-369-8532 to speak to a
Certified Inspector now. |
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