Category: Mold Inspection

During mold inspections at homes in Fairfax, VA, the person doing the inspection is looking for mold growth in the home. This person should be a qualified mold inspector who has had the proper training and experience under his belt with mold inspections.

Mold inspections are looking for evidence of current or previous mold growth. Previous mold growth may indicate a recurring water leak that was never fixed properly.

People within a Fairfax, VA household may have allergic reactions or become sensitized to mold when mold growth is present in the home. Some mold may not be out in the open where you can see it. It could be hidden behind your walls or under your carpet, crawlspaces and basements, or your attic. If left unattended, this mold growth can lead to excessive wood rot and other structural issues. Mold growth can also cause health issues for family members and is extremely harmful to those who have asthma or other respiratory problems.

Having mold inspections ensure homeowners that they either are mold free or have a mold issue which should be dealt with as soon as possible. Typically speaking, if you have mold, you will begin to smell a musty odor in your home where the mold is prevalent.

During mold inspections, the mold inspector will be looking for a moisture source that is needed for mold to grow. Without a moisture source, you have no mold. Unless the moisture source is found within your Fairfax, VA home, even removing the damaged moldy materials will only illuminate it until the moisture source causes the mold to take hold again inside your Fairfax, VA home.

There are several common reasons to have mold inspections for your home in Fairfax, VA which include—

• Family members who have an allergic reaction such as sneezing, a runny nose, or itchy eyes when they are in a particular area of the Fairfax, VA home.
• Once mold remediation is complete, another mold inspection should be done to verify the moisture source has been fixed, and no residual mold growth was left after the mold remediation.
• Whenever you plan to rent or purchase a new home, mold inspections assure you that there are no existing moisture or mold issues in the building. Also, if you are selling your home, it is advised to have a mold inspection as your written evidence that there were no issues at the time the new homeowners took occupancy.

Mold inspections are a great way to have peace of mind that you are providing your family with the best air quality and that the structure of your home is sound and stable and free of moisture issues.

A mold inspection consists of a mold inspector coming into your Northern, VA home and doing a visual inspection for mold growth, air sampling, surface sampling, checking for water leaks, and checking your air conditioning for mold. The size of your Northern, VA home will determine how long mold inspections will take. Samples that are collected will be sent to a third-party, independent lab for analysis. The mold inspector will then give you a report based on the lab results.

During the mold inspection, the focus will be on the presence of mold growth and water damage on building materials and personal belongings within the home in Northern, VA.

When should you have a mold inspection for homes in Northern, VA?

• Before buying any home in Northern, VA, it is best to have a mold inspection to be assured there are no mold issues. Also, if you are selling your home, it ensures the buyers that your home is mold free with the documentation to protect yourself if anything would happen in the future once the new homeowner takes ownership of the home in Northern, VA.
• If your home smells musty, a mold inspection will tell you what is causing the smell and where it is coming from.
• If any family members are having allergy-like symptoms, this could be from mold growth. It is highly recommended that you have the air quality in your home tested.

What Mold Inspections Involve—

• The exterior of your home is inspected for any moisture intrusion.
• Samples may be taken and sent to an independent lab for analysis.
• A moisture meter may be used to identify the amount of moisture content in building materials.
• Thermal Imaging Camera may be used to detect if there is a temperature differential behind your ceilings and walls that might indicate leaks at your Northern, VA home.
• Attics and basements may be inspected for leaks or any condensation.
• Your HVAC system might be checked for mold because when your system is running, it can cause particles in the air.

Once the mold inspection is complete, and if it is determined you have mold issues, a plan should be mapped out for you to have mold remediation. Call the team at Envirotex for their help with any mold issues you have within your Northern, VA home.

Generally speaking, mold inspections are done by professionals who come into your home in Leesburg, VA to look for mold growth. Some important things to keep in mind about mold inspections.

• Mold inspections need to be done by a qualified mold inspector such as the ones at Envirotex who have the experience along with the proper training.
• The inspector will be looking for a moisture source that is causing mold growth during the mold inspection at your Leesburg, VA home. Water is essential for mold to grow. No water issues, no mold issues. A mold inspection will tell you where your source of moisture is coming from, so this issue is addressed. If not, even once you clean the mold, it will only come back.
• Special equipment will be used so that the inspector can determine if you have any mold growth underneath the carpet or behind the walls. This protects your Leesburg, VA home from any significant structural damage that oftentimes is caused by excessive mold growth.

Common Reasons Why Leesburg, VA Homeowners Need Mold Inspections?

• If you plan to rent or purchase a new home, a mold inspection will confirm whether or not there is an existing moisture or mold problem.
• To verify that moisture has stopped and no residual mold growth is still lurking inside your Leesburg, VA home from a previous known water or mold problem.
• Home inspections should be done when any family member has an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, itchy watery eyes, or a runny nose when they are in a particular area of the home in Leesburg, VA.

If you are experiencing any mold growth in your home, leave it alone and call in the professionals at Envirotex Environmental Services as soon as possible. Mold can cause havoc to your family member’s health, and that is definitely something you want to avoid. Trying to remove unidentified mold can be extremely dangerous. Professional mold inspections can determine the type of mold growth that is lurking inside your home and advise you on the best way to rid your home of any mold.

Most strains of mold spread naturally throughout homes in Manassas, VA. Typically, if you see mold in one area of your home, there is a good chance it is elsewhere in the house as well. No doubt, if you see mold on your walls or the carpet, the chances are that mold is also behind your walls as well as under your carpet.

Finding hidden mold is difficult, and that is why you should hire the professionals at Envirotex Environmental Services for a mold inspection at your Manassas, VA home.

Hidden mold in your house that is overlooked, in time will spread; and eventually, you will be able to see it. By then, you will have a mold infestation that could have been avoided at an earlier stage. That is why it is imperative once you find any signs of mold in your Manassas, VA home, you have a professional mold inspection to determine if there is any hidden mold.

Hidden mold is generally found in places such as—heating, air conditioning and ventilation ducts, inside walls, and underneath flooring, above ceiling tiles, under wallpaper, in attics, chimneys, and crawlspaces.

Mold inspections are well worth the investment. So many times, homeowners will see a wall where there is noticeable mold growth and will do a home remedy to get rid of it. However, have they gotten rid of it? Probably not. It is always best to have mold inspections at first sight of any mold growth in your home in Manassas, VA.

Only ridding your home of mold that you can visibly see might be wasting time and money if there is other mold growing in your home. The mold will continue to grow and spread to other areas of the house.

With specialized equipment, mold inspections performed by the team at Envirotex Environment Services will find all hidden mold within your home in Manassas, VA and then map out a plan for you to rid the home of all mold.

The team at Envirotex can identify and remedy the moisture source that has been causing the mold growth or refer you to someone who can fix your moisture problem, depending on the cause. Once the mold growth has been located throughout your house in Manassas, VA during the mold inspection, addressing the water source is the first, next step; otherwise, removing the mold without fixing the water issue, is just prolonging another disaster down the road.

Mold Inspections Are Helpful in Determining Mold Issues in Haymarket, VA
Once homeowners in Haymarket, VA see mold at their home it is still recommended to have mold inspections. Mold inspections are helpful in determining the type of mold you are handling, rather it could be toxic or not is extremely necessary so that your family members are not subjected to any spores from the toxic mold.

Sometimes you may smell a musty or moldy odor but can’t see any mold growth at your Haymarket, VA home. Instead of tearing out walls trying to look for a fuzzy black growth, which could indicate black mold, it is best to have a mold inspection.

Black mold is a dangerous mold to say the least. But there are other dangerous molds as well that you normally don’t hear about. These dangerous molds grow in the same areas of homes in Haymarket, VA as other molds grow. Places that are dark and are prone to moisture are ideal places for mold to grow.

Having mold inspections when you suspect mold growth indoors of your Haymarket, VA home is helpful in determining where the source of the moisture is coming from. Professional mold inspectors know where to look for mold growth inside and outside of the home. A Haymarket, VA home’s structure can be infested by mold growth and it takes a mold inspection to detect hidden mold growth formation so that abatement can be done to keep the house from further contamination.

A mold inspection may start out as a visual inspection of baseboards, ceilings, carpets, and walls. Windows, doors and other entries to the inside that are sealed should be checked as well. Mold inspections for Haymarket, VA homes should be left to the professionals because they know where to look and what to look for.

Today’s mold inspections now consist of using the latest in technology, thermal imaging. This system can detect and identify sources of moisture that support mold growth at homes in Haymarket, VA. By detecting any structural issues that could be contributing to your mold issues, you can make a better informed decision about what needs to be done to eliminate your sources of moisture.

Anytime a homeowner in Fairfax, VA suspects any type of mold growth, they should invest in a mold inspection. The purpose of any mold inspection is to find where the mold growth is in your Fairfax, VA home and then to find out where the water problem is that is causing the mold to grow in the first place.

Even if you can already see mold growth, it is still necessary to have mold inspections because some mold is not visible and an inspection can determine where all mold growth is located. Often times it is behind drywall, under your carpet, and in air conditioning ducts.

Mold inspectors have the experience to know where most mold hides and have the proper equipment to find it without disturbing or damaging your home in any way. As a homeowner in Fairfax, VA, you should offer any information about water leaks or flooding that you’ve experienced so the inspector can be made aware.

Mold is a serious health risk and should be taken care of as soon as possible. Anytime your family members are experiencing new allergy symptoms or a moldy smell, a mold inspection should be performed at your Fairfax, VA home. Mold inspections should be performed after developing any type of leaky pipes or roof or any type of flooding. Water left to stand will cause mold growth within 48 hours.

Whenever a homeowner in Fairfax, VA finds any type of mold growth in their home, they should never try to disturb it. Disturbing any type of mold at your home in Fairfax, VA spreads mold spores or mycotoxins throughout the home. Large mold colonies should only be handled by professional environmental specialists such as Envirotex. Proper containment is necessary during any mold removal and the pros know exactly what to do to keep your family safe.

Necessary repairs may need to be done such as replacing drywall or carpet that has mold damage. Also the source of moisture that is causing the mold growth will need to be fixed.

Once the mold removal is completed, another mold inspection should always be performed to make sure the mold removal process was successful. This is added protection for you and your family in Fairfax, VA.

 

You may be wondering whether you should purchase mold test kits or call to have professional mold inspections for any home or buildings you are occupying or tenants are occupying in Northern, VA. The most significant component of a mold inspection is the inspection itself, not the samples.

Samples taken of mold can be misleading and can at times be incorrect. Both false positive and false negative results frequently occur. A well thought out sampling plan and a visual inspection need to be done for an accurate interpretation of any mold inspection in Northern, VA.

The visual part of a mold inspection requires an understanding of building structures, water sources, and other factors that typically are not apparent to a homeowner using a mold test kit. The Northern, VA home or building may have condensation in an attic that is not adequately ventilated, possible issues with drainage around the exterior of the building, or cracks in the foundation. These are things that a professional mold inspection company such as Envirotex will be looking for during an inspection of your Northern, VA home. The source of moisture has to be taken care of first or removing any mold will only be a temporary fix. The moisture source must be fixed, or the mold will come back.

Mold test kits will not provide you the helpful information that you will need to rid your home of mold. A professional mold inspection by an environmental company such as Envirotex will find the source of moisture causing the mold growth, will draw up a plan to remove the mold and any repairs you will need to fix the moisture that is breeding mold growth at your home in Northern, VA.

Envirotex has the proper equipment to do a thorough mold inspection of your property. With the latest technology of thermal imaging and a specialized trained team, Envirotex can quickly detect and identify the sources of moisture at your Northern, VA home that is causing mold growth.

Call the team at Envirotex Environmental Services if you have any questions about mold growth or any other environmental issue such as asbestos or lead paint.

If you or one of your family members have been experiencing unusual allergic reactions such as sneezing, itchy eyes, or sneezing when in a particular room or building at your Fairfax, VA property, you might want to consider having a mold inspection. A mold inspection from the team at Envirotex in Fairfax, VA can also verify that any sources of moisture have been completely taken care of after any known water or mold issues have been fixed.

Anytime you are thinking about purchasing or renting a home or opening up a business in a particular building in Fairfax, VA, a mold inspection should be done to verify there are no mold growth issues associated with the potential home or business.

Mold inspections should be performed by a qualified mold inspector who has the necessary training and experience doing mold inspections. During a mold inspection in Fairfax, VA, the inspector will look for signs of past or current mold growth. Past mold growth could mean that a water problem comes back when specific conditions return such as a repeated leak causing some sensitized family members to have an allergic reaction or some to start being sensitized to mold.

Professional mold inspections will look for mold inside walls and in other areas where mold is not easily seen and where mold growth can cause extreme structural problems such as wood decay in crawlspaces.

Some mold inspections may determine two different molds called Ceratosystis and Ophistoma which grow on lumber, known as lumber yard mold. These types of mold are frequently found growing on 2×4’s or other structural framing. These molds grow on the sap of wood and then quit growing once the wood has dried. Even though these types of molds cause black staining on wood, they will not cause structural problems. Anytime black staining is found on wood during mold inspections in Fairfax, VA, the inspector may take samples and send it to a lab for analysis to determine if it is one of these particular molds.

Mold inspections are looking for sources of moisture because water is essential for mold growth. Without sources of water, you will not have any mold growth at your home in Fairfax, VA.

Some say once you see mold in homes in Virginia Beach, VA, you should have mold inspections performed by a licensed mold inspector. Some say if you see mold, you know it’s already there, so why have a mold inspection. All you have to do is remove the mold growth. Yes and no.  

Although you might see mold growth in your Virginia Beach, VA home, what about the mold growth that you might not be aware of? Quite possibly, if you see mold growth in several different places within the home, you have an issue and the only way to be sure if it is not hiding from you and you do not see all of it is to invest in a professional mold inspection and be safe.

Sometimes you might be experiencing a musty smell at your home in Virginia Beach, VA and can’t quite define where it is coming from. Quite possibly some members of your family could have symptoms of mold exposure which might include:

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Nasal congestion
• A runny nose
• Skin rash
• Breathing difficulties
• Watery, itchy or red eyes

Any of these symptoms could mean other health issues as well, but if the health issues continue and act up at during the more humid times of the year in Virginia Beach, VA, you could have a severe problem with mold growth.

When should a mold inspection be done?

• If there is no visible sign of mold growth, but there is a distinct musty smell. Mold inspections and testing can discover if there is elevated mold and where it is located in the home in Virginia Beach, VA.
• Your Virginia Beach, VA home has had plumbing leaks or other water issues, and you suspect mold growth may exist behind walls or in the air.
• Once you have removed mold from your home, you should always have another mold inspection and testing to make sure the mold removal was done correctly and mold counts return to normal levels.
• Health concerns as mentioned above.
• If you are selling or buying a house, for your protection, it is best to have a mold inspection.

Mold inspections are needed to verify the cause of the mold growth in your Virginia Beach, VA home as well as its location. Whatever is contributing to the moisture at your home that causes the mold growth needs to be fixed as well as the mold removed from the home. All mold inspections and removal should be done by a professional environmental company such as Envirotex. Envirotex has the specialized equipment to do the job correctly.

Indoor mold growth doesn’t just grow on building materials by itself it requires moisture. Sources of moisture in Northern VA homes are usually because of one of these conditions—

1. Leaky plumbing, leaky roof, poorly sealed leaking windows, backup drains, and water that runs off from showers and bathtubs.
2. Damp concrete slabs.
3. Condensation from humidifiers, vaporizers, inadequate ventilation, faulty windows, and high humidity.

Mold inspections by a professional should be done if you are experiencing any of these conditions at your Northern VA home. Even if you are already aware that you have mold growth, mold inspections can pinpoint the exact location of all mold within your home in Northern VA that could be hidden behind walls or under carpet and other places as well. Another reason you want a mold inspection is to find the water problem that is causing the mold to grow in the first place.

If you have had any moisture problems at your Northern VA home, no doubt you are experiencing some form of mold growth and should definitely invest in a mold inspection for your home. Maybe you have seen water stains or discoloration on floors, ceilings or walls at your home. Most likely, mold is growing behind these materials, and a mold inspection will determine the type of damage you are looking to repair at your Northern VA home.

Another moisture sign is peeling, bubbling or cracking in your paint or wallpaper. You might notice your walls are bowed or warped which could be caused by moisture. They could possibly be damp when you touch them.

Having mold inspections for homes in Northern VA when homeowners experience even the slightest inclination that they might have mold is an investment in the home they can’t afford not to make. Mold damage can destroy parts of your home where major reconstruction will need to be done to get rid of all the damage.

Take precautions now and call the team at Envirotex to come and perform a mold inspection at your Northern VA home. They have the necessary equipment and take the safety measures to properly take samples and evaluate the situation and give you a plan you should follow for mold remediation.