How to select Mold Testing Company
When choosing a mold inspector or mold testing company to perform a mold inspection and testing in your home or commercial building, you want to make sure that you are selecting a qualified, trustworthy company and a Certified Mold Inspector. Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a mold inspection and testing company:
- Be sure that the inspector is Certified & Qualified to perform the inspection and testing. Although there are no state license or certifications in Pennsylvania or New Jersey for Mold Inspectors, there are reliable certifying bodies such as: Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), Environmental Solutions Association (ESA) and National Association of Mold Professionals (NAMP). Do not hesitate to request references from past clients.
- Be sure that the samples are being analyzed an accredited laboratory.
- Remember there are no state or federal regulations when it comes to mold exposure. This is mostly due to the fact that molds affect everyone differently. When testing for mold we are looking for high concentrations of allergenic, or unhealthy mold and molds that have the ability to produce mycotoxins. Not all molds are harmful!
- The type, or genus, of mold cannot be determined just by looking or because a growth appears in a certain color. Be weary of inspectors who jump to conclusions too quickly.
- Mold samples should be taken in order to find answers, discover mold that may not be visible to the naked eye or to determine the type of mold present. They should not be taken to run up a bill. Know ahead of time the cost for the inspection and if there is a cost for any additional samples that may need to be taken.
Best Mold Testing Company for Your Home
Just as a doctor would order blood tests as part of an exam in order to diagnose a condition or illness, mold inspectors may need to perform mold testing in order to accurately diagnose a house or building. And Similarly to choosing a doctor, you want to be sure that you are choosing a qualified individual to perform the testing in your home or building. The purpose of a mold inspection and testing is to get a clear picture of if there is a mold issue, why there is a mold issue and how to correct the mold issue.
You may ask yourself ‘why should I pay for a mold inspection and testing when I can use an at-home test kit? Would you allow a friend to draw your blood and analyze the counts, and diagnose whether or not you have an illness? Opting to use a professional mold inspector will insure that the appropriate types (Indoor Air Quality Testing or Surface Sampling) of samples are being taken and it will insure they are being taken properly and in the appropriate areas. After all, you are testing because you want to determine if you have an unhealthy mold issue, what caused the issue and how to remedy the issue; in order to do that you need more than a piece of paper saying with a yes or no answer.
Mold testing is a tool used along with a mold inspection to get a more accurate picture of what is going on. Once the inspector has an understanding of your concerns, a visual mold inspection should be done in order to determine where it makes sense to take the mold samples and the type of mold samples that should be taken. Samples should be taken to find answers, not to run up an inspection bill.
If you have questions or concerns about mold inspections and testing or you need help interpreting lab results from mold testing, contact us by phone or e-mail to speak to a professional.