Product QuickSearch
Sales and support line
(877) 363-6653
Serving Orange, Riverside
and San Diego County
since 1990
A limited mold inspection for one area is just $149
Mold Links
Mold causes property damage and can lead to negative medical conditions for the property's occupants.
Mold needs moisture to grow... high humidity, plumbing leaks and poor ventilation - even sprinklers hitting the side of a home - can all result in mold growth.
A limited mold inspection is a more targeted investigation at a reduced fee.
LIMITED MOLD INSPECTION:
▪ The scope of the inspection is limited to only those areas of the property that are specified by the client.
▪ Specialized equipment (like a hydrometer or protimeter) is utilized to identify potential hidden mold growth.
▪ No samples are taken unless there are signs of mold growth and each sample is authorized by the client.
▪ Sample costs are in addition to the inspection fee.
Click here to order a limited mold inspection
or call (877) END MOLD
the inspection process
A limited mold inspection begins by identifying the area (or areas) the client wishes to have inspected. Typically some event has led up to the request: visible mold growth, a burst water pipe, a noticeable smell, flooding, etc. Based on the information provided by the client, a 48-Hour certified mold inspector will conduct a thorough inspection of the specified area. The inspector is looking for both indications of current mold growth and conditions that may contribute to mold issues in the future.
Part of the inspection includes checking humidity and temperature levels (consistent humidity levels in excess of 65% are sufficient to sustain mold growth). A protimeter is used to evaluate moisture levels in building components - high moisture levels can indicate the presence of a water leak, broken plumbing lines, water seepage in the foundation or other conditions that can contribute to mold growth.
If the mold inspector does not see any conditions that suggest that mold might be growing inside the areas that were inspected, the inspection is concluded. A written report is later prepared and sent to the client summarizing the inspector's findings.
If, however, there are indications of potential mold growth, the inspector will recommend samples be taken. All of the reasoning and evidence behind the inspector's recommendation will be discussed in detail with the client, after which the client can then opt to authorize or decline any or all of the samples. Our inspector will only take the samples authorized by the client.
Sampling procedures
Our certified inspectors are qualified to take a variety of sample types depending upon the conditions observed that led to the recommendation that samples be obtained. In situations where there is a concern about air quality, the inspector will likely recommend that air samples be taken.
The goal of air sampling is to compare the air quality indoors with that found outdoors. Molds are present in almost every environment, so our goal is to determine 1) if there are different molds found indoors compared to outdoors or 2) if the same molds are noted in both areas, whether the indoor levels are higher than the outdoor levels. Both of these scenarios would suggest that there is active mold growth somewhere indoors.
If indoor air samples are taken, then an outdoor baseline air sample must also be obtained for comparative purposes. To obtain the air samples we use the Cyclex-D MegaLite Pump with mounted 3-30LPM Rotameter that pumps air at a steady, controlled rate through a Cyclex-D air cartridge. Samples are collected at respiration height - mouth level - which is why it is important to know if children live in the home.
If mold growth is visible, the inspector will often recommend a swab sample. This is one of the best ways to determine precisely the type of mold that is growing - whether or not it is considered dangerous - which mold likely will dictate the measures used to remove it and whether the occupants should vacate the property until the mold remediation is finished. Other ways of sampling visible mold include tape samples (in which tape is applied directly to the mold, causing the mold to stick to the tape) and bulk samples (in which a piece of the mold is actually removed from the surface on which it is growing).
Another type of sample we may recommend is a carpet sample. Carpet sampling can effectively uncover previous or undetected mold problems because carpet tends to contain a “history” of mold that has previously been present in a property. Mold spores can land between the carpet piles where they can lay dormant or grow while protected by all but the most vigorous vacuuming or carpet-cleaning efforts. The same air pump used for air samples is utilized for taking carpet samples, though the air cartridge that gets sent to the laboratory is different.
Our inspectors use exacting chain-of-custody procedures to register any samples obtained and to ship them overnight to the laboratory for analysis.
Laboratory Analysis
The
laboratory we use is Aerotech
Laboratories, Inc., a full service indoor air quality testing facility
specializing in the analysis of mold, bacteria, allergens and chemical
testing. The laboratory is accredited through the American Association
for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and the American Industrial Hygiene
Association’s (AIHA) Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Accreditation
Program (EMLAP) and Industrial Hygiene Laboratory Accreditation Program (IHLAP).
Aerotech’s BTOX division is also certified under the Clinical Laboratory
Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Program.
The laboratory generally needs 3 - 5 business days to complete their analysis and send us the results. However, faster turn-around times are possible for an additional charge.
the 48-hour Mold Inspection Report
In addition to containing the laboratory results, the mold inspection report issued by 48-Hour is a comprehensive document in excess of 40 pages on average, designed to address any and all issues and concerns that might result from the mold inspection and testing.
Our
report begins with the Summary of Findings. The first question every client
wants answered is whether mold was found and, if so, whether it is dangerous to
the occupants. Our graphical, easy-to-read summary lets the reader know right
away if there is an issue with mold growth and, if so, the severity of the
problem based on the types of mold(s) identified in the samples.
The report goes on to provide some historical information about mold to give context to the findings.
The results of the inspector's findings are then presented. The conditions at the time of the inspection are carefully documented. The report contains all of the inspector's observations and recommendations, including photographs when possible, to help the client understand the possible cause behind any mold growth and to address conditions that are conducive to future mold issues.
A glossary is included that provides
detailed information about all of the molds that may have been identified by the
laboratory. New York City's report on Guidelines on Assessment and
Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments is
often
included as it is currently the most extensive government resource to address
indoor mold growth. Because there is no government agency that has published
"standards" on what level of molds are unsafe or unacceptable, the New York City
guidelines has become
the de facto reference for the mold industry.
Every report also comes with our exclusive Bio-Clearance Certificate. For properties being offered for sale that have had water intrusion, flooding or mold-related issues in the past, this certificate is ideal for showing prospective buyers that there are no ongoing mold issues.
Home | Products and Services | Order | InstaQuote | About Us | Meet the Team | Download Forms | Contact
Copyright 48-Hour Inspection and Appraisal. All Rights Reserved