Category: Mold Testing

Although there are do-it-yourself mold testing kits available on the market, it is highly recommended that homeowners in Northern, VA use a mold testing company, like Envirotex, when testing your home for mold growth. A professional mold testing company will have all the necessary equipment needed to check for toxic mold and the safety gear needed to protect themselves such as latex or vinyl gloves, respiratory masks, protective clothing, hair cover, and shoe covers.

Mold samples taken by a mold testing company in Northern, VA will be sent to a lab for analysis. These mold samples may include surface sampling, which means testing various surfaces in your Northern, VA home for mold as well as air samplers, which test the mold in the air. Typical air sampling is done by a calibrated air pump which is used to force any mold spores in the air onto prepared slides or culture dishes. Most mold testing companies will test several areas of the Northern, VA home and then outside and compare the results.

A professional mold testing company has the experience to handle the equipment carefully and conduct the tests accurately, whereas by doing it yourself, samples may be contaminated with dirt which would nullify the test results.

The mold testing company may use other equipment such as a hygrometer which measures the relative humidity or how much moisture is in the air at your Northern, VA home. Mold grows best with humidity above 60 percent so by using a hygrometer, the mold testing company can determine where they should test for mold. Some homeowners purchase hygrometers for their Northern, VA homes to measure the humidity in their homes. This way you take steps to adjust the relative humidity in your home yourself to prevent mold growth. It works similar to a thermometer, which helps to adjust the temperature in your home to make it more comfortable.

A particle counter may be used for testing also. It is a device that counts particles that are floating around in the air, including mold particles but also other particles such as dust and dirt. The information from the results will tell you about the air quality in a room.

Moisture meters are often used as well. This device will tell you how much moisture is on or in household materials such as wood. When high amounts are found, it could indicate potential mold growth.

Using a mold testing company such as Envirotex is the best way to get the accurate results you want for testing your home in Northern, VA for mold.

There are a lot of mold testing kits available at your local Virginia Beach, VA home improvement stores but these kits do not include a visual inspection conducted by a professional mold inspector such as Envirotex. Not only will Envirotex do a thorough visual inspection to detect issues and the problems that are related to any mold growth at your home in Virginia Beach, VA, but they will do professional sampling that will be sent to an independent lab for analysis.

Once the results from the mold testing are analyzed, Envirotex will then map out a plan of action to get rid of the mold and to correct any moisture problems that are encouraging mold growth at your Virginia Beach, VA home. Without fixing the cause, once the mold has been removed, it will only return.

Mold testing in Virginia Beach, VA is done by taking a sample of the air and/or of a surface.

Air Sample Mold Testing that uses spore traps is called a “spore trap sample.” Pumped air is forced into the collection device which impacts its sticky surface. This device catches the mold spores which are then sent to an independent lab for analysis.

Surface Sample Mold Testing is done in a variety of ways. The most common are—

• Swab Samples: Similar to a cotton swab, the swab is rubbed across the surface areas in the Virginia Beach, VA home to be sampled and then sent to an independent mold testing lab for analysis.
• Tape Samples: Mold testing is done with a clear piece of tape that is pressed against and removed from the surface being tested, picking up and removing some of the mold that is on the surface. This is then sent to an independent lab.
• Bulk Samples: A piece of the area you want to be sampled is removed and sent to a mold testing lab to be analyzed.

The most common method an independent mold testing laboratory which analyzes mold samples taken from homes in Virginia Beach, VA is by transferring sections of the mold sample onto a microscope slide and adding a stain that the mold spores absorb. The sample is then evaluated for evidence of mold growth.

With the hot, humid summers in Virginia Beach, VA and living near the beach, homes are more prone for moisture. Consequently, mold testing might be necessary for your Virginia Beach, VA home.

Mold needs three things to grow—

1. A food source includes most building materials such as insulation, drywall, and wood, etc.
2. A water source such as flooding, leaks or condensation, etc.
3. High humidity above 60%. Keep your humidity level below 50% to be safe at your Virginia Beach, VA home.

Mold can be different colors including green, white, gray, yellow, black and brown. It may look powdery, slimy or furry. Once you see signs of mold at your Virginia Beach, VA home, it normally means you have elevated amounts of mold. With that being said, often times mold growth can also be hidden so if you are not sure, you need mold testing.

Mold may be hidden behind places including—

• The backside of drywall, wallpaper or paneling
• Underneath carpets and pads
• Top-side of ceiling tiles
• Inside walls around pipe that leak or condensate
• Inside ductwork
• Roof materials and above ceiling tiles due to roof leaks or inadequate insulation

Mold producing conditions that warrant mold testing in Virginia Beach, VA homes—

• Basement flood. Even a one time occurrence of a burst water pipe where your basement may look dry after the cleanup—mold contamination may be present in walls, under carpets or tiles or behind insulation.
• Poor roof ventilation. If you have condensation, you may experience mold contamination on the attic insulation, roof sheathing or ceiling drywall.
• Plumbing leaks. Leaky pipes over a period of time can lead to mold growth in cabinets or behind walls and under flooring.
• Wet or damp crawl space. Crawl space insulation that draws moisture will produce mold spores that may move upwards into occupied space.

Mold testing should always be done at homes in Virginia Beach, VA that have experienced any type of dampness due to leaks, floods, condensation, or high humidity levels. If your home is smelling musty or family members have recently been experiencing more health issues, you might want to have mold testing for your Virginia Beach, VA home.

Even though you cannot visually see mold but have had moisture issues with your home in Virginia Beach, VA, mold testing should be scheduled. Mold testing will give you peace of mind to either know you do or you don’t have mold. However if you do have mold, get in touch with the experts at Envirotex for mold remediation.

Mold testing is performed in two different ways, either taking a sample of the air or a sample of a surface. Typically, a mold inspector will test the air or surface to determine which kind of mold exists in your home in Burke, VA and to see if it is able to grow in the tested area.

Air Sample Mold Testing

There are a variety of ways in which air samples can be taken and analyzed in homes in Burke, VA.

• Spore Trap Sample—This works by having a known volume of air pass impact a sticky surface as it passes through a spore trap sampling device. Most of the particles in the air impact this sticky surface and will then adhere to this sticky surface. Mold spores, which are particles in the air, are captured on the sticky surface inside of the spore trap. This trap is then sent to a mold testing laboratory for analysis. The mold testing laboratory will open the spore trap and apply stains inside the spore trap that the mold spores can absorb. The type of mold in the samples captured can then be identified.
• Another method of air sampling includes culturing or growing mold spores collected from the air, but this is a less commonly method used in Burke, VA.

Surface Sample Mold Testing

There are several ways to take surface samples in Burke, VA but the most common methods include:

• Bulk samples—This is when a piece of the area sampled is physically removed and sent to the mold testing laboratory.
• Swab samples—Something similar to a cotton swab is rubbed across the area being sampled, usually a measured area, and then the sample is sent to the mold testing laboratory.
• Tape samples—A clear piece of tape is pressed against an area being sampled and then removed from the area picking up and removing any mold present that was on the surface. This is then sent to a mold testing laboratory for analysis.

Once the samples arrive at the mold testing laboratory, there are many ways to analyze these mold samples. The most common way involves transferring relevant sections of the samples onto a glass microscope slide and then adding a stain the mold spores can absorb. The sample can then be evaluated for mold growth.

Mold testing for Washington, DC, rental properties is now a very real legal consideration for landlords with multi-unit rental properties in the District of Columbia.

The D.C. Council unanimously passed The Air Quality Amendment Act of 2014 (D.C. Act 20-365) to address growing controversy over the dangerous and expensive damage a severe mold outbreak can quickly cause. This legislation closes a serious legal loophole regarding responsibility for monitoring, managing, and treating mold in rental housing in the District.

When it comes to mold inspection and mold testing in Washington, D.C., the law establishes The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) as the managing authority to establish a licensing and accreditation program for professional mold contractors, along with minimum mold work practice standards and guidelines.

From landlord disclosure of mold conditions to the 30 day time limit a landlord has to remedy mold contamination, the law is designed to ensure Washington, D.C., tenants are living in a mold and contaminate-free environment. The first step to assessing and treating a mold outbreak is mold testing in Washington, D.C.

While we often associate mold growth with old, dank, moist basements and bathrooms, modern research has shown this to be in error. In fact:

• Energy-efficient construction techniques and “whole-building” engineering practices have created the perfect environment to incubate mold spores.
• Scientific findings and statements regarding the causal link between mold and certain upper-respiratory, nervous system, and immune response conditions have elevated public awareness.
• Recent multimillion-dollar court settlements place mold in the same legal category as asbestos, lead, and other potential toxic and damaging environmental threats.

We now know that, depending on DNA and the environment, mold affects different people on different levels – as an allergen, infectious agent, irritant, and a toxin. But most states are slow to legislate the ubiquitous issue of mold in indoor spaces. When it comes to mold testing in Washington, D.C., most players involved would agree – the District sits poised on the cutting edge of mold legislation in this country. Stay tuned for updates.