For new homeowners, old houses, property managers, and more, mold is an ongoing concern in those muggy, Midwestern days. Anyone can spot a patch of black mold caving in the ceiling, but the savviest approach is to minimize mold growth before it gets out of hand. Our advice? Bring in an expert. Experts are trained in more ways than one to identify mold from early growth stages, potential mold outbreaks, and even problem areas before undesirable growth occurs. In this business, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. At Lamunyon Mold, we provide expert mold inspection & testing solutions in the Mcpherson, Kansas, area for all homeowners looking to get rid of pestering mold problems.
When Should I Schedule A Mold Inspection?
At Lamunyon Mold, our mold experts identify and stamp out mold infestations before they spiral out of control. We prioritize clear and concise communication of inspection results for all the families we serve. We’ve worked across McPherson, delivering inspections that lead to successful results. We know that transparency and documentation will help you get your money’s worth and that these practices will help our trained technicians stay keen on the details of your specific problem. Here is a list of times when mold inspection in McPherson, KS, would be appropriate for any mold remediation strategies.
- When evaluating a new property, particularly an older building, or when you suspect mold growth, an inspection can put your mind at ease.
- Furthermore, you should prioritize an inspection if your property has recently experienced water damage or moisture exposure for more than 24 hours.
- However, in cases where severe mold growth is already visible and spreading, you may actually opt to skip the inspection and jump straight into the scope of work, containment, and remediation strategies with a team of professionals.
That said, our goal would always be to keep things from worsening with the mold spreading rapidly.
How Professional Mold Inspection & Testing Is Handled in Mcpherson, KS
If you’re appraising a new property or concerned about an aging property, even your current home, scheduling an expert inspection can provide clear information and strategic options. And if no mold is discovered? That’s the best-case scenario; at least you’ve put your mind at ease! So, what kind of process should you expect when hiring trained professionals to perform an evaluation of your space?
- Visual Inspection: The first check for experts is unlike the first one for you! We eyeball it. But in truth, eyeballing it is the perfect, low-cost way to determine whether you have any visible signs of mold. Visual inspection also helps us identify potential problem areas, allowing us to apply our other inspection tools more intentionally. And we don’t just look with our eyes; we look with our noses too. Mold has a distinct, musty smell. Any area with a moldy scent also warrants further inspection.
- Inspection Tools: beyond the range of our human eyes, infrared capture and moisture mapping tools give us more ways to chart mold outbreaks. We wouldn’t be the experts if we stopped after a once-over. Part of any quality mold inspection will be determining the mold’s spread and growth pattern in your environment. Using infrared cameras, we are able to detect subtle temperature differences from one suspect surface to the next. Lower-temperature surfaces may, in fact, be cooler because they are damp or more exposed to moisture. Water trapped inside porous surfaces such as ceilings, walls, or insulation can become a feeding frenzy for growing and spreading mold. Moisture mapping allows us to model a picture of that mold’s growth. When we need to know what we are up against, charting and mapping spread is essential. Mapping is the best way to develop effective containment strategies during the remediation process.
- Air and Surface Testing: we don’t want to leave anything to guesswork. When we have further suspicion of mold, sampling and testing can be the most accurate method to measure mold quantity and variety. Air testing should be minimally invasive; we are able to sample from inside a wall or ceiling without cutting or creating long-term damage. Air samples are typically drawn from multiple points along suspected areas and contained to be later lab-tested. Air quality tests and trustworthy labs will reliably show us the mold spore count floating through your environment. Any particulate count beyond EPA-determined acceptable mold levels warrants further action. A second test available to us is surface sampling. Generally, surface testing applies to areas with visible mold growth. A swab or tape strip is used to collect a sample of surface growth. This sample is also lab-tested, revealing both the type and severity of mold we encounter. Some molds are more toxic than others, and when allergy or other health concerns are present, determining the mold variety may be worthwhile.
Can You Use An At Home Mold Kit For Mold Testing?
If you have evidence of mold, you may feel like skipping straight to an at-home test. Self-testing kits can be ordered online or from stores, but many experts advise you to save your money here. Self-testing brands are not created equally, and many are not considered statistically reliable even then. Skip the chance of false positives and hire an expert who can provide more accuracy.
With professional mold inspection and testing, you have a range of benefits and processes that an at-home DIY mold kit cannot fulfill. The testing stage allows experts to uncover and provide more specific information regarding the quantity and quality of mold affecting your property. When it comes time for a test, trained technicians and mold specialists have a few methods at their disposal:
- Tape Swab Testing: This test is ordered when it is deemed important to determine the specific type of mold present. Mold spore counts are more important to remediation strategy, but identifying the mold variety may be valuable in situations where health has been affected.
- Lift Tape Testing: Sticky tape obtains a sample from a surface affected by mold. That tape sample is attached to a glass slide and sealed in preparation for a lab microscope. Then, a microbiology lab will calculate the spore count, which can be extrapolated to the affected area.
- Air Sampling: Air samples are taken inside the home in suspected affected areas, usually from open-air and wall or ceiling interiors. Then, a sample is collected from outside the home for comparison. Air containment samples are then reviewed by a microbiology lab to determine spore count.
With such techniques at their disposal, professional mold inspection and testing services will provide a better and more comprehensive result to fight mold infestations that DIY kits cannot compete with.
How Much Does Mold Testing Cost In Mcpherson, KS?
On average, mold testing can cost between $350 to $500 based on the size of your home for the entire project. However, these costs fluctuate based on various requirements, including the type of test, the area to be tested, the overall mold remediation plan, and more. Lamunyon Mold provides a comprehensive mold testing facility in Mcpherson, KS.
Contact Lamunyon Mold For Mold Inspection In McPherson, KS
Give our mold consultants a call when you are ready to schedule an inspection. We offer 24/7 emergency services via 888-609-9670. Also, feel free to inquiry about any of our black mold specialist services available in McPherson:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Depending on the size of your home (below 4,000 square feet), mold testing can cost anywhere from $350 to $500, depending upon the number of samples required. The price rises to the $700 to $900 range for spaces larger than 4,000 square feet. However, these prices differ depending on several factors, such as the type of test, the testing area, the overall mold remediation plan, and more.
No, the homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover mold testing services in McPherson, KS. Most homeowners insurance only covers mold caused by unexpected accidents like burst pipes or storm damage. However, it does not include standard mold testing. It is better to inquire with your insurance provider about the scope of coverage for mold testing, specifics of insurance policies in McPherson, Kansas, and what you can claim under mold treatments.
To do mold tests in McPherson, KS, you should call Lamunyon Mold Inspection, Testing, & Remediation. Our certified and experienced mold remediation specialists use safe, reliable, and efficient mold remediation technologies. We offer highly professional services for a wide range of mold-related problems, whether you are dealing with mold at your home or place of business. We follow the quality control standards of McPherson, Kansas, and offer 24/7 emergency services. Call us at 888-609-9670 now.
Yes, mold assessments are highly accurate. To accurately assess mold growth, certified professionals use a variety of techniques, including careful visual inspections, air sampling, surface sampling, and moisture measurements. In addition to these techniques, the professionals may also conduct the following assessments:
- HERTSMI-2 (Health Effects Roster of Type-Specific Formers of Mycotoxins and Inflammagens)
- ERMI (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index)
- Surface Testing (source testing)
- Mycotoxin Testing
- Endotoxin
These techniques help to identify the type of mold present, its severity, and any potential health risks it may pose.
Some of the signs that say you should get professional mold testing done in your home are as follows:
- If you have allergic symptoms such as stuffy head, headaches, and scratchy throat (due to molds)
- If your home and place of business have plumbing leaks or water problems
- When you see discoloration and patches on walls or ceilings
- When your windows have condensation on the inside
- If the humidity inside your home is high (more than 60%)
- Black gunk in your tile grout lines
- If the air has a musty smell
