Reasons for Mold Inspection and Testing

It’s a fact of life that at some point in the life of a property, mold will be an issue. How common is mold? One recent study shows that 45 million buildings in the United States have unhealthy levels of mold.

However, as a property owner or manager, it’s your responsibility to take care of the issue quickly and thoroughly before the issue becomes a much bigger problem. And when it comes to mold, that problem can happen pretty quickly. Mold grows rapidly in damp or wet environments. In fact, it only takes about 24-48 hours for mold growth to begin after a building suffers water damage.

In this article, we will tell you about some signs that your property might have mold growth and who you need to help you repair and restore your business back to good health.

Mold Inspection and Mold Testing

The presence of mold in your business or property can affect more than just the building itself. The following signs are reasons you should start looking into having your property inspected or tested for mold:

1. You see mold.

This is the most obvious sign that you need a professional’s help. You may see spots of mold on your walls, ceiling, floors, or other areas in the building. If you see it, you need an immediate inspection.

2. You live in a high humidity environment.

If your environmental humidity is high, it’s providing the perfect conditions for mold growth.

3. Your health is suffering.

If you or your team have experienced incidents of respiratory problems, skin irritation, headaches, fatigue, or even nausea, the culprit could be mold in your building.

4. You smell an odor.

If you notice a musty smell in damp areas, there’s a good chance you have mold. The smell may be even more noticeable after a heavy rain.

If you’ve noticed any of the above on your property, it’s time to get some answers from the professionals.

A mold inspection is mostly a visual inspection of your property by a mold inspector. Your investigator won’t necessarily need special equipment except maybe a strong flashlight. The inspector will talk with you about the signs of mold you’ve noticed on the property and any history of moisture problems or water damage the building may have suffered in the past.

Next, the inspector will thoroughly go over your property while looking in places known to be prone to mold growth. If mold is discovered in an area, the inspector will try to identify the source of the moisture that is causing the mold and help you create a remediation plan.

Mold testing is a little different and more involved. The inspector will collect air or surface samples to figure out the specific type of mold that is present. Testing can also tell a property owner what kind and how much mold is in the air of the building.

What to Do With Your Results

If the inspector has confirmed that you have mold growing in your building, it’s time to call in the professionals right away. Since mold can be dangerous and altogether unpleasant to work with, it’s best to call in a remediation team who has experience in getting rid of mold problems.

The remediation team will begin the process of removing the mold from your business property. This could include:

• Removing or fixing the source of moisture that is causing mold growth
• Disposing of soft surfaces that are affected such as carpets and foam tiles
• Scrubbing of hard surfaces with professional equipment and cleaner
• Clearing the air of mold spores

Alpha Omega can help you with all of these and more to get your business back up and running safely and quickly. Our over 15 years of restoration experience means we’ve seen and removed a lot of mold over the years, and we know exactly the tools and cleaners we need to tackle the problem. We proudly serve the Billinngs, Billings West End, Billings Heights, Laurel, Red Lodge, areas 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you think you might need help with your mold inspection and remediation, contact one of our professionals today to discuss how we can help you and your team stay healthy and mold-free.