When you discover mold in your home, or even when you just suspect its presence, it’s important to turn to the right professionals for help. Here at Patriot Home Inspections, we can provide the mold inspection or mold testing that you need. While these two terms are often used interchangeably, and understandably so, there are some key differences between them that you should know about.
Here are a few ways mold testing is different from a mold inspection:
- Mold testing involves taking samples. A mold inspection generally involves a thorough visual inspection of a home to identify mold growth, but mold testing involves taking actual samples of the mold. There are many ways to sample the mold, and these methods include air sampling, surface sampling, bulk sampling, and swab sampling.
- Mold testing provides quantitative data. A mold inspection involves the collection of qualitative information, but mold testing yields more specific data. For example, it’s through mold testing that we can learn the specific type of mold the spore count, among other things. Quantitative data provides a more thorough view of the situation, which helps with developing a plan for remediation.
- Mold testing isn’t always necessary when mold is present. Just because there is mold in your home doesn’t mean mold testing is a necessity. For example, if the mold inspector provides an inspection but doesn’t find anything unusual, the next step may be mold remediation. But if your family has been experiencing symptoms, mold testing may be recommended for safety reasons.