Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The attached photo shows a whole-house humidifier installed in the HVAC system. Home should have a relative humidity of optimally between 30 and 50%, and never above 60%. The addition of over-watered house plants, poor bathroom ventilation, and cooler areas within a home with a high relative humidity can lead to water developing on cool surfaces. The water not only can do damage but also can allow for the proper medium for mold growth.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I read the article targeting consumers on mold. The article was great; it noted why/how mold grows, how to treat mold, how to control humidity, and provided a working knowledge base on mold. The article nicely summed up the mold inspection course.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Mold may be hidden behind walls or as in this case may be obvious. Either way testing is the only reliable way to determine what kind of mold is present. Once identified then the clean up will depend on the type of mold and the extent of the area affected
Research & Writing Assignment:
Moisture meters would be a primary tool to use when doing a mold inspection. The moisture content is the primary reason for mold growth. Levels below 20% are considered acceptable. A moisture meter would be required to verify this. Either pin type or pinless.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Underneath the sink is a very common place for mold to grow. Mold needs moisture and organic matter (food) to grow and both can typically be found underneath a sink. This moisture dark area is a perfect place to grow mold.
Research & Writing Assignment:
AFCI is a special receptacle with a circuit breaker built in to detect and trip when there are dangerous electrical arcs. It cannot test every portion so an AFCI tester is a very important tool to have while completing a home inspection.
Hello Everyone!
I’m new to the industry and excited to learn and help people! Just wanted to pop in and introduce myself! Looking forward to learning and becoming a Mold Inspector! 
Best,
Kristi Torrington
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Here is a picture of floor framing in a crawlspace at a house that I inspected last week. There is apparent microbial growth on the floor beams. I hypothesized that this was due to the fact that the crawlspace was un-ventilated and un-contidioned,allowing excess moisture to condensate on the underside of the building for years, leading to mold growth.
Research & Writing Assignment:
A summary of the mold article directed towards consumers:
-the main element of mold control is moisture control
-you need to fix both the water problem and the mold problem as they go hand in hand
-water damaged areas need to be cleaned and fully dried within 48 hours to avoid mold growth
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
While conducting an inspection for water damage in the basement of this home, we discovered the source of the water to be coming from a slow leak from the toilet on the main floor. We applied a moisture meter to the laminate floor near the base of the toilet, and discovered that the floor was saturated although it did not initially show any signs of water damage.
Due to the prolonged duration of this leak, there was some mould developed around the base of the toilet which needed to be remediated.
Research & Writing Assignment:
‘Kick Out Flashing’
This article taught me not only the importance of kick out flashing, but also where and how they should be utilized.
The main objective for this flashing is to help divert water away from the wall and have it collected into the gutter. This in turn prevents potential water damage to the exterior cladding of the building.
Because this is a relatively new code requirement, most older homes will not have it installed, so it is a good idea to examine these areas for potential water intrusion.
As a general rule, kick out flashing is supposed to be water tight, installed a degree no less than 110, and placed wherever gutters terminated next to a wall, or any other problematic areas which are susceptible to water intrusion.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
On inspection of a crawl space area this week, there was not a lot of visual evidence in the joist area of mold primarily due to insulation.However, The soil, vapor barrier and walls were quite discolored. The walls were very and evidence of water stains and efflorescence. This was, I feel, enough to recommend a mold test in and of itself.
Research & Writing Assignment:
A problem everywhere but a particularly severe problem in the South with the high humidity and sweltering heat is when a vapor barrier is installed incorrectly or not at all. The confusion can be on slab homes when an elevated moisture reading is seen or mold like activity on the lower wall and the grading is well done. Truly amazing how much transfer is possible in this perfect storm.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Shown above is a location on the ceiling where moisture damage is evident due to a active roof leak. This spot was one of several in the same room that was marked to be tested due to both different color and suspesion of mold growing. The home owner in this case was recommended to get the roof repaired / replaced as soon as possible to avoid any further water intrustion through the attic and that all mold should be removed by a professional as soon as possible to prevent any additional problem.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I chose to review the moisture intrusion article.
After reviewing the article the inspector weather doing a regular home inspection or a mold inspection should check multiple areas but not limited to the plumbing system for any active leaks where visible, the roof, the bathroom which also should always have the ventilation fan also checked to make sure it is in proper working order, the basement / crawlspace.
If any staining, or leaks are found they should always be reported to the home owner as well as noted in the home inspection / mold inspection report. Mositure intrusion issues should always be taken care of the home owner before any major issues come up including such things as a wood decay, foundation issues, and more.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is a picture of a sunroom that was built on the backside of a home. It is built on a cement slab that is covered in carpet and shared the brick exterior wall of the home. When entering the space a musty odor was noticed however no visual signs of mold were present during inspection. The inspector recommends that a mold inspection be performed by a certified contractor.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Mold is a by-product of the breakdown of organic materials. Mold can release mold spores into the air and contribute to the spread of mold on surfaces as well as cause potential issues for humans inhabiting the area. The mold inspection starts as a visually non-invasive inspection of the home’s interior and exterior. Mold testing is typically broken down into two tests, surface and air sampling. These samples are taken and sent off to a certified lab for analysis. A report with mold sampling data is then supplied to the inspector and client. The biggest culprit for mold growth in a home is from water intrusion. Any areas with water need to be dried within 48 hours in order to help avoid mold growth.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
I observed that the front exterior siding does not have a minimum of 6" clearance to the soil in a raised masonry planting bed. Soil in direct contact with siding may lead to excess moisture intrusion and can promote the growth of wood destroying organisms such as mold, fungus, termites, carpenter ants.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
IN this picture there is mold and water damage. It looks like long term water damage and which is good environment for mold to grow. This damage needs to be fixed before it cause a bigger problem and more mold.
Research & Writing Assignment:
To inspect mold you must figure out how many mold samples and what kind of mold samples you need to take. once you figure that out you need to conduct the test and then send to the lab for the results.
