Research & Writing Assignment:
Flood Damaged Buildings was my article. In relation to mold, building effected by flooding are especially subject to moisture damage and large growths of mold colonies. In addition to the initial microbial growth, damage to the structure is likely. Inspectors should take proper safety precautions to protect themselves from harmful mold exposure during inspections.
Research & Writing Assignment:
To perform a proper air sample mold test you must take two exterior samples and one interior sample. One sample on the leeward side of the property, one sample on wayward side. All samples are to be taken between 3-6 feet in elevation.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Throughout this lesson, I have learned that there could be up to 300,000 or more different types of mold/fungi which all have varying characteristics. I have also learned that to do a proper aid sample test you must take two exterior samples and one interior sample.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
HVAC systems are the primary spreader of Mold and other airborne particulates throughout a home. Minimizing the spread could be by incorporating high-end HEPA filters in the system, or UV lighting inside of the coil box. These are some relatively inexpensive installs that DIY people can do.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Protect Your Property from Water Damage: I am a FEMA inspector - and appalled at how many home owners have their home flooded and then open the windows in the summer 100 degree weather to dry it out. OMG this drives me crazy. Dehumidifying the area is the number 1 most important thing to do - not just the air but the hard structure and surfaces have to have their moisture removed immediately to prevent mold growth.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Evidence of past water intrusion noted by a hole in drywall and loose or peeling tape. Area tested dry at the time of inspection. A surface sample was taken and identified as Second Floor Hallway #1. Laboratory results indicate no mold growth present at time of inspection.
Research & Writing Assignment:
My essay is based upon the article written about central humidifiers since central humidifiers can be a culprit for a mold inspection. In addition to being a possible attributor to mold, central humidifiers have also been linked to Legionnaires Disease, thermophilic actinomycetes and humidifier fever". Due to these health risks, a central humidifier should be properly maintained to help prevent the possibility of being a contributor to health risks.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Signs of fungi growth is present on the interior wall of kitchen cabinetry in several areas. We did not inspect, test or determine if this growth is or is not a health hazard. The underlying cause is moisture. I recommend you contact a mold inspector or expert for investigation or correction if needed.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat saves money by allowing heating and cooling appliances to be automatically turned down during times that no one is home and at night. Programmable thermostats contain no mercury and, in some climate zones, can save up to $150 per year in energy costs.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The image is of a vent fan over the shower. The vent runs into the attic and vented out the roof of the house. There are no visual signs of moisture around the fan and it works correctly pulling the humid air out of the bathroom so mold will not grown in the bathroom or in the attic.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I chose the illustration of an HVAC system. The image shows an inspector looking at the filter on the HVAC system. When inspecting the furnace and looking at the filter be sure to make sure it is clean and dry to prevent mold growth. If mold is present add images of the filter and the mold to the report and include verbage in the comment section for the buyer to follow up with an HVAC professional and possibly a mold remediation company.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is a simple photo of a dirty air filter, there are several issues with this photo. The first one I noticed is that the filter frame is bent in a way that it appears it was being sucked up into the blower compartment, this indicates to me that it was creating a situation were air flow is restricted, this can create all sorts of issues. First off is will put a strain on the blower motor possibly reducing it’s life. It can affect the furnaces ability to function properly or maybe at all (short cycle). In the summer months it can cause the A/C coil to freeze up.
These anti-pollen/pest dander air filters are not only expensive but then are designed to do more than just keep the equipment clean, that is what an air filter is designed for. If a person wants to clean the air they breath in a home a separate system should be installed.In newer high efficiency condensing furnaces this type of filter can effect the operation and the life of the furnace. A simple $1.69 fiberglass filter does the job it’s designed to and typically will allow air to flow free, although any dirty filter can cause problems.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Upon opening the access door to the HVAC unit, the blower fan appeared to have microbial growth throughout. Two samples were taken and sent to laboratory for analysis.It is recommended that a HVAC mold remediation specialist further evaluate and determine necessary steps for remediation.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Bathroom fans should always be vented to the exterior of the home. If they are vented elsewhere, such as in an attic, warm moist air will discharge into the attic. This will provide an ideal source for microbial growth to form, due to the high moisture content.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Air samples during a mold inspection is very important for several reasons. Mold spores are not visible to the naked eye and the types of mold present can often be determined through laboratory analysis can also help provide evidence of the scope and severity of the problem, as well as aid in assessing human exposure to mold spores. The air samples can be used to gather data about mold spores present in the interior of the house
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
In this attached picture you can see what appears to be mold. This is in a bathroom in the center of the house. The bathroom smells musty. I noted this smell and checked to see if the vent fan operated with the switch. It did and so I made a note to check if it was vented properly. It happened that the vent was just ran about 4ft away from the fan itself. I noted the suspected mold and mildew and the vent fan out of compliance. Please consult qualified contractor.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Reviewing the illustration (Roof leak path of intrusion), this depicts the importance of carefully inspecting the roof and all its penetrations. On the surface it may look like everything is fine but that is a perfect problem area for the cultivation of mold that could be growing on the insulation, the structural members of the roof and leading into the drywall in the ceiling. By the time it reaches the drywall you could have major problems.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is a photograph of a measuring tape indicating a distance of ten feet from the front door of the home being tested. The distance is important to indicate and record as it shows the distance required from the front entry for the control sample.
Research & Writing Assignment:
After reading the article “Mold Testing for Home Inspectors” I have learned that there are several important tools that are available to be used in inspections. A moisture meter, a humidity gauge, a thermal imaging camera, a borescope and a rotameter are important to the inspection and all of them should be properly learned before being used by the inspector.
Research & Writing Assignment:
we have learned that the best way to prevent mold is to keep areas inside the home dry and clean. mold can grow instantaneous under the right conditions. all it takes for mold to grow is dust on a window and condensation.
