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The area of inspection pictured here is a window sill above a kitchen sink. There is alot of moisture in this area especially going into the drywall and up to the window sill causing what appears to be apparent mold growth. Excessive rot and dampness was also found in the counter top directly below this area. There is a moldy musty smell also coming from area. A swab sample will be taken to cofirm if what appears to mold is actually mold.
The article I read was Abrasive Blasting.
Mold remediation seems like it would be a tedious job to get all the mold out of a building or a small space for that matter, but learning of this method of remediation seems like it would make the job much easier. Abrasive blasting uses either dry ice ir baking soda to basically blast the mold off which ever surface is contaminated. Since mold can get just about anywhere, this seems to be a more effective way to remediate hard to reach places. Learning that this method has been around since about 1982 lets me further know that there has been significant improvements in this remediation process. Not only is this process much faster, it may be more effective in removing all the mold as well.
Here is an image of possible mold growth on the floor joist’s . Testing will need to be done to make a conclusion. This is located in the basement of an older two story home. There is evidence of water intrusion coming in the foundation and basement walls. On further examination I found that all of the guttering on this house has completely fallen off and because of this when it rains all of the rainwater falls directly to the ground next to the foundation. This home is a rental that a friend of mine owns and he allowed me to take this picture.
As A part of this course, I chose from the Library of Inspection Articles the Advantages of Solar Energy. I have been aware of this topic for years but have never really took the time to study or investigate it. After reading the article I was amazed at the facts . Even though there is a usually high cost to have it installed I also found that there are so many advantages in having solar energy in a home. Not only are these advantages good for the home owner but also they benifit us all in some way or another.
This photo shows moisture damage to a second floor ceiling. The ceiling is above a flight of stairs and, due to its height, was inaccessible to test with a moisture meter at the time of inspection. Inspecting the attic revealed that this damage was left over from a leak in the condensate drain pipe from an air conditioner in the attic space. The damaged area was not easily accessible from the attic due to the blown in fiberglass insulation, but no visible apparent mold was observed during the inspection and no elevated moisture levels were measured in the area. Air sampling testing would be necessary in this situation due to the possibility of hidden mold in another location of the house that could have been caused caused by the condensate drain leak.
I read the article for tape sampling during a mold inspection. The obvious advantages to tape sampling are that it its inexpensive, simple, and fast. I learned that tape samples can actually provide a lab with more data than an air sample. Disadvantages of tape sampling include the fact that certain molds are very difficult to see, and therefore are rarely detected using only tape methods. Tape can damage delicate surfaces if applied too hard. It is also not recommended for determining the scope and severity of a mold problem the way air sampling can.
This photo is of a ceiling that is beneath the master bathroom. The ceiling is to the garage stairwell and has not been repaired. The leak in the master bathroom has been fixed and I was able to confirm with my moisture meter that the area was 100.00% dry. Although it was dry it must have been leaking for a long time at some point. There is clearly several spots of concern for possible mold growth. I did take some surface samples to be sent off for examination, but I also recommend replacing the damaged drywall sheet. Due to the extent of the damage the drywall had become warped and someone had pressed a hole in it when it was wet. The clients were also concerned that some mold had developed under the drywall. I advised them to seek the advice from their healthcare professional on the allergies and hazards they may have concerns about. I completed my report with all my recommendations and many descriptive photos.
Air Sampling for Mold Inspections
A critical step when conducting a mold inspection is to take air samples. Air samples are a common practice that is used to gather data regarding mold spores that are present in the home. Mold spores in the air are not visible to the naked eye, but can be collected using a pump that pushed air through the collection device to catch the mold spores. The samples should be sent off to a lab to determine the types of mold that is present in the air. Once the sample is analyzed it will provide evidence for the extent of the mold problem. Surface mold collection should not be collected if the current residents are under a physicians care. Commercial and public building are also places samples should not be collected due to public health concerns. Samples should be taken from areas that a visual, non-invasive inspection has been conducted. Proper sample analysis is useful to determine the severity of problem areas and are crucial when comparing an area before and after mold remediation.
It was rather difficult to find any properties with mold present, which I guess it’s actually a very good sign. This pictures presents a commonly named “black mold”, seldom found in the bathrooms and kitchens. Unfortunately, it’s a difficult task to detect such mold before it apperas. It all starts with the poor preparation of the tub enclosure, wrong backing boards, etc. When the tile covers the walls, it’s already too late. I would believe that this is mostly the oversight problem in the construction industry, perhaps a lack of regulations.
This picture shows a dryer venting into a bucket. Upon entering this room the R/H (Relative Humidity) was noted as being extremely high. There is visible lint on the floor and walls creating a fire hazard. With the R/H being High due to the dryer vent not being exhausted to the outside there is also potential for microbial growth, though none was visible at the time of inspection.
This is a Laundry Tray System which pumps out the waste water from a washing machine that couldn’t be hooked up directly to a waste line. Because of the location, if the connections of the p trap are not tight enough, the waste water would drip down in back of t
he sink area and start to attack the drywall. A prime place for mold to grow.
I read the “Mold, Moisture and Your Home” article as I was looking from a new home owner’s point of view.
Being a realtor the past 15 years I have seen the reaction of so many home buyers whenever the word “mold” is spoken by a home inspector.
This article explains in a very simple way that mold is a lot more common than what most people believe.
Even if the home that I’m inspecting has no evidence or any need of concern, it’s a great preventive article for them to read.
Quite frankly if not for some of these exercises where you need to explore the libraries that InterNACHI has here, I would have never found so many interesting articles and drawings.
The image I chose is a standard gas furnace and central air conditioning unit, the furnace is located in a partially finished basement. Although the outdoor temperature was 84 degrees F, the indoor temperature was 76 degrees; thus, the unit was not operating when inspected.
Key items to note is there is no method to inspect the humidifier pan without cutting a hole. There clearly is a drain for the humidifier pan and the burner condensate. The plenum is a transition between a new furnace and an older supply air system. The furnace is dated 2011, suggesting the transition has been in place for at least 4 years. There are no signs of water tracking on the newer transition suggesting there is not high humidity where the furnace is located.
Based on observation of the unit, there are no indications that the furnace/air conditioner unit would support the formation of fungal based organisms.
Greetings,
My specific interest is with the mold inspection criteria for attics. I have done numerous inspections and have noted some black on the bottom of roof decking. I note the issue as likely lack of ventilation usually attributed to lack of proper ducting of bathroom fans. Based on if I can see proper exhaust venting and the age of the roof, my recommendations follow. Lately I have several requests to inspect blackness in attics as a second opinion for one specific agent.
After reading the course work, my real question is – is the attic space a location for mold sampling & remediation? The guidelines a clear for indoor testing. Indoors being actual living space. For homes where the attic could be living or storage space without the use of a ladder, I see the need for mold testing; however, where the attic is nothing but roof cavity, should it be tested for mold? Is the roof cavity a portion of the building exterior?
Mold on the Heat Pump coil:
Not changing the filter or running the heat pump without a filter will cause build up on the coils and condensation and then mold which will enter the house through the vents. That is why you should routinely inspect your HVAC systems, not just for mold, but for moisture and change the filter as required.
Air Quality Testing including Mold.
I read the air testing inspection article and found it to be very informing and also found some additional info I wanted to share.
Air pollution is one of the greatest problems nowadays because it can cause numerous health problems; The Air Quality Index by the EPA listed six major air pollutants, which influence our health. The two pollutants, ground-level ozone and airborne particles, endanger our lives greatly. Ground-level ozone can be the reason of such a disease as asthma, and it can easily increase the number of asthma attacks. It happens because ozone reduces lung functions and the person can feel shortness of breath, wheeze or tightness in the chest. It is one of the main irritators of the respiratory system and, as a result, it causes coughing, sore throat and other irrigative feelings and so does mold. Mold in a home will also cause these systems. Making sure your home does not have a moisture problem is very important. Moisture stains, a musty smell are good indicators that a problem exists and that it is time to hire a professional find and eliminate the problem.
Photo is of typical A coil in an air handler, the system did not have a filter installed at the time of inspection. Thermostat was set to 76 degrees and humidity levels were observed at 56%. Debris and minor build up observed inside the unit. Purpose of filter was explained to tenant who was currently residing at the home. Blower and interior insulation panels showed no visual abnormalities at time of assessment.
After completing the online mold inspection course I now have a better knowledge of what is included and how to conduct a mold assessment. The course was very informative and cover all aspects from the interview to the inspection and sampling.
I inspected a home where in one basement corner room there was a extremely musty smell. This would indicate the possible presence of mold. No visible signs of mold were present. Based on this we preformed a mold inspection, took 3 air samples, 1 control from the outside of the home and an additional 2 samples from the interior of the home on each level. This was noted in the report and the potential occupants were notified.
I read an article on inspecting log homes. This type of inspection is much different than your typical home inspection and few are qualified to do a log home inspection.I learned that the biggest issues with log homes are due to settling in relation to improper building techniques. Because a log homes interior is constructed using conventional framing there must be allowances for settling ( i.e. spaces above doorways for example) which allow the downward pressure from the logs settling not to affect the interior framing of the home ( breaking it.) I also learned that moisture is another common problem thus homes are coated with UV/ moisture resistant coatings on the exterior. Inspectors should know to spray water on the exterior to determine if such coating has been applied.( i.e. water beading up).