Moisture Meters for Inspectors
A moisture meter is a device designed to measure the moisture content of various building materials, such as roofing, siding, insulation, drywall, plaster, wood, tile and fiberglass.
Also a necessary tool for doing mold inspections, they come in two types. Pin and pinless. Both have their place and its up to the trained inspector to determine which one is approriate.
Topic of discussion is a furnace I inspected for mold. Fist I did not smell a moldy or musty sent but I did notice signs of water stains below the unit. All though no mold is present the dry stain remains Warrenton future investigation of underlying areas.
Topic of discussion saving money on energy costs is simple. Over half of the energy costs for a home owner is heating and cooling of there home. The addition of ceiling fans, regularly changing of the filters and add extra insulation can effectively help reduce energy costs.
My second assignment topic [size=3]Moisture Intrusion,
As I am living in South Florida, during summer time the [/size]humidity level is quite high, without A/C it is somewhat difficult to live with. Nevertheless, one of my family friend don’t like to turn on A/C because the expenses of electricity bill and he don’t mind the heat. However his wife cannot bear to cook without the A/C on; therefore, the A/C will cool down the apartment during the day for few hours, and complete turn off during the night. These kind of on and off has create unstable moisture level inside the home and the A/C duct becomes mold glow opportunities. Not to mention the cockroaches like these setting very much, because during night time the home will become the best temperature for them to come out and finding food. Sure enough they have roaches problem. I think by maintaining a constant comfortable humidity and temperature inside the home can save electricity bill and make the pest problem a bit better.
This is a an installed tankless water heater that has some defects, The electric wiring is hanging loose and not protected in conduit. The water lines are hanging loose and need to be secured to the wall. There is no TPR valve, however the manufacturer’s installation instructions state that a TPR valve is not required.
For wood burning fireplaces that have an opening of 6 sqft or greater, the fire proof hearth must project out a min of 20" and extend 12" on each side of the opening. For an opening of less than 6 sqft, the hearth must project out a min of 16" and extend 8" on each side.
This is an image of a typical humidifier installed in a gas fired forced air furnace. It is important to check the function of the humidifier to verify that any excess water drains properly into the drain tube and also follow the drain tube to ensure that it drains into either a condensate pump or other type of accepted drain. This humidifier appears that the water pad is due for a change due to the dark coloring of the pad. A humidifier can be a prime place for mold to grow and then be distributed throughout the home via the duct work.
Air Sampling for Mold Inspections:
Air sampling is an important aspect in performing a mold inspection. It is an additional “piece of the puzzle” when detecting for mold. An air sample should only be taken if there are other factors that indicate that there may be an issue with mold in a home. It is critical that the air sample be taken under controlled conditions to get the most accurate results possible. An air sampling does not take the place of surface mold testing.
while I was doing this home inspection I found the crawlspace didn’t have a moisture barrier. I also found the HVAC was draining under the house. their was also a problem with the porch leaking and draining under the house which has done damage to the seal in the front. the home needs to be repaired and needs to be inspected for mold.
I read the article on crawlspace hazards. There are many things for the inspectors to be aware of. No inspector should enter a crawlspace without proper PPE. I have gone under a home and found I wasn’t alone, I found a 6 foot rattle snake was there too. So I agree with the article to look and be careful when under a home.
Mold inspection essay
The floor hvac register appears to be free of moisture and /or evidence of mold growth. However, evidence of cellulose material (saw dust) was observed and should be removed to prevent possible future host for moisture-induced mold growth.
Mold Growth and Prevention
The key to mold control is moisture control.
If mold is a problem in your home, you should clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem.
It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems.
is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors. Some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. Mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present.
Key to preventing mold growth: Reduce the humidity And moisture in all areas conducive to mold growth
Mold inspection class essay.
I have a log home rental house in which the kitchen sink faucet had leaked and was replaced. This was two months ago. For my mold essay, I chose to check out the sink cabinet. There is no back to the cabinet so the logs are exposed and had become very wet during the leak. My moisture meter measured the logs at 8 percent, so they are fine. The particle board at the bottom of the cabinet measured six percent where it was exposed to air however in the area that is sealed by the green plastic shelf liner, the level was as high as 28 percent moisture.
Using a borescope to look under the particle board, I see what appears to be mold. I am going to remove the particle board and let it dry out for a week or so and then replace the piece with painted plywood.
There is a powdery area on top of the particle board that might be mold also, but removing the board will remediate the problem so I would not go through the expense of testing it.
I was able to find some mold from an old water leak directly under the sink located in the master bathroom. No musty or moldy odors were detected, and the wood was dry (moisture meter was below 20%). recommend that chlorine bleach solution be applied as a biocide, and rhen quickly cleaned with soapy water and a cloth. The area should then be thoroughly dried.
After looking at a ton of images about water intrusion, I am surprised that there it’s a house anywhere that doesn’t have a mold problem. There are a so many things to look for and even if you do find signs of water intrusion, determining the cause can be a huge mystery. Especially when you are in the opposite season of when the problem occurred.
Student Research Assignment
Dust Mite Inspection
Dust mites are ubiquitous, and relatively benign, although they are a known allergen source for sensitive people. Dust mites are small; measuring approximately one half a millimeter in length, and a quarter millimeter in width. Dust mites are also prolific, and capable of numbering over 100,000 in a single square yard of carpeting. They feed on dead skin, pet dander and pollen.
Some methods of controlling the dust mite population indoors include; reducing indoor humidity levels below 60%, limiting pet bedding to areas with easy to clean, hard surfacing, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter and laundering clothes in hot, soapy water and drying in high temperatures.
I have taken a picture of a window sill and window casing in a dwelling that is of concern to the residents due to moisture penetration.
There appears to be stains and some type of growth. I would recommend taking a swab sample and air sampling to check for mold spores in the dwelling.
The residents have complained about some health issues they believe to be caused by the appearance of mold. I recommend they speak to a health care professional.
Hi everyone… I am Fazly. I’ve learned a great deal of important subjects when dealing with mold inspection. The IAC2 standard practice and mold sampling decision chart really helps in my daily routine as FM and advising the property manager.
Attached is a photo showing somewhat an apparent mold growth as a result of faulty pipe (leakages) under a sink (wood board type). The presence of water combine with moisture would encourage mold growth under this sink. Eliminating the root cause of this problem and cleaning up all the area under this sink is vital.
Potential Mold Growth in Home
Sample # 1
This is some example of potential area where evidence of mold growth cannot be denied. Photos were taken during a visit to an apartment nearby Jumeirah Beach, Dubai during the summer, where at times the RH can reach up to 75%.
Note the clogged drain line of the FCU resulting in the potential overflow of condensate water into ceiling which may cause mold. Also, the condition of inside supply duct (taken from the diffuser) suggesting mold and other micro bacterial growth.
Remedial action was to perform full coil and drain line and pan cleaning for the FCU, replacement of filter and performing duct cleaning.
Sample # 2
A cracked found in a bathtub (1st floor bathroom) resulting in water leakage below (ground floor) in a typical G+1 villa. For about 2 weeks unattended, we could see sign of mold growth at the ceiling of the ground floor as a result of the leakage.
Remedial action, among others, was to replace with new bathtub, perform a full water proofing work and new tiling inside the bathroom. Full cleaning of the ceiling includes applying mold resistant paint.
