answering the "do you do mold inspections?"

[John Dirks Jr]

I don't do mold inspections. Sometime people ask me if I do. I've been responding to them as they come and rarely do I loose an inspection as a result of my answer.

I'm looking to save time by canning a standard answer. Here's what I've begun with. If you think this could be better, how would you spruce it up?

I do not do "mold specific" inspections. However, during my general home inspection I am always looking for what looks like mold. When I see it, I report it as such and may recommend further evaluation. Additionally, I look for and report on any conditions conducive to mold/mildew growth such as any kind of water leaks and poor ventilation conditions.

[Marc]

When people ask me if I do mold inspections, I try to learn what the problem is, what motivated them. Sometimes I can help them, sometimes I refer them to a local 'mold is gold' HI.

Marc

[rkenney]

Ditto Marc.

[Scottpat]

John, I would tell them that I if I see mold I will let you know about it! When I'm asked if I test for mold, I always ask the caller if they could see mold in the home or did it have a mold odor... Most of the time they say no! They just want to check and make sure, etc.....

If they just want mold testing or insistent about testing, I send them to a local air quality guy who is also a home inspector, but he prefers to do air quality work. He knows building science well and helps folks to discover what is causing their problems. He does more than just testing for mold.

I do offer VOC air testing for folks that do not have mold problems but other issues with their home. I use Prism labs Home Air Check testing system, I might average about 10 test per year. Really not a profit center but more of a service to give folks a direction for what their next step needs to be. Sometimes it is a simple as telling them that they need to get rid of the gas cans and cans of old paint in the garage!

[kurt]

I kinda do a varying combo of what you wrote and what Marc does.

[rkenney]

Ditto Marc.

[Mike Lamb]

I check for moisture and mold. I do not test for mold or recommend that anyone test for it.

I know that no standards or guidelines exist to judge acceptable or unacceptable levels of mold.

Haven't you guys read enough scientific studies to know that mold testing is BS?

[Marc]

I check for moisture and mold. I do not test for mold or recommend that anyone test for it.

I know that no standards or guidelines exist to judge acceptable or unacceptable levels of mold.

Haven't you guys read enough scientific studies to know that mold testing is BS?

Oh, I haven't read any at all. Others here have read studies and I read their posts, so I know.[]

Marc

[Mike Lamb]

I check for moisture and mold. I do not test for mold or recommend that anyone test for it.

I know that no standards or guidelines exist to judge acceptable or unacceptable levels of mold.

Haven't you guys read enough scientific studies to know that mold testing is BS?

Oh, I haven't read any at all. Others here have read studies and I read their posts, so I know.[]

Marc

My point is we should not be recommending anyone to perform testing. The client should have blood and scratch tests done by a qualified Dr. to see what normal household molds they are allergic to and only then should they should hire someone for mold testing if that is the route they want to go.

[Mike Lamb]

I don't do mold inspections. Sometime people ask me if I do. I've been responding to them as they come and rarely do I loose an inspection as a result of my answer.

I'm looking to save time by canning a standard answer. Here's what I've begun with. If you think this could be better, how would you spruce it up?

I do not do "mold specific" inspections. However, during my general home inspection I am always looking for what looks like mold. When I see it, I report it as such and may recommend further evaluation. Additionally, I look for and report on any conditions conducive to mold/mildew growth such as any kind of water leaks and poor ventilation conditions.

This subject has remained topical for a long time and rightfully so. The public's concerns will never stop because of the horrific misinformation provided by the media, mold testing hacks, home inspectors and HI schools. ASHI is just one school that promotes mold testing.

Today I got a call for an inspection and she wanted to know if I do mold testing. Why? Because she has two young boys. And that's it.

I emailed this:

Regarding mold: I do look for mold and the moisture that causes it. You do not want a moldy house. However, I do not test for mold nor do I recommend testing for it. I will continue that protocol until some credible medical study suggests otherwise.

From Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/mold.html#4

CDC does not recommend routine sampling for molds. Generally, it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in a building. Measurements of mold in air are not reliable or representative. If mold is seen or smelled, there is a potential health risk; therefore, no matter what type of mold is present, you should arrange for its removal. Furthermore, sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable or tolerable quantity of mold have not been established.

[hausdok]

I ask them,

"Why would I look for it. It's already all over the house you want me to inspect, and it's all over your house, my house, your mother's house and everyone elses'. It's all over my body right now, and yours and it's all over your kids this very instant. It's in your hair and your lungs and it's stuck to your eyes. The very same molds the media calls "toxic" are ubiquitous in the environment and you've been breathing them everyday all day for your entire life. If they were "toxic" how is it that me, you or anyone else is alive?"

That freaks them out a little. Then I tell 'em,

"My job isn't to look for mold; it's to look for those things that can cause enough moisture infiltration for the mold that's already in the home, and in every other home, to grow out of control and reproduce faster than it dies off. When that happens, visible mold appears. It's not any more "toxic" than it was before it grew out of control, but the media tells you it is, you believe them and so you freak out over "toxic mold."

My job is to find the loose, improperly installed flashings in the roof. The siding that's not installed properly, the improperly flashed windows and wall penetrations, the poor drainage outside that will allow water to drain into the crawlspace or the basement, the ventilation system that's malfunctioning, the drain leaks under sinks and the appliances that are leaking water out of loose connections - stuff like that. Those things put more moisture into the home and that moisture, combined with the organic materials this home is built out of, produces various forms of fungi. If I find that happening. I'll make you smart about those kinds of issues. If you then want to follow up with one of these so-called "mold specialist" that's your business but I'm advising you of one thing right now; if you go that route don't hire one of me. There isn't a home inspector on the planet that should be dabbling in mold. We aren't medically trained and the only training available for home inspectors on the topic seems to be a bunch of two or three day mold seminars that are put on by labs that want inspectors to send them samples for testing. More likely than not, anyone that goes through one of those shake-n-bake mold "inspector" courses will come out here, charge you $300 to tell you what I already told you for free - that there is mold in the air of the house - and you won't know anything more valuable then than you know now.

IF I find something like that, or I find some kind of fungi growing because of issues like that, you'll be told about it. IF you then want to spend your hard-earned money paying someone else to conduct further "inspections" I recommend you contact Dr. so-and-so over at so-and-so in Redmond. Those guys are real scientists and Dr. so-and-so has a PHD and has been researching mold since well before this whole mold is gold idiocy began. He at least can give you the straight scoop and won't fill your head with a bunch of nonsense like one of these home inspectors that does so-called "mold inspections."

That's practically rote. I've repeated it so many times I could probably say it with my eyes closed and not have a single word that is different.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Charlie R]

I tell them I don't do mold tests, I will look for moisture problems because that is what mold needs, then I offer to e-mail them the PDF from this site, http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/i ... dtest.html, which lists the top reasons NOT to test for mold. As far as I know, I haven't ever lost a booking because of this.

[Marc]

I tell them I don't do mold tests, I will look for moisture problems because that is what mold needs, then I offer to e-mail them the PDF from this site, http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/i ... dtest.html, which lists the top reasons NOT to test for mold. As far as I know, I haven't ever lost a booking because of this.

Charlie, would you have the full address of that site? It's not working from your post.

Marc

[Charlie R]

It's http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/i ... dtest.html

Sorry about that.

[fayettevillehomeinspectors]

Leakage and those areas that are prone to moisture, possibilities for molds.