Quality Mold Solutions is an industry leader when it comes to mold assessments in the Orlando and Central Florida area. Mold assessments, paired with mold testing, can provide a great analysis on what mold issues you have inside your home. Based on our findings we may recommend testing to further determine and confirm the extent of the issues in your indoor air quality.
Our mold assessments include the use of industry specific equipment and top of the line labs to evaluate the samples. A complete assessment would include an analysis inside your HVAC system for mold growth, moisture mapping, thermal imaging and an olfactory test.
The HVAC system evaluation will include a look inside your air handler blower compartment, inside your return ductwork and inside the supply ductwork. If mold growth is found inside the HVAC system it may be recommended that a swab be taken to confirm what type of mold is inhabiting your system. Mold inside the HVAC can grow very easily given the right conditions to flourish.
Measuring humidity is is substantial part of the mold assessment process. Humidity plays a large role in what we in the industry call “surface growth.” Ideal humidity, according to the EPA, is between 30%-50% humidity and anything 60% or above is considered elevated. When humidity is elevated inside the home or office, this provides the mold with the moisture source it needs to grow. Humidity will be measured using our hygrometer.
Since mold needs moisture to grow, moisture mapping is also included in the assessment. Moisture mapping will be used to determine where the moisture spread and what the moisture content is currently at. Moisture content is measured using both invasive and non invasive moisture meters. If moisture is found in a building material at or above 20% moisture content and has been saturated more than 24-48 hours, there is a high potential that there could be mold in the area.
Thermal imaging, also know as IR, is useful in detecting problems not easily noticed by untrained eye. We implement thermal imaging into our assessment to pick up on moisture issues and missing insulation. Technology is amazing!
Our olfactory examination is one of the most useful in our tool bag for mold assessments. First, it will include a visual for mold and water damage such as staining and separated baseboards or crown molding. Lastly, it will include a smell check in all affected rooms. If we know there is an issue in a wall, we may remove an electrical outlet cover to perform a smell check.