Our Mold Inspection Services

Mold — what is it, and why is it bad for us? Mold spores are airborne and are invisible to the naked eye. Every indoor environment has the potential for mold when the spores are introduced in the ideal conditions, specifically warm and damp areas. It often grows in areas not visible to the occupants, such as inside of walls, containers, or other enclosed spaces.

Our mold inspection services are ideal for indoor environments where the occupants experience chronic symptoms such as sinus infections, asthma, chronic fatigue, headaches, scratchy throat, mental fog, skin rashes, or if unusual odors are present. They will target the presence of mold VOCs and offer a plan for remediation.

The Elements of a Mold Investigation

Our process involves scanning walls and ceilings with an infrared camera, conducting a walk-through of the home with special attention to areas around plumbing or water appliances (dishwasher, fridge ice maker, showers, vanities, laundry, etc.). We also conduct interviews with the occupants and a series of tests to identify the presence and types of molds. We strongly recommend that windows and doors be kept closed for at least 24 hours before the survey for the best results.

Using our specialized equipment, we scan walls and suspected areas for damp spots, temperature differentials, and particle counts, which may indicate potential mold growth. A visual and olfactory observation are also used to detect problem areas during the survey. Finally, we use sampling equipment to collect samples of air or dust throughout the indoor environment. If a carpeted area is identified as a source, we will take samples of the carpet dust. When the IR camera indicates a suspicious spot, we may sample the air inside a wall cavity (this requires drilling a small ¼” hole in the bottom of the wall, behind or right above the baseboard). All samples taken from the indoor environment are sent to the lab for microscopic evaluations (2-3 days) or cultured at the lab and analyzed with a microscope to identify mold species (7-10 days).

Our mold inspection service includes a follow-up phone consultation. We will discuss with you the results of our detailed examinations and suggest the appropriate remediation required. Written reports are also available upon request for litigation or other official purposes and may incur additional fees.

Examples of areas we may test if applicable:

Underneath kitchen sink base cabinet (behind the toe kick)
Behind dishwasher
Underneath the bathroom vanity shelf (behind the toe kick)
Supply vent ducts in bedroom, home office, etc
Inside furnace/air conditioning
Wall cavities below leaky windows
Under refrigerator
Inside furnace mounted humidifier
On dehumidifier filter or coil
Air cleaner carbon filter
Bedding, especially the mattress
Upholstered furniture
Underneath carpeting, especially if pet accidents occurred or you shampoo carpeting regularly
On floor joists in basements and crawlspaces
Between fiberglass insulation and vapor barriers in walls
Behind baseboards in damp areas (Laundry room, bathrooms, basement)
On fridge door gaskets or washer gaskets
In corners of damp or crowded closets
In attics: in insulation, rafters, sheathing
Underneath basement stairs

Mold Testing Locations

Nashville Mold Testing
Knoxville Mold Testing
Madison, WI
Northern IL
Milwaukee Area

Mold Testing on a Budget

If you are a homeowner on a budget, we can work with you to test different areas of your home via mail. We have satisfactorily resolved many mold infestation cases remotely by partnering with the occupants. We will provide you with instructional videos on collecting samples with swabs, clear tape, or an air sampler (shipped to your home). Collecting samples for analysis is easy, and our professionals will be there to support you all through the process. You may require professional remediation in certain situations, and we can recommend a certified professional closest to you.

Locations in Your Home Where Mold Can Hide

There are so many places for mold to hide. For some individuals with sensitivities or medical conditions, just a bit of mold can significantly affect them. Our extensive experience and expertise have shown that specific areas should be tested for mold.

Underneath kitchen sink base cabinet (behind the toe kick)
Behind dishwasher
Underneath the bathroom vanity shelf (behind the toe-kick)
Supply vent duct in bedroom, office, etc
Evaporator Coil inside furnace
Insulation sound liner inside furnace
Wall cavities below leaky windows
Under refrigerator
Inside furnace mounted humidifier
On dehumidifier filter or coil

In air cleaner carbon filter
On upholstered furniture
Underneath carpeting, especially if pet accidents occurred
On floor joists in basements and crawlspaces
Between fiberglass insulation and vapor barriers in walls
Behind baseboards in damp areas (Laundry room, bathrooms, basement)
On fridge door gaskets or washing machine gaskets
In corners of damp or crowded closets
In attics: in insulation, on rafters or sheathing
Underneath basement stairs

We have found that air sampling is not always helpful if mold is growing in these areas. An air sample (called a spore trap or culture plate) will most of the time detect normal mold counts near these contaminated areas.

ERMI testing may not even detect mold hiding in such areas. We have encountered cases of low ERMI scores in homes where substantial mold contamination actually exists in the basement, crawlspace, or in wall cavities.

Homeowners must be their own investigator! You must look for mold with a high-quality LED flashlight. Suspicious areas identified can easily be tested by submitting samples collected with Scotch tape or swabs and mailed to our office.

Call 800-MY-AIR-TEST or contact us to get started.

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