What to Look For When Hiring a Houston Mold Inspector

It’s a well-known fact that mold exposure can cause serious health issues. Those most affected by mold include young children, the elderly, and people with respiratory problems. Mold exposure can cause allergies, skin irritation, breathing difficulties and in the worst-case scenarios, organ damage and even death. ​

If you suspect you have mold in your Houston home or commercial business, don’t try to clean it up yourself. What you should do is find out how much mold you actually have and what type it is.

The thing about mold is that the spores can’t always be seen, but they can spread easily into places like between walls or in ducts. That’s why you need professional help. There are many Houston mold inspector services to choose from. To ensure you hire a competent mold inspector, the company you hire should:  

Have Training & Experience Testing for Mold 
It’s very important to hire a Houston mold inspector with adequate training and experience. Your inspector should have a good understanding of mold, be trained in mold detection, and have a few years’ worth of experience carrying out mold inspections and tests. 

Be Clear About the Inspection Procedures
A top-notch mold inspector will explain in detail what their inspection procedures consist of. Some of the standard procedures should include the following: 

• Inspecting interior areas of the property to look for leaks and water staining

• Checking areas where mold often grows like in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, under sinks, around ventilation, behind walls & ceilings, and in ducts. 

• Conduct surface and air testing to detect and identify mold. 

In short, the inspector should take the time necessary to check all accessible areas of the property to detect and identify a mold problem. 

Offer A Fast Turnaround Time Between the Inspection & Report
A good mold inspection company won’t keep you waiting longer than necessary for the mold test results. Of course, you want to give them enough time to give you a good report, but not so long that you have to delay repairs. Typically, a couple of days to a week is a reasonable amount of time to expect the final written report. 

Be Up-Front About the Fees Charged
It’s important that the mold inspection company you choose is upfront about the fees charged. Many inspectors charge a flat fee while others charge according to the size of the property. 

The last thing you need is to get a huge bill for services you didn’t even know you received. Generally speaking, mold detection fees can run anywhere from $300 upwards to $1000 or more, depending on many factors.

Use these tips when hiring a Houston mold inspector. When you hire a good inspector, you’ll rest easy knowing all the mold is found and identified. Then it’s just a matter of having the mold eradicated.