Homeowners in Nanaimo, Victoria, Duncan, Parksville, Qualicum, Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Alberni and all other locations on Vancouver Island many times ask the question: Do I really need a mold inspection or testing?
If you see mold, testing is usually unnecessary. You may want to invest your money directly into eliminating the mold and mold spores.
If you already see obvious, visible mold, you usually do NOT need a mold inspection or mold testing — you simply need to neutralize the mold and mold spores.
There are many cases where a mold inspection and mold testing IS a good idea, and we discuss these below. We also believe home mold tests that you can buy at hardware stores are a waste of money.
Many customers who call us already see visible mold and think they therefore need to get it tested to determine what type of mold it is, whether it is toxic, and other characteristics.
Do you think some companies who inspect for mold care to reveal that testing is often unnecessary when they have an easy $450-$1000 mold inspection on the table from a worried customer who is misinformed? Maybe not…it is something to think about.
Why is a mold inspection sometimes unnecessary if there is visible mold?
Don’t you need to know what kind of mold it is so you can determine whether its toxic? Not always. For starters, so called “Black Mold” is a term that is badly misused and misunderstood.
Secondly, once you already see obvious, visible mold, you might just want to assume it is toxic. Assuming the worst, you move forward on eliminating it quickly.
If this all sounds too hard to believe, especially coming from a mold company, do not take our word for it. Here is what the Environmental Protection Agency from our neighbours to the South says verbatim:
Is sampling for mold needed? In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building’s compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional organizations. (Source: EPA)
How to Remove, Eliminate and Remediate Mold in Attics in Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Port Alberni, Comox, Courtenay, and Campbell River
Pacific Decontamination Services neutralize your mold by applying our eco-friendly, safe chemical into your attic. Depending on the job, we apply our formula by spray and fog. We do not use a tent. The average time of our on-site service is approximately one hour. An additional four hours is required to achieve maximum effectiveness. We ask that you stay out of the premise for approximately 4 hours in total. Read more about how we work.
Pacific Decontamination Services uses the world’s strongest, most effective and safe antimicrobial disinfectant, deodorization and chemical decontaminate. Our professional application will eliminate up to accepted levels of any allergen, germ, bacteria or fungus that it touches. AND as powerful as it is, it is also completely safe.
What do you do next? How do you solve the challenge of mold and associated health hazards?
Call Pacific
Decontamination Services at 778-269-0208 or email us!
Serving All of Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Port Alberni,
Comox, Courtenay, Campbell River, and all of Vancouver Island:
