Where is MOLD found in the home?
Mold can be found in several areas in the home environment. It appears most often in moist areas as little black circles or thread-like white objects. It is usually accompanied with a musty-type odor. Outdoors, mold plays a natural part in the environment by breaking down dead organic matter such as dead trees or fallen leaves.

Mold reproduces by means of microscopic spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through the indoor and outdoor air. Mold begins to grow indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet or damp. Mold will not grow without water or moisture. Therefore, it is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.

 Some examples of places where mold can be found inside the home include:
 · Basements, kitchens (bottom of fridge)  
· Around bathroom vanities, washer/dryer area.
· The underside of carpets and pads
· The surface of walls behind furniture (where condensation forms)
· Ceilings and the top side of ceiling tiles
· Front and back side of dry wall, wall paper or paneling
· Inside HVAC systems and duct work
· Clothing
· Food

 How can I reduce or eliminate
 MOLD inside my home?
It is impossible to completely eliminate all mold and mold spores indoors. Mold will always be found floating in the air and in house dust. Indoor mold growth can be prevented by controlling water and moisture indoors. The following may prevent or reduce indoor mold growth:
· Repair any water leaks
· Provide good air circulation
· All HVAC systems should have a good electrostatic filter on the return
· Use bathroom, kitchen and laundry room exhaust fans
· Insulate and ventilate attic and crawl space areas
· Clean, dry or remove items that are damaged by water immediately.

Real Estate Deals DO NOT Need To Be Broken!
If the home you are thinking about purchasing has mold, do not panic! You can remove unusual mold levels from the home, and bring it back to the original condition. 

NOTE: If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean the mold, but do not fix the water problem, the mold will grow back.
If the contaminated area involved is very large, you may wish to consider hiring a professional. Check with you realtor or home inspector for a qualified company or call PRO-LAB® at 800.427.0550.

Post Remediation Testing: The most important part of the remediation (Clean Up Process) process is the post remediation testing. This final testing procedure provides confirmation that the project has been satisfactorily remediated and that the contamination has not spread to other areas.

Since there has been so much media hype surrounding mold, prospective home buyers want a home that has been mold inspected. Mold sampling has become a standard practice during a home inspection. You should not buy a home with mold, sell a home with mold or live in a home with mold. A MOLD inspection is your first line of defense!

 To find out if mold is a problem in your home, you MUST have a mold inspection conducted by your inspector. 

Visual Inspection: A visual inspection is the initial step in C identifying possible contamination problems. It will identify '. any visible water leaks or moisture stains on ceilings, walls, floors or under counters. The air conditioning and heating systems, the attic and crawl spaces under homes will receive a visual inspection as well. The use of equipment, such as a boroscope, to view spaces in ductwork or behind walls, and moisture meters are used to help identify hidden sources of mold growth and the extent of the water damage. Mold sampling will be recommended if there is any noticeable mold growth, musty odors, visible water damage or stains, poorly maintained HVAC systems or construction defects. By combining a visual inspection with air, tape or swab sampling, the Inspector can help identify the hidden source of mold, allergens and indoor pollutants and the extent of any acute or chronic water or moisture damage.

Air Sampling: The purpose of air sampling is to determine the type and amount of airborne contamination in a building. Air sampling may be necessary if the presence of mold, allergens or toxins is suspected (e.g.: musty odors, allergies) but cannot be identified by a visual inspection. When air sampling is performed, both the indoor air and outdoor air are sampled, so the results can be compared to see if a problem exists. Typically, the indoor sample is taken while the heating and/or air conditioning unit is operating;

this will ensure the interior air is effectively tested.

 Tape/Swab Sampling: Tape/Swab samples are usually collected from visible moldy surfaces by wiping the area with a sterile swab. This type of sampling is used to identify specific mold types.

 Recommendations and Laboratory Results: Once the home has a visual inspection and the mold circumstance evaluated, action can be planned to clean it up and prevent future contamination. Based upon site evaluations and sampling lab analysis results, your inspector can provide a detailed written report that can be used for disclosure and references. In all situations, if mold exists, the underlying cause of the water damage must be corrected.

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