Consumption and Real Estate
How is mold detected in a home inspection?
Question : How is mold detected in a home inspection?
If the previous owner painted over the mold with Kilz or whatever, there might not be any visible signs of it. But a home inspector can still tell it’s there. How do they tell?
home mold inspection
Best answer:
Answer by godged
Air testing. The inspector sets up a machine that gathers air for a period of time, then the inspector tests the contents of the matter gathered during the test for the types of mold present, if any.
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#4 written by ShiphrahPuah 1 year ago
Not all home inspectors will do in depth tests for mold (actually I don’t know of any who test for mold). There are usually signs from things that will cause mold (old roofs, damp basements, wet crawlspaces…) If the roof was recently replaced maybe water damage from the old roof caused mold.
Some home inspectors have a heat detecting devise that lets them see damp spots in the home. (same thing Home Energy Auditors use). Find one that has this to see if there is water behind the walls if thats what you are concerned about.
Mold also has a smell and can be seen, so home inspectors do look for it. If its been covered up, you could always sue the seller for non-disclosure after your purchase. (assuming they fill out a disclosure saying they do not know of any mold present. Ask your Realtor to add this in the contract) - Comment Feed for this Post
They usually do perform a moisture test to see if there is excessive of moisture indoor. Next they will collect air sample to lab test, this will tell whether mold spores present in the air. Sometimes, strong musty or earthy smell does indicate mold growth as well.
Hope this helps.