When home inspectors test for mold they generally carry out a visual inspection and surface sampling. An air sample can also be taken in conjunction with those tests to diagnose other sources of mold that haven’t been detected.
How does this work? Because it is not possible to see mold spores with the naked eye an air sample is taken and sent to a laboratory to be analyzed. The results of this analysis will not only reveal if mold is in your home or not but will also show the type of mold that is present as well as its severity.
What parts of the home should air samples be taken? Several areas benefit from air samplings such as places where mold is already visible, areas with moisture intrusion or water damage and parts of the home where the air has a musty smell which can be a sign of mold growth.
Factors that can affect air sample reading. While air sampling is being carried out its best to close all windows and doors and turn off indoor-outdoor air exchangers. Weather conditions can also affect the accuracy of the test. For example, when there are severe thunderstorms or extremely high winds it is not the best time to take an indoor air sample. Changes in air pressure will cause mold spore levels to vary which would also affect those levels indoors.
The benefits of air sampling. Tests will be done before and after mold remediation to be certain that the mold has been completely removed. We can see then that air sampling for mold, when done along with other mold testing is a good way to check mold spore levels in your home.
Devereaux Van Dyne, Certified Professional Home Inspector