Guest guest Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Just the thought of trying to move exhausts me, but I am going to have to. I wonder how to get reliable mold testing done as part of an inspection. Has anybody done it? The self-test kits take six weeks for the results to be returned, and no seller is going to wait that long for a decision. What other things should be tested? Radon? What is the best method for doing that. All of it. Josie --------------------------------- Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 You have to ask a LOT of questions and be willing to poke around. If they can't deal with that, walk. Its a buyers market right now, so in that sense, you have a much better chance of being able to do that now than you would have a few years ago. Honestly, I think that if people find a house they like, they should be willing to spend what it takes to test it thoroughly. Its a huge decision, buying a house, and it blows my mind how people would risk that all and their future health in trying to save a few hundred dollars on mold testing. Also, I think the person you bring in to test matters a lot. Dont hire somebody whose primary business is from real-estate agents. They get a lot of flack and lose business if they 'fail' houses, so they try to avoid doing it, they do that by not testing thoroughly. I would ask Carl or Jeff on this list for a number of referrals in your area if possible and then try to interview them thoroughly on the phone and if possible, in person. carl and jeff, what do you think about the idea of doing air testing IN A NEGATIVE AIR PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT? In other words, putting a blower door or a big window fan in a window, blowing out, to suck as much gunk into the living space as possible, then doing testing (spore or QPCR of sampled air) THEN? That might give a much better idea of whats in the walls than some other methods... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Josie, Mold testing is the least accurate and least reliable method for evaluating a new house. Looking for current and past moisture intrusion and condensation is much more accurate, combined with the climate, structure and history. But that requires someone who understands the indoor environment and not just mold testing. One way I evaluate those who test for mold is to see where they begin their work. If they start testing before inspecting then I ask how they interpret the results. They usually don't know and leave it to you, or they compare outside to inside with only two samples. Aside from the dozen or so problems with that, ask them what kind of comparison they make: Ten times higher inside? The same? 6-7 times lower inside? And why that one rather than another? Ask these questions before you hire them. If the inspector actually inspects first he can determine if testing is even needed and what question it might help answer. Then perhaps mold sampling could provide additional information useful for determining a " mold problem " or not. But it isn't definitive because it is totally different from asbestos or radon testing, for example. But that doesn't answer the question of when is mold a problem? It is everywhere at some level all the time yet we don't all react the same. So when is ti a problem for you, for me, for someone else? Since we all react differently to different exposures and in different ways, what is a " problem " for me may not be for you. The questions you are asking are extremely important but there are no easy answers. One way to increase the chances of finding someone useful for your situaiton is to find a member of the Indoor Air Quality Association at www.iaqa.org. If they have an IAQA Pro.Files tab on their listing their information is more detailed and has a verified source. Another way is to find a CIE or CIEC at American Indoor Air Quality Council at www.iaqcouncil.org. These certifications are accredited by an independant organization that meets criteria other than membership in a sales effort. Both sites have search methods to find people in your area. Carl Grimes Healthy Habitats LLC Disclosure: I'm a Vice President of IAQA. ----- > Just the thought of trying to move exhausts me, but I am going to have to. > I wonder how to get reliable mold testing done as part of an inspection. > Has anybody done it? The self-test kits take six weeks for the results to > be returned, and no seller is going to wait that long for a decision. > What other things should be tested? Radon? What is the best method > for doing that. All of it. Josie > > > --------------------------------- > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Search. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 It sounds like a very basic study without speciation. What do the counts run outdoors? Regardless, Yes while basements are known to be damp, musty places... This would make me nervous if I had your medical history as relayed. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.