Mold thrives in settings where dampness, warmth, and organic materials combine, and conditions like poor ventilation, heating, or insulation can aggravate this issue to cause adverse outcomes for a property’s occupants.
If you suspect that mold is growing and have decided to have your property inspected, here are some ways that you can prepare for your mold assessment:
- Close doors and windows: Ahead of your mold assessment, you’ll want to keep exterior openings to your home, like doors and windows, sealed as much as possible for one to two days. This allows the mold spores to build up and not be dispersed by your home’s ventilation, giving you the most accurate results.
- Clear inspected areas: The assessment will involve checking areas prone to mold growth like your property’s sinks, windows, and vents. You’ll want to remove obstructive items from these areas before an upcoming assessment so that they’re accessible to inspectors.
- No landscaping or construction: These activities can impact the results of a mold assessment by producing excess particles, dust, and allergens. For best results, do not engage in these tasks for at least one to two days before your mold assessment.
- Turn off purification systems: It’s inadvisable to use these types of devices and systems at least one to two days before your mold assessment. Turning on your HVAC system and items like air purifiers, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers will skew the mold readings, ultimately reflecting the effectiveness of these systems and devices rather than the extent of your property’s potential mold growth.