It is advisable that you deal with the mold growth in your home as soon as you discover this in some parts of your home, whether in the basement, attic, or on the walls of your bedrooms. Small spots of mold can be dealt with by yourself using DIY methods, however in large areas, it is recommended that you get the help of a professional especially there is potential health risks involved during the treatment.
So that the type of mold present and the type of repairs to be undertaken is established, you would need the help of a qualified professional. Be aware that there are many mold inspectors in the industry, but it is better to choose the best professional that you can afford, and not just look at the cost of the services, especially this is a potentially serious situation.
Mold inspection would involve identifying any condition around your property which would show mold growth, and to pinpoint problem areas like water damage, odours, signs of fungal growth and so on. The exterior of your property will also be inspected by the mold inspector aside from the interiors of your home, and the professional will check obvious signs of water damage and leaks that could come from broken gutters, or broken pipes, and so forth.
The moisture level present in the walls of your property is usually gauged also by the mold inspector after conducting the visual inspection. The inspector will pay special attention in areas like under the sink, around water heaters and other areas where there is a present of water, and the moisture level measurement is conducted at intervals like about two feet. To show the level of moisture level present, the measurement of moisture is being done using a special meter with two small pins being inserted into the bottom part of the wall. Note that the acceptable moisture level should be 15% or lower.
Samples can be taken where there is a visible mold growth so you can identify of mold spores. Expect for the mold inspector to give a feedback after samples are evaluated from 3-4 days.
One important thing to do before the arrival of the inspector who will conduct the mold inspection, is to keep doors and windows closed for a duration of 12 to 24 hours. This procedure will then make the results of the mold inspection as accurate as possible. Detection of odours will much possible by the mold inspector because in this manner the air samples will not have a mixture of excess air from the outside.