Air Quality Inspections

Taking air samples during a air quality inspection is crucial for several reasons. Mold spores are not visible to the naked eye, and the types of mold present in a home can often be determined through a laboratory analysis. Having the air samples analyzed can also help provide evidence of the scope and severity of a mold issue, a well as help in assessing human exposure. 

Air quality samples can be used to gather data about mold spores that might be present on the inside of the home. These samples are taken with a specific pump that forces air through a collection device that catches the mold spores. Then the samples are sent out to a third party laboratory to analyze. InsideOut Inspections utilizes the top of the line products to ensure an accurate reading every time!

When & When Not To Sample

Samples are generally best taken if visual, non-invasive examination reveals apparent mold growth or conditions that could lead to growth, such as moisture intrusion or water damage.  Musty odors can also be a sign of mold growth.  If no sign of mold or potential for mold is apparent, one or two indoor air samples can still be taken, at the discretion of the inspector and client, in the most lived-in room of the house and at the HVAC unit.  

Outdoor air samples are also typically taken as a control for comparison to indoor samples.  Two samples -- one from the windward side and one from the leeward side of the house -- will help provide a more complete picture of what is in the air that may be entering the house through windows and doors at times when they are open.  It is best to take the outdoor samples as close together in time as possible to the indoor samples that they will be compared with.

InsideOut inspectors should avoid taking samples if a resident of the house is under a physician’s care for mold exposure, if there is litigation in progress related to mold on the premises, or if the inspector’s health or safety could be compromised in obtaining the sample.  Residential home inspectors also should not take samples in a commercial or public building