The Differences between Mold Testing and Mold Clearance Testing - What you Need to Know about Mold Testing in Torrance

There are two main services that a mold inspector can offer, these are: Mold Testing and Mold Clearance Testing. Here are the key differences.

Mold Testing involves collecting samples to determine the type, quantity and source of mold in your environment. Its purpose is to assist you in determining whether or not mold remediation is necessary.

On the other hand, Mold clearance testing verifies the effectiveness of the mold remediation process by ensuring that the levels of mold fall within standards. This type of testing helps confirm that the issue has been resolved and that air quality has been restored.

Both forms of testing are crucial for maintaining a comfortable home or office space. If you require assistance, with either mold testing or clearance testing feel free to reach out to us today. We possess the expertise and experience needed to address any mold testing related situation.

We also offer a wide range of Indoor Air Quality services in the Torrance region, in addition, we serve the surrounding areas of Irvine, Huntington Beach, La Mirada, La Puente, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Gabriel, Temple City, Culver City, Bell, Beverly Hills, Claremont, Venice and Monrovia.

If you are planning to buy a new property, or to run an office for commercial needs; it’s always important to hire a mold testing specialist. It’s one of the most important steps in the house inspection process. The cost of the service usually varies depending on the overall size of the property and on how many samples need to be taken.

If you are new to the concept of mold testing and are confused about whether to hire professionals or not, we recommend you read the article below. We are going to have a detailed discussion about what mold is and how it affects your property and how to test for it.

What is mold?

First of all, let’s understand what mold is. In simple terms, we can define it as a kind of fungus that grows in moist areas of the property. Mold can spread to the entire area within a very short time by emitting spores. These microscopic particles only have the size of a single cell. Spores are lightweight particles that keep on floating in the air, and once they land on the surface, they will soon form mold in the area. It’s important to note that the major condition for their survival is the availability of moisture.

Basically, if you are able to keep the interior or your building dry, it’s possible to significantly reduce potential mold problems. Experts always recommend cleaning any liquid spills quickly, repair plumbing, roof leaks, and HVAC systems to avoid moisture. Also, one should add more efforts to vent moisture from the bathroom and kitchen areas.

We're a full service Certified Environmental Testing business: in addition to Mold Testing, we also do Indoor Air Quality Testing and Air Scrubber Rental in most regions of California.

There are two prime reasons to avoid mold growth in your premises. For some, the prime concern may be the damage it causes to the property, but in actual fact, it can have a terrible impact on your health as well. Many studies report mold as major reason behind increasing cases of asthma and chronic allergies.

When do you need a professional mold testing service provider?

Mold is not always visible; most of the time it becomes difficult for new home buyers or homeowners to decide whether they need to call professionals for inspection or not. You may start by checking for signs of mold at corners and cracks of the house walls. If some initial growth is visible, it will soon spread more spores around.

Note that it’s also possible that mold is hidden in some dark areas of your house or in the parts that are not clearly visible. Many people report the presence of mold between house walls, in the ducts and basement as well. In some cases, mold also builds tiny colonies located in parts of the house that are extremely difficult to access.

In case if you are not able to decide whether you need a professional for mold testing or not, we advise you to check for these symptoms.

1- If there is some water damage in the house like roof leakage, a flood in the basement, or broken water pipe in the kitchen; it’s time to hire a professional for a detailed inspection.

2 - When you are looking for a new home, it’s better to undertake mold testing in advance so that you can be sure about any possible mold caused by water damage. The reports presented by the testing team will help you make the appropriate decision.

3 - If the property was unoccupied or empty for several months, the chances are that humidity has caused growth of mold in some hidden places. This problem is more common in warmer areas. In such situations, it is better to call a professional for a detailed inspection of your commercial or residential property.

4 - If your family members are sensitive to allergies or respiratory health issues, you should consider mold inspections as a regular measure to monitor for potential mold. Some of the most common symptoms associated with mold are headaches, sneezing, and coughing. The mold inspection tests will help you identify suspicious presence of mold in the house.

5 – A mold inspection must be conducted after mold remediation has been completed so you can be sure the area is safe to live in.

6 - When tenants are leaving your home, it is good to undertake mold testing to ensure healthy living conditions in the premises.

7 - Mold inspection is also important to know the quality of indoor air in your living space. The mold testing professionals can help you ensure you have healthy living conditions at residential and commercial properties.

How do professionals execute mold testing in the Torrance region?

Some of you might be curious to know how they test the premises for the presence of mold. There are generally two types of inspection, and experienced inspection teams prefer to execute both of them. One is the visual inspection in the suspected areas, done to get a good impression of where mold may lurk. The inspectors may even use a FLIR infrared thermography camera to detect unseen moisture.

Secondly experts prefer to use professional tools that can help detect if a particular area is wet or affected by mold. A qualified mold testing team will provide a detailed report about the entire testing process so that you can make an appropriate decision for potential remediation ahead.

There are two major factors related to mold inspection cost. The first one is the size of the property to be inspected, and secondly, it depends on whether the inspector needs to open or remove parts of property to test the presence of mold. Note that, when the mold is hidden inside walls, the mold testing specialist may have to open paneling or drywall. In simple terms, a larger house or office premises will cost more as the inspection will take a longer time. Another potential factor is the number of testing samples that are needed – this obviously also equates with the size of the property.

In order to ensure the best results, you might want to get personal recommendations from your friends and colleagues. Another excellent resource is to check reviews online to find out about the best mold testing companies in the area. All this will help you make the most appropriate decisions while ensuring the peace of mind that you have clear indoor air quality. It is good to ask the mold testing company for an estimate in advance and compare the available options. However, the main factor that affects your decision is the quality of service. We advise you to hire the most reliable professionals from A-1 Certified Environmental Services to perform your mold testing needs in the Torrance region. We offer mold testing and indoor air quality services in the Torrance region, and we also cover the surrounding areas of Irvine, Huntington Beach, La Mirada, La Puente, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Gabriel, Temple City, Culver City, Bell, Beverly Hills, Claremont, Venice and Monrovia.

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