How Much Does A Mold Inspection Cost?
There are over 200,000 different types of mold. Mold is a type of fungi that is found virtually everywhere, even in the air we breathe. Mold lives and thrives in moist places and is commonly found behind walls, in air ducts and in carpeting. Mold in a house can have adverse health effects on all the residents of the household, including humans and pets.
Home mold inspection can be done by homeowners using a home mold inspection kit or by a professional mold inspector. Mold inspection cost is less with a home test than when it is done by a professional. Mold inspection cost using a home testing kit ranges from $5-$100 for the kit and an additional $30-$200 per sample to have the mold kit samples tested by a lab. The cost of mold inspection done by a professional inspector ranges from $200-$3000 depending on the size of home and the extent of the testing. In addition to these costs, a charge of $30-$200 per sample will apply for lab testing.
Mold Inspection Companies
Mold inspection services vary in price by just a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. Mold inspection services range from $200-$3000 depending on the size of home and the extent of the testing. In addition to the mold inspection cost, a charge of $30-$200 per sample will apply for lab testing. Some mold inspection companies charge a flat rate, while others charge per foot; the average cost for mold inspection for a 2000 square foot home is $200-$400 or $.10-$0.15 per square foot. Mold inspection services prices do not usually include the mold testing laboratory work charges; laboratory mold testing ranges from $30-$200 per sample. Mold inspection services are also available for commercial buildings; mold inspection for commercial buildings is slightly more expensive than it is for residential homes.
Certified Mold Inspection
When hiring someone to inspect a home for mold, homeowners should only hire an inspector that is properly certified. A certified mold inspector or a CMI is someone who has been professionally trained to inspect homes for mold. To become a CMI, inspectors are required to complete and pass a course outlined by several government agencies. The cost of mold inspection done by a CMI ranges from $200-$3000 depending on their experience level, the size of the house being inspected, and on the homeowner’s location. Mold inspection cost does not include mold testing cost; mold testing cost ranges from $30-$200 per sample.
Home Mold Inspection Cost
Homeowners on a tight budget can purchase a mold test kit so they can do the mold inspection themselves. Home mold test kits range in price from $5-$100 and can be purchased online or at many hardware and department stores.
Mold tests kits generally take 48 hours to produce results and only supply homeowners with the answer to if there is mold in the house or not. If homeowners would like to find out what type of mold is in the house and how dangerous it is, they will have to send their home test kit to a lab to be analyzed; mold testing pricing ranges from $30-$200 per sample depending on the lab and what testing is done. Home mold test kits cost less than a professional mold inspection costs; however, many homeowners found that a home test kit did not do as good of job as a trained professional mold inspector did. The cost of a mold inspection done by a CMI ranges from $200-$3000 or from $0.10-$0.15 per square foot. The average mold inspection cost for a 2000 square foot home is $200-$400 plus the lab mold testing cost.
Mold Exposure Symptoms
Homes that have extensive mold can cause serious health problems in both the people and animals that reside in the home. Some people are particularly sensitive to mold and suffer from more drastic symptoms than other people do. Common mold exposure symptoms are generally very similar to allergy symptoms; common mold exposure symptoms are nasal congestion and stuffiness, wheezing and coughing, shortness of breath, eye irritation, skin irritation and rashes, and fever. Prolonged mold exposure can cause lung disease, asthma, fungal sinusitis and other serious health problems.
Free Mold Inspection
Some mold removal companies offer free mold inspection for homeowners. On the surface, free mold inspection sounds good; however, when it is done by a company that makes its money through mold removal, their results at time are suspect. As mold removal or mold remediation can cost from $500-$35,000, homeowners are best to hire a certified mold inspector from an independent company that makes no extra profit from the mold remediation, if mold is found.
How To Test For Mold
When professional inspectors test for mold, they come to the person’s house and give it a thorough visual inspection. During the visual inspection, they will check common problem areas like attics, crawl spaces, basements and areas that are prone to moisture. Once the visual inspection is done, they will take air samples from both outside and inside the house; the outdoor samples are taken to use as a comparison. The inspector may also take swab and fragrance sample indoors. Many inspectors will take photos of the sample areas in case they are needed for future reference. Once all the samples are taken they are sent to a lab to be tested. Lab mold testing costs from $30-$200 per sample depending on the lab and the tests run. Most labs take anywhere from 1-7 days to complete the testing. Once the testing is done, the mold inspecting company will give the homeowner a concise report of mold levels, problem locations, what molds are present and suggestions on what should be done about the mold. If mold is present at dangerous levels, homeowners will have to hire a professional to remove the mold.
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