Mold Inspection Sciences Videos

The Importance of a Comprehensive Sampling Strategy

We take great care to collect all essential samples for full and thorough laboratory analysis. These could include samples from indoor and outdoor air, surfaces, dust, walls, and more. It may seem like a lot, but a complete evidence -based sampling strategy is the best way to ensure you have all the information you need to create a safe, healthy environment within your home, while avoiding the added cost and inconvenience of additional assessments.

What are the Health Risks Associated with Mold?

Exposure to molds at certain levels or over extended periods can lead to various health ailments. Most people exposed to high levels of mold may experience symptoms like a runny nose, itchy throat, or burning eyes. These are the most common symptoms of mold exposure, resembling typical allergy symptoms. However, depending on the mold type and individual sensitivities—especially if someone has respiratory conditions or asthma—more severe health issues can arise. In some cases, prolonged exposure to certain molds can lead to neurological issues, as some molds produce mycotoxins that may cause serious health effects beyond typical allergy-like symptoms.

What Does Mold Smell Like?

Most people describe mold odors as smelling musty or like wet soil. However, there isn't a specific smell that always indicates a source of mold. People report that mold odors can sometimes smell sour, sweet, or tangy. The odor can vary, but any of these smells could point to a possible indoor source. Molds have the ability to produce microbial volatile organic compounds as they grow. These compounds are what lead to those odors, and the smell can vary depending on the type of mold, the conditions, and the materials the mold is growing on.

Home Inspection vs. Mold Inspection

This featured video is a great place to start, where Craig Cooper discusses the differences between a Home Inspection and a Mold Inspection and when you should consider having both conducted. Hint: especially when you are buying a new home or making an investment in a property.

When You Smell Something Damp and Musty

Mold Inspection Sciences was founded in 2002 with one simple goal in mind: to provide affordable, professional, and high-quality mold inspection and testing services to all clients suffering from the nuisance of mold. Over the past 20 plus years, we’ve successfully performed proven science-based testing and solved thousands of investigations providing safer and healthier conditions for a wide variety of clients to thrive in.

What Everyone Should Know About Mold

Some molds are good; some molds are bad. A lot of times it’s normal growth, you know like on old bread. But, when it’s growing in your home, on the ceiling or the walls, that’s not good. As mold specialists, we get asked all the time: "Is it good mold or bad mold?"

If you can see mold, why sample it?

Nobody’s eye can tell you with one hundred percent certainty that is or is not mold. It’s always best to get a sample tested to verify either way. We’ve seen hundreds of situations where we look at a spot and think - that is absolutely mold. And, we sample it and it comes back and it’s not. And I’m able to save that client money because we can treat that differently.

Samples Tell Us What Our Eyes Can’t See

“We don’t know what we don’t know.” As mold inspectors, we thrive on data. The more information we have, the more defined our recommendations can be, whether there’s an issue or not. This is especially true if we need to help provide evidence for a medical professional to aid in treatment for those dealing with potential health issues.