Simple Residential Mold Inspection Checklist

From IAQforms

Contents 1 Phase I: Data Collection 2 Phase II: Walk Through Inspections 3 Phase III: Indicator Measurements 4 Phase IV: Sampling

Phase I: Data Collection

Questions to ask:

1. Why do you want an inspection?
2. Do you own or rent? If you rent, does the owner of the property consent to having testing performed?
3. What type of problems are there?
4. When did they first occur?
5. Notice any improvements in personal health when leaving the home?
6. Who is experiencing the symptoms?
7. Number of people in the home?
8. Age of occupants?
9. Any pets?
10. Any recent renovations and/or improvements?
11. Any construction in the area? (i.e. next door)
12. Any specific building problems? Any leaks?
13. How old is the home? Are there any additions or major rennovations?
14. What type of foundation do you have? (Crawlspace, basement, slab on grade, etc.)
15. How old is the HVAC system? What type is it? Where is it located? Is it properly sized?
16. How long have you been in the home?
17. Any other assessments done in your home? Any visits to a health care professional?
18. Do you anticipate any legal issues involved?
19. Do you have any land and building plans?
20. What is the normal maintenance of the home, HVAC system and outside area? Do you do it or do you have a service contract?
21. What do you think the problem is?
22. Do you notice symptoms more after certain activities?
23. Is there any history of water damage or water leaks? When? Where?
24. Have you noticed any staining? What type?
25. Have you ever been involved with mold litigation?

Phase II: Walk Through Inspections

Locations to inspect:

• Entire HVAC system
• Windows
• Doors
• Baseboards
• Under and around all plumbing fixtures
• Overall cleanliness
• Attic for roof leaks
• Exterior walls- interior of those if possible
• Industry around the area (neighbors and facilities)
• Furniture
• Recent renovations
• Visible water damage/ staining in exterior and interior
• Wall coverings
• Refrigerator, shower, dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer connections
• If tiled, check for mildew and cracks in the grout
• Roof damage
• Patches on roof, ceiling or drywall
• Gutters/ drainage system
• Mold growing on clothes, personal belongings
• Changes to HVAC System
• Foundation's condition from exterior and interior
• Grade (slope) of areas surrounding home
• Exhaust fans (vented to outdoors?) Check bathroom and kitchen
• Crawlspace
• Vinyl wall coverings or other vapor barriers?
• Landscaping around foundation

Phase III: Indicator Measurements

Parameter Outside Room 1 Room 2 Room 3 Room 4 Room 5

• Temperature
• Relative Humidity
• Moisture Meter Readings
• Surface Temperature Readings
• Time of inspection.
• Exterior weather conditions.

Phase IV: Sampling

Samples to take only when Phase I-III indicates its usefulness:

1. Tape lift (To confirm suspect area is mold growth)
2. Swab (Used when surface is wet or tape-lifts won't work)
3. Spore traps (Used to quantify a person's exposure to mold spores)
4. Viable air (Measures only those spores that are viable, i.e. can grow)
5. Bulk (To confirm suspect area is mold growth when other surface samples are not feasible)