Ron Rittiner's (darnifino) Blog

ANSWER:  Protocol dictates that a mold evaluation starts with a mold survey/inspection.  From a mold survey/inspection comes a recommendation for mold sampling.  Each component of this process has its own cost.  Mold samples are charged per sample.  Normally the most basic service involves a mold...

ANSWER:  There are 3 types of mold samples that can be performed; indoor and outdoor air testing, contact (swab, bulk or tape), and carpet testing.  A thorough and complete evaluation will usually involve all 3 types of samples.There are two categories of mold samples taken.  These include viable...

ANSWER:  The science of mold is growing daily.  There are literally hundreds of known species of mold and many more suspected.  Different molds develop from different habitats.  If you can determine what kind of mold you are dealing with you are more likely to find the source of the mold growth a...

ANSWER:  YES!  If mold is in your building it is a problem even if you cannot see it.  The main health threat from mold is mold spores.  Mold spores are microscopic.  In other words you cannot see spores.  Once dispersed the spores can be spread through the air.  If mold is in your building you s...

ANSWER:  NO!  Stopping the source of water does not completely solve the problem.  If mold is deprived of its source of water it does not die, it only goes dormant.  If the moisture returns, such as from humidity, the mold comes back to life and continues to grow.

ANSWER:  Mold and mold spores are present as a natural part of life on earth.  As long as a habitat for mold growth is not inside a building then this natural mold is not an immediate threat to our indoor air quality.  Mold needs 3 things to survive: moisture, food source, and a surface to grow o...

ANSWER:  No.  People can react differently to mold.  Within the same family some people can react very negatively to mold while others do not react at all.  Mold can be allergenic, pathogenic or toxic.  If exposed to toxic mold, the reaction can be fatal.  People can be exposed to mold thru inhal...

ANSWER:  Symptoms of mold exposure may include respiratory problems such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, sore throat, shortness of breath, blurred vision, headaches, memory loss, aches and fever.  Mold itself may appear in many different colors or shapes. 

ANSWER:  A mold inspection/survey is not a home inspection, but a mold inspection/survey can be done in conjunction with a home inspection.  This will, of course, add time to the overall length of the combined inspection/survey.  A mold inspection is conducted in a manner that is similar to a hom...

ANSWER:  A mold inspection (or mold survey) of the structure is conducted to look for evidence of red flags.  Red flags are conditions conducive to microbial growth.  If the inspection/survey indicates that mold is suspected but not confirmed, mold samples can be taken to help determine if mold i...