Do I Need a Mold Inspector or a Mold Remediation Company?

It can be difficult for home owners that may be suffering from water damage or showing symptoms of mold exposure to determine if they need a mold inspector or a mold remediation company.  At Dutch's Mold Inspections & Mold Remediation Services of northeast Ohio we do both. However, many home inspectors will perform mold inspections but refer-out the mold removal process and many mold remediation (or mold removal) companies don't perform the mold testing - so it isn't unreasonable that you may be confused. Here we'll try to help:

Certified Mold Inspectors & Mold Testing Company, Cleveland:

The mold inspection is the process of assessing your home, or building, identifying the location of the mold and taking tests to determine the extent to which mold is present while mold remediation is the process of removing the mold, and many times improving the ventilation in the area, in order to prevent moisture from building up again.

Dutch's Mold Inspections & Mold Remediation Services of the Cleveland, Ohio area perform both the mold inspection and the mold removal, however the mold testing is technically performed by a certified mold testing laboratory that we send our samples to. The mold removal, or mold remediation, is the process of eliminating the mold from the home, which is a separate service and in many cases not performed by the same company.  Most mold inspectors that don't perform the mold remediation will tell you that they don't do mold removal because they don't want to appear partial to the mold inspection, or mold testing, results.

However, it's our experience that it's the costs of becoming certified in mold remediation, the training each year to maintain your certification in mold remediation, the mold remediation equipment, the liability and the cost of mold remediation insurance that keep most mold inspectors from getting into the mold remediation business.  The inspection is the simpler of the two services which is why the mold testing costs much less than the mold remediation.

What is Mold and Do I Have to Worry About it?

You don't have to worry about all mold. The mold on your bread or growing on expired food products is not likely to be causing respiratory illnesses.  Mold spores are a common component of dust in your home and in you workplace. However, when spores are present in large quantities, they are a health hazard to humans, potentially causing allergic reactions and respiratory problems.

Read our blog posts over the years to determine if you're at risk or showing symptoms of mold exposure.

Black Mold or Toxic Mold

The term "toxic mold" or "black mold" refers to molds that produce mycotoxins, such as Stachybotrys chartarum, not to all molds.  Exposure to high levels of mycotoxins can lead to neurological problems and in some cases death. Prolonged exposure, e.g. daily workplace exposure, can be particularly harmful.

If you've found mold in your home, getting a mold inspection is the simplest way to determine if it's harmful and how to remove it, if applicable, and keep it from reoccurring. Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about mold and its potential health risks, or contact us.

Mold Remediation, or Mold Removal - Cleveland, Ohio

Once you have had a certified mold inspector (and make sure they're certified) perform a mold inspection and send your samples to a lab only to find out the mold in your home poses a health risk, you'll want a mold removal company that is certified in mold remediation to perform the mold removal process.  There is no license in mold inspection or mold remediation in Ohio, so if a mold inspector or a mold removal company is saying they are licensed, that could be a red flag. Read more about credentials available on our certifications page.