If you suspect mold in your home or business, the first step isn’t always laboratory testing. It’s a thorough visual inspection to determine whether mold is present, why it’s growing, and what needs to be done to correct the problem.
At AuntieGen, we provide free visual mold inspections for properties within 50 miles of one of our offices. Beyond that distance, a travel charge may apply. As part of every inspection, we also use a professional thermal imaging camera to help identify hidden moisture patterns that may not be visible to the naked eye. There is no additional charge for using thermal imaging during your inspection. If you require a formal thermal imaging report for insurance, legal, engineering, or documentation purposes, that service is available for an additional fee because of the time required to analyze the images and prepare a detailed report.
Our inspections go far beyond looking for visible mold. We investigate the building to determine why mold is growing. That may include plumbing leaks, roof leaks, elevated humidity, condensation, crawl spaces, attics, HVAC systems, poor ventilation, or hidden moisture inside walls, ceilings, and flooring. Using moisture meters, thermal imaging, and years of field experience, we identify the conditions that allow mold to thrive so the source of the problem can be corrected.
One question I often ask homeowners is, “Why would you pay to test mold that we can already see?” If visible mold is present, laboratory testing usually isn’t necessary just to confirm what is already obvious. However, there is an important reason to test before remediation. Pre-remediation testing establishes a baseline that can be compared with post-remediation testing after the work is complete. Seeing where you started and where you finished helps document the improvement in your indoor environment and demonstrates the effectiveness of the remediation.
When testing is appropriate, AuntieGen offers professional indoor air quality and environmental testing, including air sampling, surface sampling, tape lifts, swab testing, ERMI, HERTSMI-2, and other specialized laboratory testing. We recommend testing when it answers an important question, not simply because it’s available.
Our goal is to provide honest answers, practical recommendations, and the information you need to make informed decisions about your property. Finding mold is only part of the job. Discovering why it’s there is what helps prevent it from returning.
