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 Mobile ViewENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY ACCURACY OF VARIOUS MOLD TEST METHODS ACCEPTABLE MOLD LEVEL ACCURACY OF VARIOUS MOLD TEST METHODS ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD ACTIVITY of MOLD in BUILDINGS AGE of MOLD - Old is the Mold? AIR CLEANER PURIFIER TYPES AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR AIR TEST FOR MOLD: ACCURACY AIR TEST SAMPLING CASSETTE STUDY AIRBORNE MOLD SPORE COUNT ACCURACY AIRBORNE PARTICLE ANALYSIS METHODS ALLERGEN TESTS for BUILDINGS ALLERGENS in BUILDINGS, RECOGNIZING ALLERGY & MOLD IAQ PRODUCTS ALLERGY TESTS for PEOPLE ALLERGY TEST ACCURACY ATTORNEYS and EXPERT WITNESSES ATTIC MOLD BASEMENT MOLD BASEMENT MOLD WATER IMPACT BATHROOM MOLD BIBLIOGAPHY for ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MOLD, IAQ BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES BLUERAY Recall BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE CACTUS FUNGI / MOLD Cadmium in the home CAR MOLD CONTAMINATION CARBON DIOXIDE - CO2 CARBON MONOXIDE - CO Carbon Nanotube Hazards CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET PADDING ASBESTOS, MOLD, ODORS CARPET FUNGICIDAL SPRAY CARPET STAIN DIAGNOSIS CARPET & other STAIN TESTS CARPET TEST PROCEDURE CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY CARPETING, SELECTION & INSTALLATION CAT DANDER in buildings Cell phone Radiation Hazards CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CHLORINE in WATER, HOW TO TEST FOR CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER COALSTOVE SAFETY COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CPSC Indoor Air Pollution Book Online Copy DIRECTORY of MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS DIRT FLOOR MOLD CONTAMINATION Disinfectants Disinfecting Buildings with Bleach DRYWALL MOLD DRAFT HOODS - gas fired DRAFT MEASUREMENT, CHIMNEYS & FLUES DRAFT REGULATORS, DAMPERS, BOOSTERS DRINKING WATER Diethylstilbestrol - DES DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS DUST ANALYSIS for FIBERGLASS DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC? DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE EMERGENCY RESPONSE, IAQ, GAS, MOLD EMF MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS ENVIRO-SCARE - PUBLIC FEAR CYCLES EXTERIORS of BUILDINGS FEAR of MOLD - MYCOPHOBIA Fiberboard Insulation Sheathing Mold Fiberglass Enviro-Scare FIBERGLASS HAZARDS FIBERGLASS INSULATION FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FIBERGLASS PARTICLE CONTAMINATION TEST FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FIBERGLASS PARTICLE CONTAMINATION TEST FIRE DAMAGE vs MOLD DAMAGE Fireplace Inserts Fireplaces & Woodstove Contaminants FLAME COLOR, BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-mold FLOOR DAMAGE DIAGNOSIS FLOOR & SUBFLOOR MOLD, HIDDEN FLOOR TILE ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION FLOOR TILE HISTORY & INGREDIENTS FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO MOLD MOLD INFORMATION CENTER ACCURACY OF VARIOUS MOLD TEST METHODS Causes of Variation in Airborne Particle Levels Indoor vs. Outdoor Spore Counts Extent of Variation of Airborne Particle Counts Particle Levels vs Sampler Height Particle Levels vs Windows/Doors PARTICLE & MOLD LEVELS in DUCTWORK Concentration Bursts of Mold Spores False Negative Results in Mold Tests Mold Culture Plate Test Errors Why Use Airborne Mold/Particle Sampling? Visual Inspection and History for Mold ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR AIR TEST FOR MOLD: ACCURACY AIR TEST SAMPLING CASSETTE STUDY AIRBORNE MOLD SPORE COUNT ACCURACY ALLERGEN TESTS for BUILDINGS ALLERGY TESTS for PEOPLE ALLERGY TEST ACCURACY BASEMENT MOLD BASEMENT MOLD WATER IMPACT BATHROOM MOLD BROWN HAIRY BATHROOM MOLD BIBLIOGAPHY for ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MOLD, IAQ BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BLACK MOLD, HARMLESS COSMETIC BLACK MOLD, TOXIC & ALLERGENIC BLEACHING MOLD, Advice about BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES BOOK MOLD, Moldy Book Cleaning BOOKSTORE - ENVIRONMENTAL CACTUS FUNGI / MOLD CAR MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET PADDING ASBESTOS, MOLD, ODORS CARPET FUNGICIDAL SPRAY CARPET STAIN DIAGNOSIS CARPET & other STAIN TESTS CARPET TEST PROCEDURE CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY CARPETING, SELECTION & INSTALLATION CHAIN OF CUSTODY - TEST SAMPLE CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS - MOLD CLEANUP CRAWL SPACES DIRECTORY of MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS DIRT FLOOR MOLD CONTAMINATION Disinfectants Disinfecting Buildings with Bleach DO-IT-YOURSELF MOLD CLEANUP WARNINGS DRYWALL MOLD DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS DUST ANALYSIS for FIBERGLASS DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC? DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FIND MOLD, ESSENTIAL STEPS FIND MOLD in BUILDINGS, HOW TO FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND HUMIDITY CONTROL TO PREVENT MOLD INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INDOOR AIR QUALITY METHODS COMPARED LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LEED Building Designation & IAQ MEDIA BLASTING for MOLD REMOVAL METHANE GAS SOURCES MICROSCOPE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY MILDEW in BUILDINGS ? MILDEW ERRORS - MOLD PHOTOS MILDEW REMOVAL & PREVENTION MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO MOLD MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD MOLD ACTIVITY in BUILDINGS MOLD AGE - Old is the Mold? MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX MOLD BY MICROSCOPE MOLD in the PETRI DISH, PHOTOS Mold on Books, Book Conservation MOLD CLASSES, HAZARD LEVELS MOLD CLEANERS - WHAT TO USE MOLD CLEANUP COMPANIES MOLD CLEANUP, DO IT YOURSELF MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD MOLD CLEANUP by MEDIA BLASTING MOLD CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS MOLD CLINICAL REFERENCE TEXTS MOLD CONSULTANTS/INSPECTORS MOLD CONTAMINATION LEVELS MOLD CULTURE PHOTOS MOLD CULTURE TEST KIT VALIDITY MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE MOLD DOCTORS - ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE MOLD or INDOOR AIR EMERGENCY RESPONSE MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE MOLD EXPOSURE, FOOD HAZARDS MOLD EXPOSURE RISK LEVELS MOLD EXPOSURE STANDARDS MOLD INSPECTORS & MOLD TESTERS MOLD LEVEL IN AIR, VALIDITY MOLD LEVEL REPORTS MOLD LEVELS IN BUILDINGS MOLD BY MICROSCOPE MOLD in the PETRI DISH, PHOTOS MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELLS MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE MOLD RELATED ILLNESS GUIDE MOLD RELATED ILLNESS SYMPTOMS MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS MOLD STANDARDS MOLD TEST KITS for DIY MOLD TESTS MOLD TEST METHODS, ACCURACY MOLD TEST PROCEDURES MOLD TEST REASONS MOLD TESTING METHOD VALIDITY MOLD TESTING SERVICES MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS MYCOPHOBIA, STAINS MISTAKEN for MOLD MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE Nanomaterials Hazards NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE RENTERS & TENANTS GUIDE TO MOLD SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR SICK HOUSE IAQ QUESTIONNAIRE SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS TECHNICAL & LAB PROCEDURES THERMAL TRACKING More Information |
This article explains how to assess the level of mold contamination in heating or cooling air ducts, and the aggressiveness of mold testing (do we agitate the ducts) that can form sources of error when testing HVAC systems for mold contamination. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.This document is a brief tutorial which provides information about the accuracy of and sources of errors in tests for the level of allergenic and toxic mold in residential buildings:Are spore counts valid? Are cultures and swab tests valid? Readers concerned with mold contamination in heating and air conditioning air handlers and ductwork should see BLOWER LEAKS, RUST & MOLD and PARTICLE & MOLD LEVELS in DUCTWORK where we describe how to test HVAC systems and ductwork for mold. Mold in HVAC ductwork is also discussed at WHY DOES MOLD GROW in INSULATION?. These critical mold testing accuracy questions are discussed in this paper. Readers should also see MOLD LEVEL IN AIR, VALIDITY, and for a more in-depth critique of popular mold testing methods than this tutorial see MOLD TESTING METHOD VALIDITY © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. How to Test Air Ducts for Mold ContaminationQuestion: After dealing with a moldy washing machine and even a mold remediation we are focusing on our ductwork: what is the best way to test for mold in the heating/AC system
I have been sick with sinusitis for over a year now and am known to have severe allergies to mold (causing recurrent bronchitis and sinusitis). After many scans and tests, my doctors feel the most likely reason not responding to treatment (many courses of antibiotics and sinus irrigations) is because of an environmental allergy. Because of my husband's illness, we decided we had to move into a more maintenance-free living situation and bought a townhouse a year ago. Because of my known allergy, and because of a small area of what looked like black mold (and smelled unbelievably vile) discovered during the renovation, we had two different mold remediation companies as well as an air quality testing company come in. They felt the black mold was removed completely (under negative pressure and other precautions) and then they did a fair amount of preventive work - since there were a few tiny areas of green mold in the basement and attic. Air quality testing afterwards supposedly showed no mold anywhere. We recently discovered our front-loading washing machine is one of the brands known to have major mold problems and there are now several class action suits against them. We had several puzzling episodes of moldy sheets, which weren't recognized until our son came home to visit (my sense of smell has been wiped out by the sinusitis and my husband never had a good sense of smell). We couldn't figure out how this was happening since we are very careful not to leave wet clothes/linens lying around or in the washer. According to our son, the mold smell permeated the master bedroom. We then moved to the other bedroom and the same thing happened again, discovered when our son was visiting again, and again the smell permeated the room. The washer is in the master bath. I first got sick in our old house (which was a house that, up until then, had been a very healthy environment for me) after we bought the washing machine. We had a couple of episodes of moldy-smells in our wash in the old house, but I was still able to smell and threw things out right away, but was puzzled as to why they were occurring. We have replaced the washer, aired out the rooms, bought air filters, have an HEPA filter on the return heating duct, but I am not feeling better (after having rewashed all our clothes and bedding. We're concerned that mold could be in the heating/AC duct system. We've thrown out all our linens twice now (after our son discovered the mold) but before we learned about the washer. We're also wondering if we need to throw out everything again. My basic question is what is the best way to test for mold in the heating/AC system and is there a company/person you could recommend to do this work? Thanks for your time and any advice you can give us. - K.J., New Jersey Reply: A combination of Steps can Help Assess Mold Contamination in an HVAC SystemWhat makes sense to me is to take the following mold inspection and testing steps if you have not already done so:
We have sometimes found that thick absorbent furnishings such as carpets, upholstered couches and chairs, and mattresses that suffer prolonged exposure to a moldy environment may be smelly from MVOCs even if there was no observable actual mold spore or mold growth contamination on those items. I'd like to know more about the clothes washer you had trouble with and what authoritative references you have on that matter. At MOLD & ENVIRONMENTAL INSPECTORS we list some inspectors/testers specializing in mold and indoor contaminants. But there may be other well qualified people in your area. Talk with anyone you are considering hiring. Don't tell them the "right answer" (besides they are likely to have other good ideas). But name your concerns and ask how they will approach the job - stay away from superficial experts who dash in, collect a mold sample, charge you, and leave. [InspectAPedia.com has no financial nor business relationship with products or services discussed at our website Variation in Airborne Particle Levels in Heating and Air Conditioning Ducts
How much variation in airborne mold or dust level do we see inside heating and air conditioning ducts and air handlers?: The left hand photograph shows a one liter airborne particle trace collected inside of a heating furnace return air plenum using a Burkard Personal Air Sampler. The right hand photograph shows a second particle trace collected in the same location, with the same volume of air, with one difference: we tapped lightly on the side of the air plenum during the sampling process. Even before counting the number airborne particles of any type per liter of air it is obvious that even modestly aggressive sampling (rapping on the plenum to stir up local dust) can make a large difference in the level of particles seen in the sample result. We conducted this test during a post mold remediation clearance inspection of a previously mold-contaminated air conditioning system. The remediation contractor vehemently disagreed with the procedure of tapping on the ductwork during testing, informing us that "... his hygienist never did such a thing". We agree that consistency in test methods is important in order to be able to compare one mold test with another. However if we're looking for the presence or absence of a significant mold or allergenic dust reservoir that should have been removed, a little aggressiveness in sampling can be useful and in fact more accurate as well. In sum, do not rely on the accuracy of airborne particle counts alone: Since air samples do not capture a representative picture of the indoor environment an indoor air quality investigator should not rely simply on conventional airborne particle quantitative analysis (particle counts per cubic meter). Questions & Answers regarding this article. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY
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OTHER IAQ ISSUES: How To Find and Address Other Indoor Air or Indoor Environment Contaminants Besides MoldMold or allergens may not be the only or even the main indoor environmental contaminant. Don't let media attention to mold cause so much enviro-scare fear that other, possibly more urgent hazards go un-addressed.
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