Mold Testing & Inspection

Mold testing and inspection are the keys to comprehensive mold abatement. Thoroughness is important to assure that mold remediation treatments are performed to your satisfaction. Pre- and post-remediation testing and inspections allow us to ensure your home is mold-free.

At EAHI, we visually inspect for moisture and water intrusion using infrared detection technology. Then, if appropriate, we will take air and/or surface samples to check for mold spores, following the Indoor Environmental Standards Organization mold testing methods and procedures. Remember, you cannot rely on what you see or smell to ascertain the presence of mold! Finally, we submit our samples to an independent microbial laboratory for a comprehensive analysis.

Why Mold Testing & Inspection

The purpose of performing pre-remediation mold testing is to provide the property owner or decision maker with a clear picture of the severity of the issue at hand. Pre-remediation mold testing is important for many reasons including:

To provide a baseline for post-remediation testing
To reveal potential hidden issues within the property
To date moisture intrusion which may reveal previously unknown water events
To assist with defining the scope of work necessary for a successful remediation

Many of our customers ask us how to know if they have mold in the home. Any one of the following is an indication of mold:

You See It. You see mold. Visible mold spreads quickly and easily throughout your home or workplace.

You Smell It. You smell a musty odor, which could be a sign of hidden mold by an unknown moisture source.

You Feel It. Symptoms of mold related health problems can include sinus infections, sore throat, headache, coughing, rashes, and fatigue. Individuals with pre-existing health conditions, including allergies, immune disorders, or transplant patients, may be more severely affected by the presence of mold.

The suspicions of mold through visual clues and other senses does not always indicate there is mold present. Surface and/or air quality testing can confirm you have a mold issue.

When our representatives arrive, they will visually inspect for mold and water intrusion including utilizing infrared technology. Your responsibility is to identify what you feel are suspect areas versus non-suspect areas. This is important information for our representative to determine the number and location of any samples. Our representatives will not be held liable for a client’s decision to decline testing in a recommended location. Proper assessment is critical to the success of a remediation project and it is highly recommended that testing be performed both prior to and after the remediation is conducted.

Don’t assume that once a pool is installed, your worries are over. Improper drainage and soil pressure can lead to a host of problems. East Alabama Home Inspectors offers pool inspection services to make sure your pool is not damaged and everything around the pool has been properly installed. We have inspection experience with residential pools and shared pools at duplexes. Our completed report will include photos. You will receive as much information as possible to help educate you about your pool, its structure and drainage. Call 334-231-2827 today to schedule a pool inspection in the Auburn, AL area.

We look for hazards in the pool area

Our pool inspection services are thorough. We will go as far as pouring water on the coping and concrete area around the pool to see if there is a slip hazard. We also check:

The metal that is touching water to make sure it is grounded correctly
The electrical work around the pool
The bottom and liner of the pool to check for cracking and damage

We also look at the pool’s plumbing and piping to make sure everything is working. Contact East Alabama Home Inspectors today to learn more about our pool inspection services.

If you’re thinking about buying a house with a pool, there are some important things you need to know — before closing the deal. A swimming pool is one of the most valuable assets in a home and it can be the place your family and friends share some of the best times of their lives.

Or it can be a headache that just won’t go away.

Get a Certified Pool/Spa Inspection. You’ll want to buy your next home with your eyes wide open. But unless you’re a pool expert yourself, you’ll be wise to engage a professional pool inspector to conduct a thorough inspection. You need one that’s been around some time and has experience with a wide variety of pools – and the many problems that can happen with them over the years.

An infrared camera helps me see things that inspectors can’t. That’s why infrared is included on every inspection.

You see this

I see this!

See more images

Thermal Imaging In Home Inspections: What is it Used For?

Sometimes a home has problems related to moisture intrusion, lack of insulation, or hot spots in electrical circuits that cannot be detected using the naked eye alone. While all of the issues noted above are things a potential buyer would want to know about, discovering unwanted moisture in the home is probably the main use of thermal imaging in home inspections. Not only can water cause a tremendous amount of damage; it can also lead to ancillary problems, like mold growth.

What is Thermal Imaging?
Infrared Thermography, or thermal imaging, involves the use of a special camera that allows the detection of even small differences in surface temperatures. The images produced by the camera alone are not telling enough, however – you need a qualified home inspector to interpret the thermal images and decipher what issues might be depicted there. Often, the problem has to do with moisture intrusion, and your home inspector will likely also use a moisture meter in order to detect moisture levels and whether or not excess moisture is present.

Can a Thermal Imaging Camera See Through Walls?
A thermal imaging camera does not X-Ray anything; it cannot “see” through walls. Rather, it produces visual measurements of surface temperatures and displays these differences through changes in color that can be read by your home inspector. Using thermal imaging in home inspections cannot directly detect the presence of water; this is why a skilled, infrared certified thermographer and a moisture detection tool are also necessary. Still, thermal imaging provides us with enough extra information that it is an invaluable tool to detect potential issues.

Why Use Thermal Imaging in Home Inspections? Because a home inspection is a visual and non-invasive inspection of the safely accessible systems and components of a home, a tool that enhances your home inspector’s ability to detect defects and issues with the home is a welcome one. Your home inspector may perform a full thermal imaging scan of the home, or he or she may only bring out the thermal imaging camera when a particular problem is suspected. Either way, you’ll be rewarded by the extra help this tool adds to the inspection process and for the additional information you’ll receive about the home you wish to purchase.

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Inspecting a Deck

More than 2 million decks are built and replaced each year in North America. InterNACHI estimates that of the 45 million existing decks, only 40% are completely safe.

Because decks appear to be simple to build, many people do not realize that decks are, in fact, structures that need to be designed to adequately resist certain stresses. Like any other house or building, a deck must be designed to support the weight of people, snow loads, and objects. A deck must be able to resist lateral and uplift loads that can act on the deck as a result of wind or seismic activity. Deck stairs must be safe and handrails graspable. And, finally, deck rails should be safe for children by having proper infill spacing.

A deck failure is any failure of a deck that could lead to injury, including rail failure, or total deck collapse. There is no international system that tracks deck failures, and each is treated as an isolated event, rather than a systemic problem. Very few municipalities perform investigations into the cause of the failure, and the media are generally more concerned with injuries rather than on the causes of collapses. Rail failure occurs much more frequently than total deck collapses; however, because rail failures are less dramatic than total collapses and normally don’t result in death, injuries from rail failures are rarely reported.

Why Hire an InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector®?

InterNACHI inspectors are certified and trained by the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, the world’s largest nonprofit association of residential and commercial property inspectors. InterNACHI provides its members with accredited training and education, free benefits, expert advice, and peer support—all to help them serve their homeowner-clients by providing them with the highest-quality inspections for their largest investments.

As an InterNACHI inspector, I:

• am required to stay up to date with the industry’s most rigorous online Continuing Education and video training courses, which have been awarded hundreds of approvals and accreditation by state and governmental agencies;
• adhere to a comprehensive Standards of Practice;
• abide by a strict Code of Ethics, which puts my clients first; and
• use state-of-the-art inspection tools and reporting software so that my clients can make informed decisions about the homes they want to buy or sell.

My standard home inspection is an evaluation of the visible and accessible interior and exterior structure, systems and components. Your report will include my findings of any material defects I discover in an easy-to-read format. I will also provide my recommendations for monitoring, repair or replacement. And my job isn’t finished until you understand everything in your report.

I will provide a personalized inspection of your home.

For the Home Buyer
A home is probably the largest purchase you will ever make, so it is important to understand the condition of your investment. I will provide a non-invasive examination of the home’s accessible structure, systems
and components. While a home inspection is not a prediction of future conditions and cannot reveal every concern that exists (or ever could exist), it will significantly reduce your anxiety by arming you with the knowledge you need to make an informed home-buying decision.

For the Home Seller
Are you selling your home? Let me inspect it before you even list it. A Move-In Certified™ seller inspection informs you of any defects or problems with your home so that you can address them before prospective buyers discover them. You can then take the time you need to obtain reasonable repair estimates. Show prospective buyers that you are dealing in good faith. Avoid 11th-hour negotiations and delays, and justify your full asking price by having your home pre-inspected now.

For the Real Estate Professional
Your reputation is your most valuable asset. Your clients rely on you to guide them through a complicated and sometimes stressful process. Demonstrate to them that their trust in you is justified by referring them to me. My experience, training and professionalism will deliver the information your clients need. The best advertising is a happy client.