Mold Inspection/Consultation
Your personal mold consultant.
Concerned about mold?
Let Casa Lago help clear the air
Scheduled an appointment
All of our phone and email consultations are free of charge. Easy online scheduling available
Mold inspection sample taking is performed
Full mold assessment is performed, and we take samples of the air quality and organic growth
Mold samples are sent to our independent lab
Our local, Texas Certified
laboratory will analyze the samples and provide a detailed report to identify the species of mold present
Lab results and reports sent via email with full support throughout the mold remediation process
Casa Lago Mold Consultants is the #1 choice in South Texas for certified mold inspections & specialized microbial investigation. We have extensive knowledge on toxic mold, black mold, allergenic & pathogenic molds. We are also highly trained in evaluating residential and commercial properties for moisture and indoor air quality (IAQ) issues. The Texas Mold Regulations are quite complex. We are well-versed at navigating the nuances of the Texas Mold Regulations, with a common-sense approach.
All of our phone and email consultations are free of charge. We will then be able to help develop a plan of action for your specific needs and give you a price on our services. During a mold assessment, we use state-of-the-art equipment to evaluate the property for active or dormant moisture issues along with areas of visible mold growth. We are licensed and certified to collect swab samples, air samples, carpet samples, behind-the-wall (cavity) air samples and much more! We also offer many other specialty services such as thermal imaging inspections which can help identify hidden moisture inside the walls or conditions that could lead to mold growth.
The typical plan of action looks like this:
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Step 1: Contact Casa Lago for a free consultation and review of your issues. A quote will be provided for the services requested.
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Step 2: Schedule a site-visit to evaluate your property for moisture, mold or IAQ issues.
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Step 3: A site evaluation will be performed to help identify issues affecting the building.
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Step 4: Mold or IAQ sampling will be performed, at your approval, to help identify and confirm suspected issues.
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Step 5: Samples will be taken to a local Texas Certified third-party laboratory for analysis.
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Step 6: Once sample results are available, they will be reviewed with our client for a better understanding of the results.
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Step 7: A Mold Remediation Protocol will be issued to our client outlining our findings, the lab’s mold test results and a recommendation to help correct whatever issues have been uncovered along with our full support throughout the mold remediation process.
What can I do to prevent mold? Here are some tips to prevent mold:
Use exhaust fans or open a window during and after bathing/showering, dishwashing, using the dishwasher, cooking, or using the clothes dryer.
Use a towel or squeegee to dry off wet surfaces after bathing. Bathtub or showers corners and joints, including tile crevices, are more susceptible to mold growth, so be sure to dry off those surfaces. If condensation occurs on inside windows panes (a common winter problem), take the time to dry them off frequently. Keep humidity levels as low as you can—no higher than 50%--all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. Bear in mind that humidity levels change over the course of a day with changes in the moisture in the air and the air temperature, so you will need to check the humidity levels more than once a day.
Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months. Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with insulation. Add mold inhibitors to paints. Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products. Do not carpet bathrooms. Quickly clean up and dry any liquids that might spill on carpets. Use kitchen exhaust fans when cooking. Avoid using humidifiers unless there is a medical reason to use one. Avoid the use of gas heaters that are not properly vented to the outside of the home. Ensure good air movement in your home. Open windows when possible. Don’t block air supply and return vents. Keep dust off air supply vents. Keep a few inches of space between furniture and walls. Avoid clogs and overflows of drains and toilets. When moisture problems do occur, it is critical to quickly identify the cause of moisture and to dry affected areas. Common moisture problems include pipe leaks, roof leaks, sewage back-ups and over-flowing toilets, sinks, and bathtubs. Floodwaters can also cause mold problems.
UPGRADE YOUR AIR FILTER- The standard fiberglass air filters are not fine enough to catch mold spores. Upgrade to a higher-quality filter with a MERV rating of 8 or higher. The MERV rating indicates the size of particles the filter is capable of trapping. A filter with a MERV rating of 8 will trap mold spores so that any mold picked up by your HVAC system is removed from the air before that air passes through your ducts. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. It’s a rating system used to determine the quality of an air filter. The rating is based on how successful the filter is at trapping airborne contaminants. The higher the MERV rating, the more successful the filter is at catching particles. The lower the MERV rating, the higher the chance airborne contaminants will move through the filter. INSTALL AN AIR PURIFIER- An air purifier will remove mold spores from the air even more effectively than a standard air filter. Look for a high-efficiency particular air (HEPA) air purifier, which will remove even the tiniest mold spores, along with bacteria. Consider installing a whole home in-duct air purifier (UV system). These units may reduce bacteria, viruses, mold spores, VOCs and odors throughout your air-conditioned space, both in the air and on surfaces. CLEAN YOUR SYSTEM-Since mold can grow inside of your HVAC system, make sure you have your equipment cleaned on a regular basis. Focus especially on the condensate pan and tube. You can clean these elements yourself using bleach, or hire an HVAC company to clean them as a part of a general spring maintenance routine.