How Working With Vegas Mold Pro Works

From your first message to the written report, here is what happens at each step, what we’ll ask you, and what we will and won’t do. Vegas Mold Pro is an independent mold inspection and testing company in Las Vegas, owned by Charles Baxter. We inspect and test; we do not remediate.

1. You reach out

Send a request through the contact page or call (702) 741-0666. A few sentences are enough to start: what you’re seeing or smelling, where in the home, whether there has been a leak or water event, and why you want an inspection (a concern at home, a rental problem, a purchase, or checking work after remediation).

2. Questions and a flat quote

Before anything is scheduled, we’ll ask questions to understand the situation, such as:

• How large is the home, and which areas are of concern?
• Is there visible growth, staining, or only an odor?
• When did any leak happen, and has it been repaired?
• Does the home have an evaporative (swamp) cooler, and is it running?
• Are you a homeowner, renter, buyer, or property manager, and is there a deadline?

Sometimes the honest answer is that you don’t need testing. EPA notes that when mold growth is visible, sampling is usually unnecessary, and the CDC does not recommend routine mold testing. If a visual and moisture inspection will answer your question, we’ll say so. When sampling is likely to help, we’ll explain why and how many samples make sense. Either way, you’ll get flat pricing quoted before you book, so you know the cost up front.

3. The appointment

Same-day appointments are often available. If you’re a renter, coordinate access with your landlord as your lease requires; if you’re buying, your agent will usually arrange access with the listing agent. See the renter’s guide and the home buyer’s guide for those situations.

4. The inspection

The inspection focuses on moisture and mold. It typically includes:

• A walk-through of the areas of concern and the places water tends to show up in Las Vegas homes: sink bases, water heater and air handler closets, bathrooms, ceilings below evaporative cooler ducts, and window and door openings.
• Moisture readings on building materials, compared with similar dry materials elsewhere in the home.
• Notes and photos of staining, visible growth, odor, and likely water sources.

How long it takes depends on the size of the home and how many areas are involved. A mold inspection does not evaluate the structure or the function of the home’s mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems. More detail is on the mold inspection page.

5. Sampling, if warranted

If sampling will answer a real question, such as whether hidden growth may be affecting the air or what a visible spot is, samples are collected during the visit:

• Air samples in the areas of concern, plus an outdoor reference sample collected the same day for comparison.
• Surface samples (tape lift or swab) from a specific spot.

Methods are compared on mold testing methods and mold testing.

6. The independent laboratory

Samples go to an independent laboratory accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). EPA recommends that sample analysis follow methods recommended by AIHA, ACGIH, or other professional organizations. The lab has no connection to any repair work in your home.

7. Your written report

Written reports are typically delivered within 24 hours. A report generally covers the scope, conditions observed, moisture readings, sample locations, laboratory results, an interpretation in plain language, limitations, and recommendations. Findings are described neutrally and in comparison with the outdoor reference, because EPA notes that no federal limits exist for mold or mold spores. You can see the structure in our sample mold report, and the lab pages are explained in how to read a mold lab report.

8. Next steps

What happens next depends on what was found:

• A moisture source was found: the first step is usually a qualified plumber, roofer, or HVAC technician to fix it. EPA’s basic rule is that indoor mold is controlled by controlling moisture.
• Growth needs to be removed: you choose a remediation contractor. EPA advises checking references and asking the contractor to follow EPA or professional guidelines.
• Remediation is finished: you can request independent post-remediation verification. Because we did not do the work, we have no stake in the outcome.
• Health concerns: talk with your physician. Our report can be shared with them, but it is not a medical finding.

What to prepare

• Clear access to sink bases, the water heater, the air handler or furnace closet, and any areas of concern.
• Any history you have: leak dates, repair invoices, prior reports, and photos.
• Avoid cleaning, painting over, or disturbing suspected growth before the visit.
• If air sampling is planned, ask us beforehand about windows, the air conditioning, and any evaporative cooler, since how the house is run can affect results.
• Let us know about pets and anyone at home who has respiratory concerns.

Still have questions? Browse the mold FAQ or read more about Vegas Mold Pro.

Sources

• Mold Testing or Sampling — U.S. EPA
• A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home — U.S. EPA
• About Mold and Health — CDC
• Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Accreditation Program — AIHA Laboratory Accreditation Programs