Published 15 Aug 2023
What is a Mold Inspection?
A mold inspection is the process of detecting the presence of molds in a property or facility and analyzing its cause and then eliminating it. Landlords or property managers should regularly perform mold inspections to foresee potential mold formation before they turn to an infestation.
Mold infestations can lead to further contamination and pose negative health risks to tenants (e.g., sinuses, wheeling and exacerbation of asthma) which in turn, can result in fines and legal disputes.
In this article
- Areas to Inspect During Mold Inspections
- What is SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor) and How Can It Help with Mold Inspection?
- Featured Mold Inspection Checklists
Areas to Inspect During Mold Inspections
Property managers or landowners should be responsible to perform mold inspections before and after the occupation of a property. Often, mold growth is invisible to the naked eye which makes it difficult to detect. To help you get started, here are the crucial areas where mold is likely to grow:
1. Indoors
Indoor areas such as the basement, HVAC, kitchen, ceilings, laundry room, attic, and living room are the most common areas inside the house where mold could grow. Do a visual inspection in these areas and answer guide questions in a mold inspection checklist like:
“Do you have any musty odors?” “Do the walls, floors and ceilings have any visible signs of cracks or stains?” “Is there any water damage or moisture in or around the fireplace?”
2. Outdoors
External areas of the property such as the foundation, windows and doors, central air unit, faucets, sprinklers hose attachments, and roof are also possible areas mold could grow because these are the areas that often get wet. Easily detect mold formation with inspection questions like:
“Do you have any musty odors?” “Do the walls, floors and ceilings have any visible signs of cracks or stains?” “Is there any water damage or moisture in or around the fireplace?”
What is SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor) and How Can It Help with Mold Inspection?
SafetyCulture is a mobile mold inspection app that helps mold inspectors perform inspections faster and more consistently. With SafetyCulture, you can easily identify mold formations and prevent infestations from damaging the property. Here’s how to do a mold inspection with SafetyCulture:
- While on your mobile device or tablet, download the mold inspection checklist.
- Walk around and visually inspect the property for mold formations.
- Take pictures within SafetyCulture, provide annotations if needed, and attach them to your mold inspection checklist.
- Add in notes to inspection items and assign corrective actions to yourself or others.
- Complete the inspection by signing off with an electronic signature that automatically captures the time and date.
Featured Mold Inspection Checklists
Mold and Moisture Checklist
A mold and moisture checklist is used as a guide in inspecting residential properties for signs of excess moisture and mold growth. Use this checklist to immediately detect and treat the presence of mold to avoid negative health problems. This checklist specifically covers areas such as:
- Basement / Crawl Space
- Exterior / Yard
- Floors, Ceilings, Windows, & Walls
- Kitchen & Bathroom
- Attic
- Appliances