If you’re hoping to alleviate a serious black mold problem, you’re probably in the market for a qualified mold removal contractor. And as any savvy consumer knows, it’s best to do your research before making a final decision. When hiring professionals, that means learning the lingo they use. The benefit here is twofold: You’ll know what your contractor is talking about, but more importantly, he’ll know that you know what you’re talking about.
With that in mind, here are a few of the tools your mold removal contractor will probably use:
Moisture Meters Your mold removal contractor may use a moisture meter to measure the moisture content in your home. He does this to determine whether your black mold problem was a one-time event, or if conditions are right for it to return. With it, he can measure the moisture present in all manner of porous materials, including wood, concrete, carpeting and drywall.
Protective Gear A mold removal zone is a fairly dangerous place. Because there’s potentially so much gunk blowing around in the air — mold, dust, spores, bits of drywall and concrete — a removal contractor needs to protect himself and his staff. That mans wearing gloves, goggles, protective clothing and even respirators.
HEPA Vacuum These aren’t uncommon. A HEPA filter (HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air) is present in any high-quality vacuum cleaner, and works better than any other type of filter at removing dangerous particles from the air. But the vacuum your mold removal contractor uses will be more heavy-duty than anything you can buy at the store. He may also use HEPA filtration units to make sure no black mold spores escape to other areas of your home.
Humidity Gauges and Humidistats A humidity gauge is just that — a device used to measure the humidity in a room. If your home is persistently too humid, your mold removal contractor may recommend a a humidistat. A humidistat is to moisture what a thermostat is to temperature — when attached to any HVAC system, it can monitor the humidity in a home or office and take steps to reduce is if the air gets too moist.
Borescope A borescope is a small device that might be best described as a hand-held periscope. It’s designed to allow mold removal contractors to see around corners, into small spaces, or inside walls and plenum spaces. Essentially a small camera attached to a flexible arm, the borescope is useful for looking for tiny patches of black mold in the forgotten sections of a house.
