West Columbia, SC
Mold Inspection and Testing in West Columbia, SC
West Columbia, SC has 6 mold inspection and testing companies in our listings, 4 list themselves as open 24 hours and the most reviewed is Streamline Inspections with 334 reviews.
6 Companies Doing Mold Testing Work in West Columbia
- 1
ServiceMaster Recovery on Demand - Columbia24/7
5.0 from 7 public reviews
Water DamageMoldMold TestingFire and SmokeSewage
- 2
Kingsley Water Damage & Fire Cleanup24/7
5.0 from 27 public reviews
Water DamageMoldMold TestingFire and SmokeSewage
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
What Drives Mold in Columbia Homes
Columbia summers are long, hot and humid, so wet drywall and carpet can grow mold within 24 to 48 hours. Air conditioners run for months, and a clogged condensate line can soak a ceiling or a closet. Many homes sit over crawlspaces where damp air feeds mold on the floor joists.
The October 2015 flood sent creeks over their banks, broke dams on small lakes and flooded homes across the city, especially along Gills Creek. Homes near creeks and ponds should know their flood risk, and any home that took on outside water needs its walls opened and checked.
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services says it cannot test, monitor or inspect homes for mold, because there are no state or federal mold standards. It runs a mold hotline for general questions. Hire an inspector who does not also sell mold removal, so the report has no reason to find more work than is there.
Hire an Independent Inspector
A mold inspector tells you whether you have a problem, where it is and what caused it. A remediator removes it. When the same company does both, it has a reason to find mold. If you can, hire an inspector who does not do remediation, and ask the remediator to follow that inspector’s written plan.
Ask the inspector what the visit includes. A good one looks for the moisture source first, uses a moisture meter and often a thermal camera, and only takes air or surface samples when the result will change what you do. After the work, a clearance test by the same independent inspector shows whether the job is done.
Can You Handle It Yourself
Call a pro
Home test kits that grow spores in a dish almost always grow something, because mold spores are everywhere. They cannot tell you whether you have a problem. A moisture meter and a flashlight will tell you more for less money.
What It Costs Around West Columbia
Prices in the Columbia, SC area run about 6 percent below the national average, so local jobs tend to cost less than the national figures.
| Job | Typical in West Columbia | National typical |
|---|---|---|
| Mold Inspection and Testingper visit, a visual inspection | $175 to $550 | $200 to $600 |
| Mold Inspection and Testingper visit, an inspection with samples | $275 to $950 | $300 to $1,000 |
| Mold Inspection and Testingper visit, a clearance test | $275 to $750 | $300 to $800 |
Questions to Ask Before You Hire
- Do you also do remediation? If so, who checks your work?
- How many air samples will you take, and will you take an outdoor control sample?
- Which lab analyzes the samples, and is it accredited?
- Will the report include moisture readings and photos, not only lab numbers?
- Are you licensed as a mold assessor where this home is?
Guides for This Job
- Call a proMold Testing, When It Is Worth It and How to Read a Lab ReportWhen a mold test is worth paying for, which kind to ask for, why store kits mislead, and how to read spore counts, outdoor controls and a lab report yourself.
- DIY with careMold Inspection and Testing Cost, and Who to HireTypical mold inspection and testing costs, from visual checks to air and surface samples, lab fees and clearance, and how to hire an independent inspector.
- Call a proMold Testing, When It Is Worth It and How to Read a Lab ReportWhen a mold test is worth paying for, which kind to ask for, why store kits mislead, and how to read spore counts, outdoor controls and a lab report yourself.
- DIY with careAttic Mold on Roof Sheathing, Causes and FixesWhy mold grows on attic roof sheathing, how to find the cause, the fixes that stop it for good, and how to tell a cosmetic stain from a roof that needs work.
Questions People Ask
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