# Mold Inspections > Free visual mold inspections across Central Kentucky with moisture meters and thermal imaging. We do not sell lab testing, and we say why. Canonical page: https://www.alldrybluegrass.com/mold-inspections/ If you can see mold, or you have had water damage that was never properly mitigated, a remediation specialist inspects the area of concern with moisture meters and thermal imaging. Where neither is present, a testing or environmental company is the better first call, and we will say so. Then we sit down and tell you what we found. ## An inspection looks for moisture as well as mold Mold growth and the moisture behind it. Growth that is removed without finding the water that fed it will be back, in the same place, usually within a season. So the inspection spends more time with a meter than with a flashlight. Our technicians assess visible signs of mold and water damage, and use moisture meters and thermal imaging to detect hidden moisture behind walls and under floors. We will need access to adjacent rooms and to the spaces above and below the suspected area, because that is usually where the water came from rather than where it showed up. ## What happens on the day 1. Inspect the area of concern: Visible growth, staining, and the pattern of where it is and is not. We inspect the area of concern rather than surveying a whole property. 2. Read the moisture: Meters and thermal imaging, including behind walls and under flooring. 3. Follow it back to a source: Adjacent rooms, above and below, plus HVAC condensation, which is a common source. We identify the moisture problem; correcting it is another trade's work. 4. Sit down with you: What we found, what we would propose, and why. Your questions answered before anything is quoted. 5. Set a date for the estimate: You get honest findings, a clear plan and an estimate for remediation if needed. ## Inspection first, testing when it is warranted We do not collect air or surface samples for lab analysis. Mold testing is a legitimate service and it is one we refer out rather than sell. Where testing is warranted we will point you at third parties unaffiliated with us. If you want lab testing, we will recommend third parties who have no relationship with us, and we frequently do remediation after somebody else's assessment has confirmed there is a problem. That is the sequence we think is right, and it is the one our own FAQ has said for years. ## Extreme swings in weather This climate does much of the work for mold on its own, and most of what we find traces back to one of four things. - Humid summers: Weeks of high outdoor humidity keep indoor air above the level growth needs, with no leak involved at all. - Deep freezes: A hard freeze splits a supply line, and the water runs behind a wall or under a floor until somebody notices. - Condensation: Warm damp air meeting a cold surface: masonry below grade, uninsulated ductwork, a window reveal. It wets the same spot repeatedly. - Undetected leaks: A slow supply or waste leak inside a cavity, which is the one that has usually been running longest by the time we see it. ## Three cases where testing is worth paying for - A dispute: Landlord and tenant, a sale, an insurance disagreement. An independent report carries weight a contractor's opinion does not. - A medical question: If a doctor is asking what someone is being exposed to, that is a question for a lab. - Verification after work: Confirming a completed remediation is clear, ideally by someone other than the firm that did it. ## Frequently asked questions ### What takes place during a mold inspection? Our inspections are done by a mold remediation specialist and are strictly visual. We assess visual signs of mold and water damage and use moisture meters and thermal imaging to detect hidden moisture behind walls and under floors. We may need to access adjacent rooms or the spaces above and below the affected area. Afterwards we meet with you to discuss our findings and suggested remediation plans, answer your questions, and set a date for the estimate. ### What is the difference between mold testing and mold remediation? Mold testing involves collecting air and surface samples which are sent to a lab to determine spore counts and identify specific types of fungi. We do not provide mold testing. Where testing is warranted we refer you to an unaffiliated testing or environmental company. We provide visual inspections of the area of concern and remediation work, and we can recommend third parties unaffiliated with us if you decide to proceed with lab testing. ### Is the inspection free? Yes, during business hours*, including in the case where we look and tell you that you do not have a problem that needs us. Inspections and estimates must be authorised by the property owner or the management company. ### Do I need a test before remediation? Usually not. The EPA's own position is that sampling is generally unnecessary when mold is visible, because the result does not change what has to happen: remove the growth and correct the moisture. Testing is most useful where somebody has to be convinced, such as a dispute or a sale. ## Related pages - [Mold removal and remediation](https://www.alldrybluegrass.com/mold-remediation/): What follows if there is a problem. - [Water leak detection](https://www.alldrybluegrass.com/water-leak-detection/): Finding the source behind it. - [What a mold inspection covers](https://www.alldrybluegrass.com/blog/what-a-mold-inspection-covers/): The longer version. ## Contact - Phone (Lexington, Georgetown and Nicholasville): (859) 780-7419, answered live 24/7 - Phone (Frankfort, Shelby and surrounding areas): (502) 465-8891, answered live 24/7 - Location: a service-area business with no public address; technicians travel to the property - Service area: Lexington, Georgetown, Frankfort, Shelbyville, Nicholasville, Versailles, Harrodsburg, Wilmore, Lawrenceburg, Taylorsville, Carrollton, Eminence, Kentucky - Rating: 5 stars across 35 Google reviews