Mold Testing in Lawrenceville, GA

Lawrenceville water history and hidden growth

Lawrenceville, the Gwinnett County seat about 27 miles northeast of Atlanta, sits largely in the Yellow River watershed. Gwinnett County Stormwater Management reported that the heaviest rain of the September 2009 floods fell near Lawrenceville, with roughly 19 inches over eight days in parts of the watershed. National Weather Service gauges at Lawrenceville on Pew Creek, Shoal Creek and the Alcovy River crested above flood stage on September 21, 2009.

Water that soaked a subfloor or the bottom of a wall cavity back then, or during any storm since, does not always leave a visible mark. That is the situation where sampling helps: a stale odor near an older home's crawl space door or in a newer house's finished lower level, with nothing on the drywall to explain it.

Picking the right sample

EPA says sampling is usually unnecessary when you can already see mold, and no federal limits exist for spore counts. A good tester picks samples to answer a question, not to fill a quota.

Signs that point toward testing

• A smell that strengthens when the air conditioning starts.
• Allergy-like irritation that eases when you leave the house; EPA notes mold can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, so talk with a health professional too.
• A past leak that was dried with fans but never opened up.
• Records needed for a buyer, landlord or insurer.

Timing in a Gwinnett summer

Air samples are most telling when the house is closed up and the HVAC is running normally, which in Lawrenceville means much of the year. Avoid testing the day after heavy cleaning or with windows open. Renters should send a written repair request first; Lawrenceville Code Enforcement handles property maintenance complaints, and the city has a multi-family rental housing ordinance. Repairs after testing that involve new drywall or framing go through the city's Planning and Development permitting.