After the drying
Mold Inspection & Testing in West Des Moines, IA
An independent assessor confirms whether the assembly that got wet is actually dry, whether growth started while it was not, and how far it reaches. An inspection after a water loss confirms whether the assembly that got wet is dry now and whether growth started while it was not. Readings are taken in the material, cavities are opened where the readings point, and the result is a written scope of what is dry, what is not, and what has to be corrected for the repair to hold.
Local contractors · findings documented for your claim
On this site, inspection is the last check of a water job rather than the start of a separate one. Most people reach this page because something was wet, was dried, and a smell or a stain came back. The inspection answers whether the material is dry now and whether anything grew while it was not. Nothing here is medical advice; questions about health are for a clinician.
Often needed alongside
- Mold Remediation
Growth and the material it grew into come out under containment, what remains is cleaned, and the assembly is dried and read before anything closes it in.
- Structural Drying & Dehumidification
Sealed air movers and dehumidifiers bring framing, subfloor and drywall back to a measured dry standard, with daily readings logged from inside the material.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the connection come apart?
Because the two halves move differently. The downspout is fastened to the building and stays put; the buried pipe rises and falls with frost and settlement. After enough winters the fitting between them separates, and then the entire roof discharge is released at the base of the wall rather than carried away.
How does a separated elbow show itself?
Usually by the ground rather than the pipe. A patch beside the downspout that stays soft, erosion in the bed, or mulch washed away in a fan shape all point at it. Inside, it shows as damp on the basement wall at that corner of the house and nowhere else.
Is the buried line worth keeping?
Yes, if it runs somewhere useful and is clear. The check is simple: run a hose into the downspout for a few minutes and see whether water comes out at the far end and whether any appears at the base. If it backs up at the elbow, either the joint or the line needs attention before the next heavy month.
The same questions, in context, on the West Des Moines city page.