Have you been affected by a recent home disaster? No matter your answer, you need to learn how to take necessary preventative steps and identify serious problems relating to mold, water and air ducts. Read below to get educated!

Water and Mold

Water leakage, dampness and humidity are all sources that can lead to mold and mildew growth. They can also lead to musty smells and poor air quality. When these occurrences happen, you create health risks for yourself such as allergies and asthma. You could lose tenants. You can find yourself fighting a lawsuit. For example, excessive mold growth can damage your building structure. If mold becomes massive in your commercial building, disaster restoration mold removal will be a mandatory task to accomplish.

If you are not sure how to go about water and mold damage, get a disaster restoration specialist to visit your building and diagnose the source of wetness. The specialist should take the necessary steps to restore the space.

Air Duct Cleaning

Air ducts are crucial components of a home or office because they transfer heated and cooled air throughout the home or office from the HVAC system and air vents. You have to make sure your air ducts are not clogged or dirty. If the air ducts are clogged or dirty, your home or office’s indoor air quality and safety will be tremendously compromised. Some examples of clogging and dirt build up are mold, bacteria, dust mites, and fiberglass particles. When your air ducts are clean and free flowing, your home or office is safe and it lowers your energy bills because the HVAC system does not have to work as hard, if heated and cooled air can flow freely.

To learn about more disaster restoration tips, such as dryer vent cleaning and emergency water removal, read this article from EzineArticles.com.

For professional help and questions on remediation contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

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Do you think Mold Remediation Standards are outdated? If yes, you are not alone. Many people believe it is time to toss out mold remediation guidance and standards.

The Indoor Air series of conferences, presented by the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ) every three years and every nine years in the United States, believe if research procedures are moved to the field, they need to know what they are measuring.

Often workers have been denied compensation claims, plaintiffs have been harmed, and property managers and insurance adjustors use the argument that “ If I can’t measure it, it doesn’t exist,” to discount claims by office workers and occupants of homes.

Now there is a new tune spreading in the Industry: “ If we can’t measure it, we aren’t measuring correctly.” This new tune spreading in the mold remediation field may mean the fundamental assumption that reduction of spores, below the original count is no longer sufficient to conclude that a Post Remediation Verification (PRV) was successful.

To read more on this developing story, review this article called Is It time To Toss Mold Remediation Standards? by Carl Grimes, President of Healthy Habitats in Denver Colorado at Ieconnections.com.

For professional help and questions on remediation contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

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If you regularly get headaches in your home this can be happening due to poor air quality. According to this article, one of two problems can be causing your headaches: mold or clogged air ducts. If you chronically have headaches try to pay attention to where they occur; the location of the room could give you a clue as to the root of your problem.

The presence of mold in your home can cause health problems including headaches, asthma, fatigue, rashes and more. This is why it is important to have an excellent mold remediation specialist like Advance Mold Remediation at hand. If you suffer from ay of these symptoms you should have a mold specialist inspect your home immediately.

If the ductwork in your home is clogged this can also cause headaches and other health issues. When this occurs, stale air and carbon dioxide re-circulate. Breathing this oxygen poor air can give you headaches. The solution to this problem is having your ductwork disinfected.

Professional mold remediation specialists are important if you are experiencing any mold-related symptoms in your work or home. Contact Advance Mold Remediation for any of your needs.

Headaches are just a natural part of life, brought on by physical or emotional stress, right? Well, yes and no. Yes, headaches can be brought on by stresses, but that is not their only cause.

What if I told you that some headaches could be brought on by the indoor air quality of your home? That is the topic brought up in this article from Articlesbase.com.

More often than not, environmental causes, including poor indoor air quality, may be behind your headaches. And if your achy head is primarily triggered when you are at home, it may be time to get your house checked for indoor pollutants, like mold. In addition to headaches, recurring mold exposure can produce the following symptoms: decreased attention span, fatigue, respiratory distress, asthma, irritations of eye, nose, throat, and lungs, and redness and rashes, among others.

A mold test, conducted by a professional mold remediation and removal service should be performed in order to identify the levels and types of species of mold in your home. If it is found that you do have a mold problem, the source of the mold should be removed immediately and you should have your air ducts cleaned and disinfected by a professional HVAC service.

If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

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We have been told all our lives that mold is bad. If we find mold in our homes, we need to have it removed as soon as possible. But does everyone know why mold is bad for us? This article from MedicineNet.com helps to explain the help problems related to mold.

Molds produce irritating substances, which, in many instances, trigger allergic reactions – sneezing, runny nose, coughing, wheezing, tearing and redness of the eyes, skin irritation, rash, or asthma attacks – in some people. But that is just the beginning. While allergic reactions are the most common health effect resulting from mold, they are not the worst. Some molds actually produce toxins that could cause serious health issues.

Molds like Stachybotrys (“black mold”) produce myotoxins, which can irritate the eyes, skin and airways even in individuals not allergic to mold. In serious cases, people develop severe reactions to mold exposure, including: fever, difficulty breathing, and lung infection.

Several factors – degree of allergies, susceptibility to mold, time exposed to mold, type of mold and amount of mold – play into how an individual will react to mold. If you think you may be at risk, contact a professional mold remediation company, like Advance Mold Remediation, at your earliest convenience to come and inspect your home.

Advance Mold Remediation is a service-oriented corporation dedicated to thorough, efficient analysis and treatment anywhere mold is an issue.

Our professional mold remediation team consists of certified inspectors, environmental scientists and abatement technicians. Together, we furnish exceptional services which include:

• Initial investigation and thorough testing of mold contamination
• Complete remediation services
• Post-remediation report preparation
• HVAC decontamination
• Final clearance testing

All remediation services at your residence or business are performed by highly trained, skilled technicians who are directly employed by Advance Mold Remediation – never subcontractors. We use procedures and protocols established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), along with our own proven proprietary technologies. Our successes are verified through final clearance testing.

If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

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The construction of attics and concrete slabs has historically been done as a simple, cost-effective way to support a floor or roof. Because of this, the impact these two areas have on a home’s energy costs and ability to keep mold at bay is often overlooked. The old saying “out of sight, out of mind,” comes to mind when thinking of attics/slabs. Because the public rarely ever sees these areas, architects often ignore the affects attics and slabs have on the environment and energy costs.

So what can you do? This article from Indoor Environmental Connections explains.

The energy loss and potential mold growth associated with attics/slabs can negatively affect not only your wallet, but your health, as well. Mold growth has been linked to asthma, allergies, respiratory distress and other, more serious, health problems. To make things worse, many people place their HVAC systems in their attics, which simply spreads mold spores throughout the building – greatly affecting indoor air quality.

The technology and know-how does exist, however, to construct smarter attics and concrete slabs into new buildings. Additionally, the technology exists to retrofit many of these aspects into existing attics and slabs (though this process is sometimes time consuming).

So ask a professional about your options. Get your attic or concrete slab inspected and see what you could do to make your home more energy-efficient and mold resistant. If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

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The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced the Lead: Renovation, Repair and Paint (RRP) Rule, which concerns renovations on homes containing pre-1978 lead paint. The regulation requires clearance testing to detect the presence, or lack, of lead following any home renovation. The RRP also requires that contractors, plumbers, electricians, painters, window installers and even wood floor refinishers, who performs work in homes built before 1978, be EPA-certified of face fines up to $37,500 per violation per day.

A group of senators, however, is not amused. They have asked the president’s Office of Management Budget (OMB) to review the regulation, hoping the department will repeal the EPA’s regulation. The OMB has the authority to modify regulations even after they are issued by a regulatory agency if they find substantial evidence of a regulation’s negative effect on the United State’s economy.

The senators believe that these additional testing costs will drive homeowners to either attempt dangerous renovations themselves or hire uncertified individuals for renovation projects. The EPA, on the other hand, does not share the senators’ concerns. They have stated that the rule will remain in place until further notice.

OMB has no current plans to review the EPA’s controversial regulation.

If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

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Air pollution is a problem that has gained more and more interest over the past few years. Research has shown that air pollution can negatively affect the health of those who are constantly subjected to harmful environments. But a recent study published in the Journal of the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that air filters greatly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

This article from Indoor Environment Connections explains these findings.

The study, which observed 45 adults from 25 different homes found that high efficiency particle air, or HEPA, filters greatly reduce the amount of airborne particulate matter, resulting in improved blood vessel health and reductions in blood markers that are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

The study was conducted over two consecutive 7-day periods. During this time, a HEPA filter (Honeywell model 50300) was placed in the main activity room, while a quieter model 18150 was placed in the participant’s bedroom. The HEPA filters operated with their filters one week and without the other (participants were kept in the dark as to which week they had a filter and which they didn’t). In addition to the filters, indoor air pollution sampling kits were placed in each activity room.

At the end of each 7-day period, blood and urine samples were taken from each participant and markers of cellular injury, as well as the body’s response to that injury, were measured. Endothelial function also was evaluated using a fingertip device to evaluate blood volume in small blood vessels, and air samples were collected and analyzed.

It was discovered that portable HEPA filters reduced the average concentrations of fine particulates inside homes by 60 pc and their use was associated with improved endothelial function (a 9.4 pc increase in reactive hyperemia index) and decreased inflammation (a 32.6 pc decrease in C-reactive protein).

So if you are looking for a way to improve your indoor environment, consider purchasing a few HEPA filters. You will be amazed at how much better you will feel! If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

It is like a Shakespearean play – damp or not too damp? That is the question. When is a school too dry or too damp? Both extremes can be hazardous to your child’s health and both need to be dealt with, but in completely separate ways.

This article from Indoor Environment Connections Online explains down the temperature turmoil.

Low-dewpoint winter weather often brings with it extremely dry indoor conditions, meaning schools that meet the recommended 15 cubic feet per meter of outside air could be experiencing 10 percent relative humidity in classrooms. These conditions often lead to the drying of mucous membranes and even nosebleeds.

There are several approved methods to deal with dry indoor conditions. These include:

1. Make the building as airtight as you can so that it is not overly drying out all night long when not occupied.
2. Do not over-ventilate it during occupied hours. That is, if the carbon dioxide levels are down around 600 parts per million at 11 a.m. versus 800 ppm in an occupied school on the coldest days of winter, you are very likely over-ventilating it and exacerbating any potential dryness problems.
3. Do not run the ventilation system when the building is unoccupied. This includes exhaust fans as well as make-up air fans.
4. Install enthalpy (total energy) recovery from the general building exhaust to capture some of the moisture from the occupants and put it back into the building.

Another way to combat respiratory issues is to clean the air in which we breathe. This means removing dust and other airborne debris. This can be accomplished by:

1. daily use of auto scrubbers (with clean water) on hard-surface floors;
2. daily use of vacuums with high efficiency bags and good suction on carpets and hard surfaces;
3. if dry mops are used, they must be treated, or they make dust clouds; or
4. use of some of the new microfiber dusting devices, or damp-wiping.

Unfortunately, dry indoor conditions are not the entire problem. Extremely damp conditions are also causing respiratory problems in schools. Damp areas facilitate the growth of mold, which can be extremely hazardous when inhaled.

There are only two methods for dealing with extremely damp areas.

1. Fix number one, stop the liquid water intrusion, or manage it in a way that porous materials stay dry, and routinely clean the hard surfaces like you would clean your bathroom fixtures.
   1. Drying: We know of two means for drying surfaces: Add lots of heat, or make air dry by dehumidifying it. In the winter heating up the space and allowing dry outdoor air to enter it will usually give you dry air and good drying potential. During the rest of the year, a good high capacity energy efficient dehumidifier such as a Thermastor Sierra, or one of their competitors, should do a great job at drying any surface by increasing the drying capacity of the air. We define a high capacity unit as one that gets you in the range of 100 to 140 pints a day of moisture for less than 10 amps of power with a 115 volt power source.
   2. Isolation and exhaust of dampness: In some cases, crawlspace dampness can best be addressed by installing a sub-membrane radon removal-type system to capture dampness from the earth below a smoke-rated plastic sheet and dumping it outdoors. Lots of information is now available regarding keeping crawlspaces sealed up, warm and dry, versus the typical vented and damp and cold.
2. If the source of the liquid water has been addressed, the effects of dampness can often be remediated by keeping paper products away from the damp area and either warming the surfaces in the area above the dew point of the air, or drying the air to lower the dewpoint.

If these problems persist, call a specialist as soon as possible. Respiratory problems, especially those caused by outside irritants, like mold, should not be ignored. If your child experiences any abnormal breathing problems, consult your primary car physician immediately.

If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

After recent studies conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), there have been a few changes in the way these agencies, along with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), are dealing with the problems surrounding the toxic drywall imported from China.

This article from Indoor Environment Connections explains the sudden change in recommended protocol.

The CPSC and HUD released their new “remediation protocol” after a study conducted on behalf of the CPSC by Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico found that the blackening of copper electrical wires and air conditioning evaporator coils caused by the corrosive compounds emitted by the toxic drywall was not an immediate safety hazard. Sandia simulated more than 40 years of corrosive conditions that could possibly exist in toxic drywall and found no signs of any acute or long-term electrical safety problems, such as smoke or fire.

Because of these findings, the two agencies are no longer recommending that homeowners remove all electrical wiring in contaminated homes.

With these changes, the remediation guidance for homes with toxic drywall calls for the replacement of all:

•     Problem Drywall

•     Fire safety devices

•     Electrical distribution components

•     Gas service piping and fire suppression sprinkler systems

The CPSC and HUD have also broadened the spectrum of problem drywall to include drywall installed as early as 2009.

If you think you may be at risk and you want your home inspected, call a specialist as soon as possible. If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!