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.

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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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!

We wanted to pass on this informative page from Washington state where they know a thing or two about humidity and moisture. We’d also like to highlight a couple important steps you should take before cleaning.

• Ventilate the room to the outside if possible, but seal off any ducts or vents to prevent spores from spreading.
• Remove all furnishings from the room, and clean them before putting them back.
• Any moldy items or trash should leave the house immediately and sit outside until disposed of.

It’s a lot to remember, so if you want to make sure it’s done right, contact us.Especially if you have a widespread or hidden problem, you need a professional remediation firm to get the job done.

At Advance Mold Remediation, we stand ready to help eliminate any mold problem that develops in your home or office.  However, the best option for homeowners is to avoid mold growth in the first place.  The main thing to remember about mold is that it needs a damp environment to grow, so we wanted to offer some suggestions for reducing moisture and humidity in your home courtesy of the Environmental Protections Agency’s (EPA’s) Web site.

1. Clean up any spills or leaks ASAP.  It generally takes mold 24-48 hours to begin to grow, so eliminate standing water or dampness before that.
2. Ensure gutters and downspouts are clear and don’t back up.  If they do, they’ll back up into your home where mold can grow in hard-to-see-and-reach places.
3. Ensure water does not collect around the foundation of your home where it could seep into the structure.
4. Vent moisture-producing appliances (clothes dryers, stoves, kerosene heaters) outdoors whenever possible.
5. Use exhaust fans and/or open windows while showering, cooking, and dishwashing.
6. Reduce condensation forming on metal surfaces by using fans or dehumidifiers, opening windows, insulating cold surfaces, and raising the air temperature.

These steps should help you avoid mold growth, but if you still experience a problem in your home or office, contact us and will determine the extent of your problem and what can be done to get rid of it.

Have you checked your house for signs of mold?  If not, check out earlier post to learn what you should be looking for.  Of course the problem is, many of these signs indicate only that you could have mold.  Often you don’t see the mold itself, and it’s difficult to check the place where there’s an indication of mold.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a page dedicated to this “hidden mold.”

One of the main points of the page that we’d like to highlight is the risks you face when you just investigate possible mold growth.  If you peel back wallpaper, move ceiling tiles, or take up areas of carpeting, the disturbance to any mold growing there can cause the release of spores.  Suddenly the mold growth in one part of your house can spread to other parts. 

The page also points out the dangers of using chlorine bleach to deal with mold infestation.  It’s harmful to mold but is also hazardous to other things in your home including kids, animals, and plants (and you if the area’s not well ventilated).

The best option is to call in a professional like those at Advance Mold Remediation.  Contact us, and we’ll tell you how we can minimize the risk of releasing mold spores during our investigation and then safely eliminate the mold without harming your family.