Orange Restoration

If you have ever received an estimate from us, or probably from any other mold remediation company you know it says in the footnote that the estimated price does not include 3rd party post remediation clearance.

I’ve had several clients ask me about that item recently, what is the meaning of air testing, do they have to do it, how much does it cost, why can’t I just do it for them, and if I can’t who should they go to – to get it done.

What:

These mysterious air clearance tests are actually quite simple; a person with the hard to spell title of Industrial Hygienist comes on site with their equipment and performs one or both of two things:

Air Test – using a specialized air pump and an air test cartridge air is collected into the sample cassette and sent to the lab.

Swab Test – using a specialized Q Tip or testing tape to pick up a piece of the materials that were affected with mold, into an air tight environment to be sent to the lab.

Beyond that, the industrial hygienist will perform a visual inspection of the property and the area where remediation was done, they will evaluate the work that was done visually, note any imperfect containments, or anything that looks like sub standard work, or any problems of structural or environmental nature that may cause the mold problem to recur.

When:

The industrial hygienist should be called out at the end of remediation, only after the approval for that is given by the supervisor of the remediation company. It’s very important to make sure the containments are still up when tests are administered, that the hygienist walks into the containment quickly closing the zipper behind them, and that no one else walks into the containment before him.

In the point of testing the machines (air scrubbers and dehumidifiers) should not be left running.

Why:

There are many reasons why an air clearance at the completion of the mold remediation became standard industry practice for legitimate companies, and is required by any insurance adjuster that would deal with a mold claim. A few of the top reasons are:

Protect the client: what would you do if you just paid $10K for a full blown mold remediation, and 2 months after the fact the stains return and you are having allergies? If you go back to the same company it is likely they already moved to another state or left the country.. Had you done a mold air test you would have found out mold was not really removed but only temporarily hidden somehow (wrong practice performed by some)

Test the Mold Company: Testing the air and confirming there is no more mold spores really tests the company to ensure they did a good job. If it was my property I would have never paid a contractor before an air clearance proving negative for all types of mold on a satisfactory level.

If for any reason containments are removed while mold spores are still hanging out in the air – the entire property could get cross contaminated leading to a much more costly remediation.

Identification: While it’s even better if done at the onset of remediation, at the conclusion of a remediation you are given a breakdown of the spores in the air, along with their type and quantity. To protect yourself from the presence of toxic black mold, and other potential health hazards and allergens it’s good to know the types of mold you’re dealing with.

It’s totally up to you if you even want to have an air clearance post remediation at your property. No one can tell you that you have to do it, and the only and most important reason to go about doing an inspection is to protect yourself, your property and family.

How much:

Air clearance tests run approximately $300 - $500 depending on the number of work areas and the pricing of the specific company you choose.

As always, if you have any additional questions – please don’t hesitate calling us 888-666-1421

Any home owner could be accosted with a sudden need to handle a mold or mildew problem. No household is absolutely mold proof and it can be alarming to discover an ever increasing unpleasant odor that often accompanies mold and mildew.

The best way to cope is to know in advance how to tackle such a problem if it does occur.

This means that you will need to learn some good cleaning techniques that will help you remove mold and mildew and permanently keep it out of your home

The most important point to remember is that you should always avoid creating the conditions that make it convenient for mold and mildew to develop.

Here are some tips on how to do this.

If the air is flowing freely there is less chance for mold and mildew to develop.

So, keep all areas of your home well ventilated, especially basements kitchens and any other place that tends to gather heat and moisture.

In order to avoid excess moisture use a humidifier.

Be on the look out for any specks of food that have been left around on the floor or in corners by children or pets. If mold develops on these it is most likely to spread to the surrounding areas.

Even if you do take these measures, it is well worth your while to carefully search about your house for any signs of mold or mildew. Detecting these could be tricky so your key principle is to search mainly where there is a combination of moisture and heat.

Start from the outer walls of your house. See if there is any green mold there.

Indoors, search beneath the flooring and any beams. Mold and mildew are likely to develop under carpets .kitchens cellars and pantries, and although it sounds unlikely (because refrigerators are cold), check that too. Get rid of any moldy foods there. Fruits vegetables meat and cheeses can all develop mold.

For porous surfaces it is preferable to get professional advice.

However, non porous surfaces can be cleaned in the following manner.

Once you have located the affected area, wipe it down thoroughly, brushing off any excess dirt.

Prepare a bleach mixture: 1cup of bleach per gallon of water.

From a spray bottle, spray this solution onto the suspected areas.

Be sure to use gloves to avoid harm to your skin and keep the environment well ventilated to safeguard your respiratory tract from inhalation of the bleach.

Scrub the area clean. It is best to do this with a brush. However if the surface is sensitive, you could use a dusting cloth.

Rinse the area well and dry.

Remind yourself that “prevention is better than cure” therefore, keep all areas uninviting to mold and mildew by keeping them dry and well ventilated.

What is mold and where does it grow?

Mold is the tiniest form of fungus which appears in various colors and forms.

It thrives on just about anything that can supply it with the required conditions which is enough space for it to spread and the correct temperature, approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius)

The most usual environments for mold growth are basements, cellars, kitchens, washrooms or any other dark, moist area. Food that has not been properly refrigerated, especially animal matter is prone to the development of mold.

Mold is also likely to develop on furniture and other objects that have been subjected to a flooding or even a leakage.

Mold can appear as a discoloration. Its color can be black, red, green white brown or orange. It is sometimes accompanied by a musty odor.

Is mold a health hazard?

Your general health can be affected by mold in various ways. Headaches stomach pain and skin rashes all can be a result of mold. There is a wide range of reactions to mold starting from minor allergic attacks like coughing sneezing and wheezing to serious asthmatic conditions and even liver damage or cancer.

Therefore, exposure to mold is not desirable to say the least because you don’t always know which type you are up against.

There are many types of mold and the good news is that most types of mold are not harmful to health The various types have been categorized as belonging to 3 major groups according to the way human beings respond to them.

Allergenic molds

This type of mold isn’t seriously dangerous to health and usually has an effect on people who are already suffering from asthma or any other allergy. It could emphasize an already existing allergic condition of the skin and also cause sensitivity to the throat, as well as irritation to the nose and eyes.

Pathogenic mold.

This type of mold mostly causes some sort of infection. People whose immune system isn’t strong enough to cope with its effects can react to a minutest amount of exposure and suffer serious consequences mainly to the upper respiratory tract.

Toxigenic mold

Anyone might be vulnerable to the serious health effects cause by mycotoxins. A minor reaction to them could be a slight skin irritation or cough and/or a running nose. However, a more severe response could even include the development of cancerous cells.

How can I determine that there is mold in my home?

You will either see mold or else you may smell that unpleasant musty odor. The first thing to be done is search in the area for water damage that may have resulted from a damaged pipe or leakage

What must be done if mold is detected in the home?

Apart from the desirable molds in food stuff such as the blue coloring in cheese any moldy food should be discarded.

Green discoloration on bread for example, is a sign of mold. Other foods on which mold tends to accumulate rapidly are processed meats, tomato paste and jams. Rid yourself of them. Other items such as furniture should be professionally checked for mold and treated if possible

Unless you are certain that you are able to handle mold removal on your own you should avoid doing so and instead contact professionals to do the job. In any case you should be aware if you do decide to handle the issue alone that safety measures are essential. Wear a mask, and use impenetrable gloves. also remember that mold recurs and therefore the area must be sterilized after mold removal.