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Q: Can you test the air in my house?
A: Yes we can. But it would help us to know what you would like your air tested for. If you do not know what to test for, the quickest way to make a determination is through a conversation with one of our experts. The best way to determine what to test for is to have a whole-house assessment performed by one of our experts to identify potential sources of air contaminants that may be influencing air quality. A whole-house assessment is the best approach to determine the quality of your indoor air.
Q: What is a whole house assessment?
A: A whole house assessment provides us with a lot of information about the air and ventilation in your home. It is a powerful first step from which we are most often able to identify problems and recommend solutions. During the whole house assessment we gather information from you about your home and your activities within it. We conduct a thorough walk-through visual assessment of the home, including an examination of your heating system and air filtration system; we measure common indoor air parameters of temperature, relative humidity, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and fine airborne particulates. We may recommend collecting samples of total airborne particulates for laboratory analysis of fungal and non-fungal particulates.
This information allows us to prepare a report addressing your situation and your needs. Frequently, the identification of contaminant sources can negate the need for additional air sampling or testing. In some cases, a whole house assessment provides us with information that suggests the need for more information regarding contaminants that may be present. In those cases we may recommend additional testing.
Q: But I just have mold in a closet. I don’t need my whole house checked. Will you test just one area of my house?
A: Yes, we can certainly limit our assessment to just one area of a house. However, even when we only investigate a problem in one area, we may still ask to look at adjacent areas of the house. For instance, mold growth in a closet may be influenced by many factors in a house such as water leaks, air circulation and ventilation, insulation and heating.
Q: Do you test for “toxic black mold”?
A: Yes, we test for all molds. Many molds are black and a few molds are considered toxic. However, many molds can cause adverse health effects that may not necessarily be derived from a toxin. All molds can be allergenic. Many molds also produce other irritating substances that can bother some people. We do collect samples for the identification of molds, both airborne and on surfaces. The results from laboratory analyses of the samples may be useful in determining strategies for removing the problem.
The term “toxic black mold” is a media and litigation-derived term that is not used by indoor air quality professionals. The mold that the media is referring to is Stachybotrys chartarum. Like many molds it is black in color. Molds have niches, or climate conditions that they prefer, similar to plants. Some molds can thrive in a humid environment while others, such as Stachybotrys require a soggy wet environment.
Both the EPA and CDC recommend removing indoor mold growth when identified, regardless of the color or type of mold. The affects of exposure to molds differs between individuals. We do not yet fully understand the ways in which mold may be affecting us. We do know that exposure to molds is not a new situation and when we remove mold growth from the indoor environment, typically, symptoms go away.
Q: Can we use a do-it-yourself (DIY) test kit from the hardware store to test our home for mold growth?
A: The DIY kits have a lot of limitations, not the least of which is how to interpret the results obtained. All environments have airborne mold spores that eventually drop to horizontal surfaces such as onto the DIY kit test plates. Mold growth would be expected on the test plates.
Q: Do you do assessments for people with multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS)?
A: Yes, we have helped many clients with MCS conditions. Also, we have many healthcare professionals that refer their clients to us for evaluations of their homes.
Q: Do you do odor investigations?
A: Yes, we do odor investigations. Our experts are familiar with common household contaminants and the odors they emit.
Q: Do you do assessments in more than just residential homes?
A: Yes, we have performed IAQ assessments in commercial spaces, public buildings, schools, universities, apartment complexes and condominiums. Please view our website at ehsintl.com for more information.
Q: Do you do mold clean-up?
A: No we do not do mold clean-up or remediation. Through the information that we gather in our assessments we can develop a step-by-step written plan on how to safely clean up mold and remove or dry out impacted building materials and personal belongings. Our written plans are often used by owners to address their own small clean-up projects. However, when mold clean-up addresses larger areas of contamination, we provide both a written plan and a resource list with some remediation firms that you may choose to hire to perform the clean-up.
Q: Do you take credit cards?
A: Yes, we do take credit cards and personal checks. We can take debit cards if they have a VISA or MasterCard logo on them.
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