Feeling stuffy? Can’t seem to get rid of that cold or tired, run down feeling? Did you ever think it could be the air you’re breathing? There is nothing like good, clean fresh air, but even if you live in a place with great air quality outside, the air quality
Effective January 1, 2016 all Mold Remediation Contractors, and Assessors must be licensed by the New York State Department of Labor. Anyone who conducts home inspections as part of potential real estate transactions must also be licensed as a “Mold Assessor” if their inspections/reports include an assessment of mold conditions
Through neglect, or sometimes normal use over long periods of time, air handling ducts in offices accumulate dirt and molds and bacteria begin to grow. When this occurs the air quality in the office drops and individuals, especially ones with immune and health issues may become ill. This is what
How clean is the air inside your home? Even in the cleanest of homes, if heating/air conditioning vents are not clean you could be putting your family at risk. Should I Have My Ducts Cleaned? Here are some reasons for why you should have your air ducts cleaned. Renovation: If
You take care to make sure the food you eat is free from chemicals and contaminants, why are we more blasé about the air we breathe? There are a number of contaminants that can potentially make you or your family ill or worse. Even if you keep a spotless house,
When proper cleaning and maintenance is neglected, it will likely lead to the increase of biological contaminants, such as bacteria, viruses, pollen, and mold. These contaminants can introduce a variety of ailments into your workplace. This contamination is often referred to as “Sick Building Syndrome”. Some of the potential symptoms
Stachybotyrs black mold is mostly common and best known in media and most common potent toxic mold to remediation companies as well. Most Physicians have no mold toxin training which is sometimes overlooked by the severe effects it could have on patients physically. Especially, with compromised immune systems such as
Mold occurs where there has been standing water, moisture or water leakage. Health problems can be caused by prolonged exposure to mold so it is important to take steps to eliminate mold from your house. While mold can grow in places unseen, like crawlspaces, air ducts and behind walls, there
Nobody wants mold in their home. Most people are aware of the unsightly appearance and odors it creates, if not the negative health consequences as well. Specific environmental conditions create the perfect scenario in which dirt, microbial pollutants, and mold spores flourish. The key to preventing air duct contamination is
Even without the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy affecting Long Island, it is undeniable that the environment is right for mold growth. The damp conditions that these troublesome little spores love is prevalent in the seaside communities of Long Island’s South Shore like Southampton. High quantities of this mold, as most
Feeling stuffy? Can’t seem to get rid of that cold or tired, run down feeling? Did you ever think it could be the air you’re breathing? There is nothing like good, clean fresh air, but even if you live in a place with great air quality outside, the air quality inside your home can be putting your health and your family’s health at risk.
Most heating and central air conditioning systems on Long Island use vents to move the hot an cold air around your home, and because they are hidden in floors, ceilings and behind walls most people don’t give a second thought about air duct cleaning.
According to the national Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), the average six-room house collects 40 pounds of dirt, dust and allergens in its air ducts each year. That’s a big problem, considering that 40,000 dust mites can thrive in only one ounce of dust that may contain a host of unhealthy bacteria, fungi and mold. The EPA estimates indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Even worse, the contaminated air circulates throughout your house every time the heating or cooling system kicks on.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 25 to 40 percent of the energy used for heating or cooling a home is wasted. Contaminants in the heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the life of your system. Although filters are used, the heating and cooling system still gets dirty through normal use.
When an HVAC system is clean, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you desire. As a result, less energy is used, leading to improved cost-effectiveness.
You should contact a licensed and insured air duct cleaning company for the job to make sure that the job is done properly.
Effective January 1, 2016 all Mold Remediation Contractors, and Assessors must be licensed by the New York State Department of Labor. Anyone who conducts home inspections as part of potential real estate transactions must also be licensed as a “Mold Assessor” if their inspections/reports include an assessment of mold conditions in the home or property in question. Persons who perform Mold removal or remediation must be licensed as a Mold Remediation Contractor.
While companies will be able to hold both licenses the law prevents persons licensed to perform mold-related services from acting as both the mold assessment contractor and the mold remediation contractor. This is to prevent a conflict of interest. In other words, contractors who currently provide mold inspections and perform the remediation as well, will no longer be able to do both.
Here at Moldbusters we are prepping for the new law change as standard Industry Certifications that were accredited in the past do not apply to the current licensing requirements. We will be in compliance with the new law by January 1, 2016 and will continue to be the mold remediation contractor you can count on.
External Link….
https://labor.ny.gov/workerprotection/safetyhealth/mold/mold-program.shtm
Through neglect, or sometimes normal use over long periods of time, air handling ducts in offices accumulate dirt and molds and bacteria begin to grow. When this occurs the air quality in the office drops and individuals, especially ones with immune and health issues may become ill. This is what is known as Sick Building
The area can be described as “sick,” mainly because people develop symptoms of illness such as headaches, watery eyes, nausea, skin disorders and fatigue when they must spend considerable time where there is a build-up of air pollutants from household products, building materials, formaldehyde and/or respirable particles.
When your employees or tenants are constantly ill, productivity goes down. Maintaining healthy, quality air is the responsibility of all building owners.
These are many of the benefits of Air Duct Cleaning.
While plenty of air duct cleaning services have popped up over the last few years, there is little regulation and one must be careful when choosing an air duct cleaning company. Choosing the wrong company can make air quality issues worse!
You want to find a reputable air duct cleaning company that provides clients with a thorough inspection and a detailed strategy for cleaning the ductwork of ANY debris.
If you think your office could benefit from commercial air duct cleaning, give Moldbusters a call. Moldbusters has been improving air quality for their clients since 1989 and has performed more than 4000 projects and investigations related to Indoor Air Quality concerns and issues.
How clean is the air inside your home? Even in the cleanest of homes, if heating/air conditioning vents are not clean you could be putting your family at risk.
Should I Have My Ducts Cleaned?
Here are some reasons for why you should have your air ducts cleaned.
Renovation: If your home has been remodeled – especially if there was asbestos abatement, lead paint removal, or significant dust – your ductwork may need to be cleaned. Ducts should be sealed off during home renovations; but if they weren’t, dangerous dust and debris may become lodged inside the ductwork.
Contaminants: If noticeable debris, pet hair, odors, or other contaminants are being released into the room through the ducts after the registers have been cleaned and vacuumed; then the ducts may need to be cleaned.
Insect/Animal Infestation: If there’s evidence of animal infestation or nesting in your ducts or HVAC system, have the animals removed then clean the ductwork and HVAC unit.
Mold: If there is visible mold growth inside the ductwork, the ducts and HVAC system should be cleaned.
Illness: If someone in your family is suffering from an unexplained allergy-related illness, and you’ve taken every other possible step to decontaminate your home, you may want to consider having your ducts cleaned to see if the HVAC system was the culprit.
You take care to make sure the food you eat is free from chemicals and contaminants, why are we more blasé about the air we breathe? There are a number of contaminants that can potentially make you or your family ill or worse. Even if you keep a spotless house, airborn toxins can still be present in your home.
CO is colorless and odorless, so the best way to detect it is by installing CO alarms near bedrooms and fuel-burning appliances. Those appliances should also be inspected at least once a year by a qualified technician, as should chimneys, flues and air-handling systems.
CO causes a number of symptoms from headaches and nausea to confusion and unconsciousness — and kills about 500 people in the U.S. per year. Airborne particulates can lodge in the lungs, potentially damaging tissue and even working their way into the bloodstream.
Always make sure the areas around stoves and heaters are well ventilated and always keep your CO monitors in working order.
Most modern homes and offices now use alternative materials, but older buildings may still contain asbestos. Even then, the fibers only become airborne when they’re disturbed, so the most practical solution is often to simply leave asbestos alone. That’s not always an option, though — an aging home may need repairs in its asbestos-lined attic, for example, or squirrels may have kicked up the fibers while looking for a place to spend the winter.
Given the risks involved, DIY asbestos remediation is rarely a good idea. Even taking your own samples for testing isn’t recommended. If you suspect a material contains asbestos, look for signs of damage without touching it, then contact a professional inspector to learn more. NY State law requires a licensed Asbestos Remediation contractor to perform asbestos removal.
The best way to fight mold is to fight moisture. Keep the relative humidity indoors below 60 percent, and use a dehumidifier or fan to dry out the air if needed. Mold and mildew grow in dark damp places, and more often than not by the time you see mold on a wall, there is so much more behind it. Health effects vary by mold type and personal sensitivity; symptoms may include nasal stuffiness, wheezing and skin irritation. Studies have also linked indoor mold exposure to asthma development in children.
If you suspect there may be mold in your home, contact a licensed professional to test your home for mold.
Many buildings are plagued by rodents, dust mites and cockroaches, two very different arthropods that both leave a trail of allergenic feces and body parts. Fumes from rodent urine and droppings can also cause breathing problems, as can pet dander and airborne proteins from cat saliva.
These contaminants often trigger allergic reactions and asthma, and symptoms can grow worse with chronic exposure. Children, elderly people and people with other breathing issues are especially at risk from biological agents in confined areas, the EPA warns.
Regular sightings of roaches, rats or their droppings point to an infestation, in which case pest control is likely the best way to clear the air. Dust mites aren’t visible to the naked eye, but we can see piles of their namesake food — and cleaning up dust may also alleviate allergies from pet dander. Beyond good housekeeping, ventilation can help keep unavoidable allergens from reaching high concentrations.
After you get rid of pests, you should do a thorough air duct cleaning to make sure the remnants of those critters are not lingering in the air long after they are gone.
When proper cleaning and maintenance is neglected, it will likely lead to the increase of biological contaminants, such as bacteria, viruses, pollen, and mold. These contaminants can introduce a variety of ailments into your workplace. This contamination is often referred to as “Sick Building Syndrome”. Some of the potential symptoms include, but are not limited to, chest tightness, muscle aches, coughing, fever, chills, and numerous allergic reactions such as upper respiratory congestion and mucous membrane irritation.
Symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome
Symptoms Related to Building Related Illness:
If you’re still not sure whether you suffer from Sick Building Syndrome, scheduling an appointment with a physician can rule out other illnesses and conditions that may be to blame for your symptoms. When communicating symptoms to your doctor, it is important to factor in all of the symptoms that have occurred within the last few months. Symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome often occur at different times, so it is common for them to be dismissed as unrelated unless observed over a number of months.
What can I do about Sick Building Syndrome?
If you think that your home may be a carrier of Sick Building Syndrome, then take action. Something as simple as an air duct cleaning can improve the quality of your enviornment making for happier and healthier workers.
Stachybotyrs black mold is mostly common and best known in media and most common potent toxic mold to remediation companies as well. Most Physicians have no mold toxin training which is sometimes overlooked by the severe effects it could have on patients physically. Especially, with compromised immune systems such as children and the elderly.
This black mold requires water and not just high relative humidity to start to grow. Most common is sheetrock, wood especially exposed to outdoor conditions such as a construction site. HVAC air handlers and internally lined acoustical ductwork with fiberglass is another main culprit, due to high moisture and dust that is not cleaned periodically. Makes for a perfect breeding ground, for mold to thrive.
Typically when a homeowner has water leak behind walls, water will seep out and they will cleanup excess water on the ground ignoring the fact that water is still behind the walls and if there is insulation between studs it will wick up the water causing mold to bleed through the wall over time. Of gassing bacteria to escape into air causing musty odors and mold spores to get airborne, and they will attach themselves to other items such as contents of the home.
Professional mold remediators should always isolate the area with a least 6 mil plastic walls to create and isolated area to keep contamination contained within that space. HEPA air scrubbers and negative air machines that vent outside are important to capture air borne mold during the remediation process. Before hiring someone to test or remediate your home or office, you should know some basics on mold testing and remediation. If your remediator never heard of the EPA or OSHA guidelines, hire a different company. Read about basic mold remediation and clean up principles at www.epa.gov/mold.
Professional remediation company should be licensed and insured in there state, carry mold pollution, give at least 10 reference of similar scope of work, and give a certificate of guarantee of the work up to one year, and should be more then trained then a couple of days in a classroom vs. the field.
After 28 years in this business working for the super-rich or the common home the concept is primarily the same, “Awareness, Prevention, and Response”
There are plenty of publications for the homeowner to educate themselves and even do small projects themselves, with the proper protection of course.
Mold occurs where there has been standing water, moisture or water leakage. Health problems can be caused by prolonged exposure to mold so it is important to take steps to eliminate mold from your house. While mold can grow in places unseen, like crawlspaces, air ducts and behind walls, there are a few signs that mean a potential mold problem.
If you notice a pungent smell in one area of your home, check for mold. Sometimes mold hides behind walls, making the odor difficult to isolate. Mold may be visible in moisture-prone areas of your home. Check bathrooms, under sinks, in the basement and anywhere else water leaks may have occurred.
Discoloration of your ceiling or walls may indicate moisture problems. Check the area for mold, and take steps to eliminate moisture buildup. The most common symptoms of mold exposure include runny nose, itchy eyes, congestion and fatigue. If these symptoms improve away from your home, you may have a mold problem.
If you find or suspect mold in your home, consider calling in a professional to inspect your entire home, including floors, walls and ceilings. Professional mold inspectors can also test air samples for dangerous growth. Mold may be hazardous to remove, so consider consulting with a removal specialist who possesses the equipment and specialized knowledge necessary for the safe removal and prevention of mold growth.
Common molds found in the home:
Nobody wants mold in their home. Most people are aware of the unsightly appearance and odors it creates, if not the negative health consequences as well. Specific environmental conditions create the perfect scenario in which dirt, microbial pollutants, and mold spores flourish. The key to preventing air duct contamination is to effectively prevent these conditions. This can be achieved with two simple actions:
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Even without the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy affecting Long Island, it is undeniable that the environment is right for mold growth. The damp conditions that these troublesome little spores love is prevalent in the seaside communities of Long Island’s South Shore like Southampton. High quantities of this mold, as most people will already know, lead to health problems, unpleasant odors, and can even compromise the structural integrity of a home. Immediately following Hurricane Sandy, the majority of homeowners had Southampton mold testing done, but how many have followed up? The answer is: surprisingly few. …
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