Mold & Indoor Air Quality Testing

SEA’s indoor air quality site assessments include: Inspection of the structure inside and out with emphasis on ventilation system, building layout, and structures condition Thorough inspection and evaluation of ventilation systems, and air flow patterns Employee interviews and review of health records Inspections for hazardous chemical usage and storage Air sampling for biological-aerosols, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and other irritants and pollutants Evaluation of the moisture content of building materials and HVAC system throughout the building Wipe samples for mold and bacteria Collection of dust samples Based on the findings of our investigation, SEA will recommend corrective actions, if necessary, as well as assist your organization in achieving environmental conditions that will provide optimum health and comfort for your employees. If a potentially serious indoor air quality problem is documented, SEA can provide the following services: Conduct Indoor Air Quality Studies for Mold and Other Contaminants. Write specifications for, and oversee implementation of, required corrective actions. Expert witness testimony during litigation.

It is well known that mold is the cause of numerous respiratory and allergy related health issues. Children and infants are especially susceptible to these effects, and it is important for a house to be completely mold-free for a family to be healthy. Unfortunately, mold can and will grow anywhere: The microscopic spores are impossible to completely filter out of the air, and they can grow with only a small amount of moisture. Mold removal can be a DIY project. These tips will help you get started on the process. 1Use a dust mask or other respiratory protection. Mold will often grow in areas with little ventilation. It can be harmful to breathe in concentrated amounts of spores, so invest in a quality mask. 2Research your chemicals thoroughly. Mold can be treated with anything from soap and water to bleach. You may need to try multiple solutions before you find one that removes your mold, and some of these chemicals can create poisonous gasses when combined, even in the smallest amount. 3Replace any contaminated porous surfaces. Carpet, drywall and even furniture can be impossible to fully rid of mold. Spores can settle deep into these materials and continue to grow. Be prepared to remove these items and replace them. 4Don’t forget to check your HVAC system. Because it moves air through your home, mold spores can gather and grow within your vents. You’ll need to clean inside these small spaces and make sure that filters and crevices are completely clean. Removing mold from these tight spaces can require special equipment or supplies. 5The most effective thing you can do is rid your home of dampness and moisture. This may be something as simple as a leaky pipe or condensation, but it might stem from foundation issues or faulty appliances. A dehumidifier may pull some moisture out of the air, but it can’t compete with a water leak. Complete removal of mold requires a top-to-bottom house cleaning, often utilizing special chemicals or tools. You will need to detect and remove every single colony of mold to ensure that it will not grow and spread. If you are not trained in identifying and removing mold, it is likely that you could miss some. Don’t take the chance with your family’s health: If you are not completely confident in your abilities, consider a professional. It’s simply not worth the risk. Contact SEA Inc. today by calling 501-568-3111 or using our online contact form.

The presence of mold in a house or apartment is almost a certainty if the right conditions exist. The spores and the proteins and other elements in mold often cause negative reactions in respiratory systems in humans and their pets. Some forms of mold actually produce micotoxins that can cause illness, even death. Thus it is very important to identify if contamination exists in a residence, and if it is, how to get rid of mold. It is possible, given the knowledge, tools and expertise, that an individual may remediate the mold themselves. However, since the health of a family unit is at stake, it is best to rely upon the services of a professional company that specializes in removing mold. In this manner you are assured that the vendor hired knows how to get rid of mold that has invaded the residence. Only three conditions must exist before mold can attack a residence: Moisture – this can be in the form of water infiltration, leaks or just condensation. Nutrients – mold feeds on organic materials; the paper on wallboard, the paste in wall-coverings, cellulose in building materials, biological contamination and others. Time – the time to grow and develop into a colony. Mold spores are often spread through an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system. Thus it is important that a program of removing mold include this system central to most modern residences. The first step taken by a professional mold removal company is a mold inspection. This determines the location of the infestation and the extent of the spread. It will also tell the remediator how to get rid of mold, what steps he must take to make a home a healthy and safe environment again. Once the mold inspection is completed, the mold is attacked, killed and prepared for removal. The mold removal is not the end of the process. The mold removal company will have a program to assure that the mold will not return. This will include using mold resistant coatings and paints, eliminating the conditions that allowed the mold to form in the first place and insuring that they will not return. To learn more, use the online contact form to contact SEA Inc.

Love isn’t the only thing that grows as Valentine’s Day approaches. Enclosed spaces and damp environments contribute to mold growth. February’s fickle weather often means excess moisture in your home. You bring some of it in on your damp shoes and clothing; when you hang these items up to dry, dampness evaporates from them, but it doesn’t disappear. Your heated house allows moisture to condense on windows and within exterior walls, and where there’s moisture, there’s mold. Mold spores are an inevitable part of your home’s environment. When these spores find a hospitable environment such as a warm, damp wall below a window that supplies a steady supply of moisture, they bloom into mold colonies. Thriving mold colonies produce more spores, allowing the mold to colonize new parts of your home such as basements, bathrooms and even your ventilation system. No amount of dusting or sweeping can stop mold spores from proliferating in your home, but professional mold remediation services from SEA Inc. will clear the air and give you a healthy home again. A few Valentine’s Day chocolates won’t hurt you, but too many is bad for your health. Mold is considerably less appetizing than chocolates from a plush red heart, but the same philosophy applies. Ubiquitous mold spores will still drift into your home, but mold remediation services keep them from finding your house as comfortable as you do. The few incidental mold spores that find their way in after professional removal of mold colonies won’t trigger allergic reactions and sick-building syndrome the way that active mold colonies can. You can clean, vacuum and reduce moisture with desiccants, but mold goes where your mops and brooms can’t. An expert mold remediation service makes a real difference in the battle against mold. SEA Inc. calls in a team of board-certified professionals to inspect your home’s ventilation system, air flow patterns and interstitial spaces between walls to assess your mold risk. Dust samples and air-quality profiles pinpoint your mold problem so SEA’s team of professionals can rid your home of this health hazard. Not only will SEA Inc. handle the removal of mold, the company’s experts will also help you learn how to get rid of mold before it grows out of control. Mold remediation is an ongoing event, not a one-time occurrence, so SEA’s team members are available for regular reassessment as well as initial mold removal. Restore harmony to your home and make life sweet for your valentine with a clean, fresh-smelling house.

You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, but you cannot see the source, or if you know there has been water damage and residents are reporting health problems. Mold may be hidden in places such as the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, paneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets and pads, etc. Other possible locations of hidden mold include areas inside walls around pipes (with leaking or condensing pipes), the surface of walls behind furniture (where condensation forms), inside ductwork, and in roof materials above ceiling tiles (due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation).

The cleanup depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft.by 3 ft.patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself by following the guidelines below. However, if there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, It’s time to call in a pro like SEA to remove the mold.

It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors. Some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. Controlling moisture is key The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth is controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don’t fix the water problem the mold problem will come back.