WHY TEST FOR MOLD?
A decade ago it was asbestos. Today, mold is in the spotlight and
America is divided over whether mold really is a legitimate concern
or just another over-rated environmental issue. What we hear about
mold testing is often influenced by what someone is trying to sell
us or want us to believe.
A SIGN OF THE TIMES.
Whatever we believe about mold, it is a reality that is here to
stay. Numerous alerts from the medical profession and the
skyrocketing number of
lawsuits against landlords, realtors, employers,
insurers, and even car
dealers, warn us of the seriousness of mold and justify the
need for proper mold testing, especially in California where
everyone is sue-happy.
Some have even called it "The
Silent Killer". That may be on the extreme side, but with
all the information available about mold and it's potential for
harm, there are plenty of valid reasons for mold testing. For
example, we now know that some molds produce toxins which may be
linked to severe cases of asthma, respiratory problems including
bleeding lungs, and many other very serious ailments including
immune system disorders. The medical and legal communities are now
taking mold contamination very seriously. With so much overwhelming
evidence to support the dangers of exposure to mold, mold testing is
the first step in properly assessing whether an abnormal or elevated
mold condition exists.
We hope you find this information helpful in making confident and
educated decisions about mold testing as well as any other concerns
you have about mold.
MOLD TESTING: THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY - THEN
THERE'S THE TRUTH
The controversy over mold testing and the potentially harmful
effects of mold is driven primarily by opinionated proponents on
both sides of the mold testing issue with their own agenda.
SIDE 1 - "MOLD IS NO BIG DEAL"
There are some who will tell you that mold is no big deal and mold
testing is not necessary. It is interesting to note that those who
make such irresponsible statements also disclaim everything they say
by warning you to wear a respirator and rubber gloves when cleaning
mold. Why? If mold is "no big deal", why bother protecting your
lungs and skin from it? The answer is; because mold can be a very
big deal and the only way to really know for sure is by proper
testing for mold.
SIDE 2: "MOLD WILL KILL YOU AND EAT YOUR HOUSE"
That almost sounds comical, but there are those "Chicken Little"
types out there who will tell you that mold is the "end of the
world" and try to scare you in to spending a fortune to rebuild your
home, which just happens to be the business they are in. [see
mold scams] Because of the newness of the industry and
the lack of official standards for investigating and reporting mold
conditions, there are some unscrupulous "opportunists" out there who
seek to capitalize on your naiveté. Proper mold testing by a third
party mold inspector is the best way keep zealous mold contractors
in check and provide you with accurate assessments of indoor mold
conditions.
THE TRUTH:
Whenever you hear statements that seem extremely biased to one side
of the mold testing issue or the other, be cautious. Our advice is,
make sure the person testing for mold has no personal interest in
how your mold tests come out. The truth is, under certain
conditions, mold does have the potential to cause very costly damage
to property and poses a serious health threat to humans and animals.
Plain and simple. But not all mold problems are catastrophic by
default. Again, the best way to get an accurate and unbiased
assessment of your mold condition is to have proper mold testing
done by an uninterested third party mold inspector.
Does mold cause health problems with everyone? Of course not, but if
you are susceptible to mold allergies or have other medical issues
such as those described in our
Health Effects page, there is a high probability that you
will have an adverse reaction in moldy environments.
As for Property Damage,
the very nature of mold is to decompose matter. Over a period of
time, mold can destroy anything and everything it comes in contact
with, including your home and personal belongings. Does the fact
that mold is present automatically mean your property is doomed? Of
course not. But the longer it goes un-addressed, the more damage it
will cause.
The difference between a minor mold problem and a major problem is -
a; How long before you discover it, and
b; how long you wait to do something about
it.
It is possible to take mold problems with you when you move your
contaminated belongings from one house to another. We have even seen
automobiles, trailers and motor homes become contaminated by spores
in clothing, but that too happens very rarely.
WHY TAKE CHANCES?
If you suspect your property has a mold problem, the first responsible
step is to take swift action. Having your home or office inspected
and tested for mold will tell you whether you have a small clean-up
project or a job that requires professional mold remediation.
If you require mold remediation, an independent mold inspection will
assist in determining proper abatement procedures and help keep your
remediation contractor honest.
Most everyone who reads the paper or watches television has heard a
lot about Mold. "Black
Mold", "Toxic
Mold", "Stachybotrys",
"Aspergillus",
"Fusarium",
"Cladosporium",
"Penicillium",
[and
more], there is no shortage of
disturbing news about the harmful effects of mold.
A decade ago it was asbestos. Today, mold -- appropriately dubbed, "The
Silent Killer", is in the spotlight. Numerous alerts
from the medical profession and the skyrocketing number of
lawsuits
against landlords, realtors, employers, insurers, and even
car dealers, warn us
of the seriousness of the mold problem.
Toxic mold is now linked to severe cases of asthma, bleeding lungs,
hypersensitivity and many other very serious ailments including
immune system disorders. The medical and legal communities are
taking mold contamination very seriously. With so much overwhelming
evidence to support the dangers of exposure to mold, we should too.
If you suspect you have a mold problem, whether mold is visible or
not, one call to Advanced Mold Inspections is all it takes to
be sure.
Call us today to schedule an inspection. (800) 369-8532
THE VALUE OF RELIABLE INFORMATION:
Make Sure You Are Equipped With Accurate and Un-Biased Information.
It's important to know that your mold assessment is accurate and
unbiased in order to truly know the extent of the problem and
properly decide on a course of action. The only way to insure the
reliability of a mold inspection is to make sure that the inspection
company has nothing to gain from the results and does not benefit
financially from the mold removal. In other words, do not have your
property inspected for mold by the same mold remediation contractor
who gets paid to REMOVE your mold. In fact, do not allow anyone else
to perform the inspection who might have something to sell you,
based on the results. Furthermore, NEVER let your remediation
contractor provide his own mold clearance testing. An un-biased mold
clearance test is your only way to know if the mold remediation was
successful. You cannot trust mold clearance testing to the
contractor doing your remediation work. That's like grading your own
report card.
- Advanced Mold Inspections
is not in the mold removal business. We are, in fact, certified
mold remediators as well as certified mold inspectors, but we do
not engage in any mold remediation services. Our certified mold
inspectors are put though mold remediation training for the sole
purpose of knowing, while performing mold clearance tests, that
your remediation work is done correctly or incorrectly.
AMI is not connected with any third parties
on either side of mold issues. We do not benefit from anyone who
would attempt to sell you anything or persuade you that mold is
either no big deal, or the end of the world.
When you hire AMI for mold inspection and mold testing services,
you can count on accurate and un-biased information from Southern
California's most trusted mold inspection company.
KNOWLEDGE AND TIMING
It is estimated there is over 400,000 different types of mold. Less
than 100,000 have actually been named, of which less that 1,000 are
commonly found indoors. Of all the molds found indoors, less than 1%
are known to be toxic. That's the good news. The bad news is,
without proper mold testing and laboratory analysis there is no way
to know the difference. There are thousands of molds that are black,
thousands that are green, thousands that are brown, etc., etc.
Direct microscopic analysis by highly trained and educated personnel
is the only way to know for certain what types of mold are present
in an environment.
When is a good time to test for mold?
A good time to test for mold is:
-
When you want to determine if mold is growing in you home.
-
After any flooding or water damage event.
-
Whenever you find a leak that has been present for more than 24
hours.
-
Whenever you smell a moldy odor.
-
Residents of your home experience a long-term medical condition
without a known cause.
-
Unusual stains appear on furniture or building material.
-
You suspect mold but do not see any visible mold growth.
If you suspect you have a mold problem,
whether mold is visible or not, one call to Advanced Mold
Inspections is all it takes to be sure. Our
only interest is in providing our clients with accurate reporting of
the data we collect in the course of the inspection process and
reliable results of mold tests and samples.
TO SCHEDULE A MOLD INSPECTION CALL 1-800-369-8532
|
