Home Owners, Mold and
Indoor Air Quality
As
homeowners we are faced with maintaining our homes and
protecting our investment. As an inspector I have experienced my
clients shock as I reported our discovery of problems with their homes.
Many times these "small" problems had gone undetected for
many years. Smallissues grow into big problems if left undetected.
Little Problems Grow
Example:
Unknown
to them, Mary and Joseph C of Knoxville, had a small leak from a shower
drain into their crawl space. The shower was used every day and the
leak was just a few drip's of water each time it was used. Multiply daily use by family members over several years, one day, they became aware of a BIG problem. Noticing
the tiled shower floor grout cracking they re-grouted. A week later the
grout was again loose and broken. A contractor went under the home to
discover wet floor joists and a large growth of black slimy mold. Their
drain leak rotted out 60% of the floor and was near collapse. Little
problems like leaks have a way of becoming big problems if left
undetected.
Water Leaks or Flooding:
If
you have a water leak, spill or any type of flooding dry it up
immediately. Most home insurance providers provide coverage to have the
repairs and drying out process started within twenty four hours. Act
immediately. Call us for a free consultation and a review of concerns
atany time.
Great care must be
taken to have all areas dried properly. Special care needs to be taken
at walls, under cabinets and finished flooring materials
such as
vinyl, wood, laminates and tile. It is common to have some of this
material removed to properly dry out the area. Water has a habit of
traveling between the layers of flooring and it is not possible to dry
these areas out without removal. Mold growth can start within 24 hours
of a flood
or water event and will continue if moisture remains for any period of time.
Common sources of water leaks:
- Refrigerators and Ice maker lines;
- Pet feeding areas (from water bowls);
- Bath Room Sinks, Commodes, Tubs and Showers (both in the house and underneath);
- Kitchen Sinks and Dishwashers (inside the cabinets and under);
- Laundry Room Clothes Washers and Utility Sinks;
- Basements;
- Crawl Spaces;
Remember: If you smell a musty odor you most likely have mold or a biological contamination. Don't ignore the signs!
Call us for a proper inspection, testing and treatment at the first sign of a problem.
Complete
onsite inspections only take a few hours and typically are less than
three hundred dollars dependant on the square footage of the home and
other factors. Inspections often include sampling, lab testing and
recommendations for correction. Corrections should be started promptly
upon
discovery.
Leak Detection:
We
are one of the few companies in East Tennessee that provide for
non-destructive leak detection. Using state of the art Infrared Imaging
equipment in addition other technology we can help isolate the source
of leaks and provide documentation and photo images to our clients. As
Nationally Certified Thermographer's we provide the right answers to
our clients needs and concerns.
Visit our Web Site at
http://infraredthermalimagingservicesknoxville.com/ .
Like to know more?
Case Studies and current research issues are available at our Blogs at
www.volunteermold.wordpress.com or
www.knoxvillemoldremovalservices.wordpress.com. |
