Tag Archives: #blackmold

Certified Mold Inspection and Mold Testing in Massachusetts

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https://airenvironments.com

Healthy Indoor Air Quality

Professional Certified Trained Inspectors

  • Mold Testing and Mold Inspections
  • Indoor Air Quality Solutions
  • Council Certified Microbial Consultant
  • Indoor Environmental Consultations

Advanced certifications in mold testing and mold inspections. We provide indoor allergy tests and mold testing, water damage, and moisture assessments. Our thorough inspections include a visual site inspection along with a protocol of mold sampling where and if needed. We utilize moisture meters for water and excess moisture and relative humidity detection, water losses, and property damage for homes, offices, and businesses.

Environmental Consultations to provide indoor air quality solutions and goals to help identify the problem and minimize impact due to floods, storms, pipe leaks, mold, high relative humidity, or condensation. Environmental Resources is here to offer peace of mind for your home, business, and office. We provide a thorough visual inspection to look for and detect black mold, allergenic or pathogenic mold fungi. Indoor air testing and direct sampling, odor investigations, and allergy assessments for pollen, dander, fibers, dust, or dust mites. We can provide supervised independent oversight, support for mold remediation projects, and post-mold remediation verification following industry standards and guidelines. Healthy home indoor air quality consulting to point you in the right direction with preventative measures where needed. May your air quality be clean so that you may breathe easier whether it is mold, allergies, flooding, or odors.

Quality Service

Detailed comprehensive mold and moisture reports including observations and considerations of the scope of work. Rapid turnaround time for real estate or other emergencies of mold samples from accredited A.H.I.A. and E.M.P.A.T. (Environmental Microbiology Proficiency Analytical Testing Certified Microbiological Labs.)   

Mold contamination and mold spores can affect your health, especially those with asthma, COPD, allergies and weak immune systems, your own home infested with mold growth, excess water leaks, dampness, high relative humidity, and heating, ventilation, air conditioning – H.V.A.C. issues. Mold has no respect for where it grows providing the right temperature, nutrients, food source of porous materials, and conditions of indoor environments. If you suspect mold inside your environment, moldy odors, musty moldy basement or crawlspace, attic, bathroom, bedroom, office, and more then call us, the mold and moisture professional. Special assignments and environmental networking – consulting available upon request.

Environmental Resources https://www.airenvironments.com

info@airenvironments.com

781-248-9975

https://www.airenvironments.com

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About Us

Indoor Air Quality Solutions

https://www.promoldinspections.com 781-2148-9975

Environmental Resources is a small consulting company established in 2003 in the Massachusetts area serving the coastal areas of the north and south shore, Cape Cod, and greater Boston. We are dedicated to providing your family, home, office, or business with healthier living indoors with the latest state-of-the-art technologies for your indoor air quality needs such as professional mold and moisture inspections and certified mold testing. 

We provide environmental consulting for a variety of indoor air quality needs and solutions. Needs such as breathing clean indoor air with a concern for potential health exposure of the air you breathe, and saving you up to thousands of dollars if necessary.

My name is Andy Provitola, I am the owner and a certified consultant of this unique company. I hold a bachelor’s degree in B.A. and continue to learn in classes and trade conferences in the environmental science field such as microbiology, health and safety, indoor air quality, etc. The current field experience I have personally conducted hundreds of mold inspections, consultations, and assessments in over 19 plus years. Using the latest state-of-the-art equipment to help detect mold growth and excess moisture. We do not perform mold removal or remediation, so we provide you with an objective independent evaluation with no conflict of interest. 

Our goal for our clients is to help point you in the right direction and help you save possibly thousands of dollars in unwanted mold remediation and mold removal costs when it is not necessary. When mold remedial is necessary we can provide a scope of work if needed. We recommend this protocol utilizing EPA or ANSI/IICRC S520 industry standards and guidelines for mold remediation projects. Currently, there are no Federal Threshold Limit Values TLV’s of governmental standards for testing for mold.

Professional Certifications:​

  • CMC #1009018: Council Certified Microbial Consultant: ACAC
  • Building Envelopes: Flir Infrared Thermal Camera
  • OSHA 40 HAZWOPER 29 CFR 1910.120
  • Water Damage Restoration-IICRC
  • Laboratories are Microbiological AIHA & EMPAT certified where samples are analyzed
  • Many other certifications or attendance for Indoor Science conferences with mold and air quality, etc

Locations:

Serving South Shore Hingham-Norwell, Scituate, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hanover, Pembroke Massachusetts, Cape Cod – Martha’s Vineyard- Barnstable County, Plymouth County, Norfolk County, Middlesex County, Suffolk County, Middlesex County, Brisol County

Environmental Resources http://www.airenvironments.com

781-248-9975

Healthy Indoor Air Quality

Freezing Pipes 🥶

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When the weather stays in frozen conditions below zero degrees, this can cause havoc to your home or business. We can tend to forget when to prepare for frozen pipes to burst or crack in the busyness of life.

Here are some pointers to help to prevent pipes from freezing: 🥶

  1. Keep the heat on at least 50 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Drain outside garden faucets, showers, etc Keep valve slightly open.
  3. Open inside faucets to allow for a slight dripping with moving water.
  4. Install foam pipe insulation sleeve wraps around copper pipes that are open in the basement or crawlspace  areas. Insulate wrap main water meter pipe valve.
  5. If or when a water leak occurs, shut off the water pipe valve. i.e. underneath a sink, cabinet. If necessary shut off water main valve. Have pipe repaired ASAP.
  6. If water damage dry out floor, walls, furniture, etc. ASAP within 24-48 hours to prevent mold damage.
  7. Use a space heater if needed or blower fan. Raise the heat in house or building.
  8. Be careful of any electrical that get wet by water.
  9. Call a professional for plumbing, electrical, water damage disaster, and mold assessment if necessary.
  10. If you make an insurance claim keep good documents of repairs, receipts, pictures, videos, etc. It is best for adjuster to see the damage before repairs and damage if possible.
  11. Environmental Resources info@airenvironments.com. 781-248-9975
  12. https://www.airenvironments.com

The Value of Mold Testing

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What is the value of mold testing? Too often I have read if you see the mold just get rid of it or remove it! This can be true to a certain extent, however, what if you can smell the mold but cannot see it? There may be a strong musty odor or excess moisture or dampness. I do agree if you see the mold growth to get rid of it or have the moldy affected area treated and cleaned if it cannot be removed. What about the mold that may be hidden or unseen such as behind a wall or ceiling with no access? Mold spores that are airborne are not visible to the naked eye. Just because the surfaces of the walls, ceiling, floor areas are not moist with no surface mold growth, does not indicate that mold spores are not present. it should be noted that every building has some forms of mold, but we are looking at unusual or high excessive mold growth and contamination. Usually after a heavy floor, or excessive pipe leak from a faucet, shower, radiator, plumbing backup, or roof leak can indicate some excess mold growth. A thorough visible inspection of the affected and non affected areas is important and not always having to test or sample for mold. Using a quality moisture meter will help with this, but sampling is only part of the process to come up with a good conclusion with a visible inspection. Air testing alone is not the proper way to assess for mold growth.

The Value of Mold Sampling is Threefold:

  • The air testing will help to determine the mold spore elevations present in the room or area of concern whether they are excessive beyond our natural environment. It should be noted there are no governmental standards or threshold limit values for mold testing. There is industry guidance from professional industries. As a general rule and widely accepted in the indoor air quality field, the numbers and types of mold spores that are present in the indoor environment should not exceed those that are present outdoors at any given time.
  • The purpose of sampling and counting spores is to help determine whether an abnormal condition exists within the indoor environment and if it does to help pinpoint the area of contamination.
  • Mold testing can be subjective, but can help to identify excess mold spores and the type of mold spores indicated in a room or affected area. A spore trap can pick up several types of species in a sample. This can help to determine if it is a common type of mold or a water damage mold such as a mycotoxin, pathogenic, or allergenic type species.
  • Mold sampling can help during or after a mold remediation project to confirm if the mold clean up was effective with verifying low mold spore counts and/or eliminating any nasty water damage type molds such as Stachybotrys, Chaetomium, or excess Aspergillus/Penicillium molds.

Another value for a professional assessment for mold is the peace of mind to know that your investment or health are not at risk. “An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure”.

Mold testing and assessment is best to be performed by a certified and trained (experienced) professional independent consultant or company that does not remediate or remove mold. his help to offer an objective unbiased assessment with accountability. All our samples are sent to a qualified and trained lab accredited and certified. EMPAT,AIHA, Microbiology labs.

Having over twenty years of personal and professional experience with hundreds of mold inspections and indoor air quality assessments. There are times when the mold in a building or home looks worse than what may appear and at other times the room, walls, ceiling, floors, look clean, dry, and innocent only to find the room has excess mold mycotic, and allergenic in nature beyond a “normal environment”. Although there are currently no federal standards or guidelines regarding results of fungal samples and there no no levels that are typical or permissible, there is still value in testing and inspections. The key to stopping a mold problem is to correct the cause and source of the problem. It is important to correct and fix the source to have effective remediation to prevent another problem

Andy Provitola CMC

Environmental Resources & Services

https://www.airenvironments.com

Ice Dams-Heat Loss Culprit for Attic Mold

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Most attics are non living spaces and are popular in most of the homes in new England and Northeast Region of the country. Some times there are roof leaks, ice dams from the roof surfaces and toward the fascia boards leaking toward the ceiling of the floor just under the attic floor joist.

Have you noticed any dark or black stains on the roof bays and trusses. Mold contamination or spores begin to grow due to the dampness and excess moisture. This may not always be from a roof leak. So how does this occur?

Heat loss can be one of the culprits. Lack of proper insulation installed in the floor joist of the attic space. The R value is to be at least 30-38 of thickness. Parts of the floor insulation is missing or removed because some careless utility contractor did not place the insulation back properly. The purpose of insulating your house is to keep the living space warm.

Air sealing can help to block heat from the living space of the home from escaping into the attic. Sometimes heat escapes through the recessed cannister lights not covered or the attic access opening is not insulated properly.

For some reason a lot of HVAC units for heating and air conditioning are installed in the attic space. Although it is popular and has been installed for years it is not the best option, especially, when the unit is installed in the attic. Loose duct vents and ducts allowing heating or cooling to escape causing excess moisture.

During the winter months cold freezing air can cause a film of frost eaves to freeze on the surface of the roof bays. When heat escapes into the attic space it begins to melt the frost causing the roof bays and beams to become moist which in turn will cause mold fungi to grow on the surfaces over a period of time. If there is a lack of proper ventilation the roof bays cannot become dry with the proper air flow venting. Attic space temperature is very similar to the outside temperature and is usually a five degree difference if the insulation and venting is installed properly. Excess relative humidity can also become a factor especially in the hot and humid months. Relative humidity is best in the range of 35% to 60 % on average for an attic space.

You may want to consider a mold and moisture assessment of your home if you notice these dark stains or smell moldy like odors. We utilize Thermal Infrared Camera optimization to determine heat loss, cooling loss, or temperature differential patterns.

Andy Provitola CMC

Environmental Resources & Services

Pembroke, Massachusetts.

781-248-9975

Home

The Four Letter Word that Frightens Realtors Buyers!

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As a realtor you know how challenging it is to list a house and then try to find the right buyer for the client. So many things can show up during a home inspection that your client may become discouraged due to past flooding, ice dams, roof leaks, or a pipe that froze. Water intruded throughout some of these areas that now may have suspect mold growth.  Yes ‘MOLD’ that dirty four letter word that can frighten a buyer away!

Mold growth and contamination can cause damage to a house or building if not dealt with properly. There are people who are very sensitive to mold fungi and have allergic reactions, sinus infections, even respiratory problems. People with asthma in general struggle with air quality issues. Did you know that the EPA says, “We spend approximately 90 percent of our time indoors”!

Before listing a house it is important to ask questions about past flooding, roof leaks, ice dams, pipes from bathrooms or kitchens bursting etc.  How long did the water leak occur? Was water standing for more than 48 hours or less? The best time to dry out excess water problems is within the 24 to 48 hour period. After a few days is usually when mold growth tends to occur, especially when moisture with high relative humidity, and dew point is in the air.  Do you see dried water stains or stains that are suspect for mold such as in the basement, attic, ceilings, walls, etc.? Repairing the source of the problem of water intrusions, moisture and dampness is important to control mold growth from occurring. After proper repairs then mold remedial cleaning is needed to ensure the mold growth is eliminated.

What about those musty odors? Does the crawlspace or basement have a dirt floor? Has the source of the leak been repaired properly? Is the insulation drooping to the floor of the crawlspace because of excess moisture? Are dehumidifier(s) properly operating when needed? Controlling excess relative humidity is important to help mold growth from spreading. Excess Relative Humidity over 60% R.H. can fuel moisture for mold growth. It is important to install the right size dehumidifiers for the basement or crawlspace. Normal range for relative humidity should be between 35% and 50% for best results. Add a quality grade vapor barrier sheeting to the entire dirt floor areas and part of the side walls. Replace any drooping or excess moist fiberglass insulation; and of course clean and treat the mold where and if necessary.

The good news is that there is a solution to mold growth and contamination. Removal of mold physically such as wallboard, contents, carpets, furniture, wet or damp insulation, etc. Clean and treat affected areas professionally from a trained and certified (current certifications) company to remediate the mold. You may want to have the person selling their house to consider a mold inspection and assessment before they list the house. Home inspectors usually do the structural aspect of the house. (Beware of labs pushing untrained home inspectors to conduct mold inspections and testing!) Hire an independent professional who is trained, certified and an experienced company who does not remediate mold to offer an objective viewpoint for your project.  I emphasize trained and certified because there are no federal state regulations in Massachusetts and other the New England states. Very few states require licensing for mold assessments and removal.

Andy Provitola CMC Environmental Resources Norwell, MA https://airenvironments.com