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.
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
MOLD LINKS:
"Black
Mold", "Toxic
Mold", "Stachybotrys",
"Aspergillus",
"Fusarium",
"Cladosporium",
"Penicillium",
mold
glossary, and other
disturbing news
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