Mold & Radon

MOLD.....A GROWING CONCERN Since there has been so much media hype surrounding MOLD, prospective home buyers want a home that has been MOLD tested. MOLD sampling has become a standard practice during a home inspection. You should not buy , sell or live in a home with MOLD. A MOLD inspection is your first line of defense. Mold Detection Detecting mold can be accomplished through a visual inspection and testing. During a visual inspection, we want to visually check for mold growth in any areas of the home that have suffered from flood damage, water damage, or a plumbing leak. It only takes 24-48 hours for mold to grow after a water intrusion. Other areas of concern are inside cabinets, behind drywall, behind baseboards, around plumbing fixtures, behind wallpaper, peeling or bubbling paint, window sills, basements, crawl spaces and attics. If you find a suspicious substance which may be mold growing in any of these areas, you will want to test the area. A to Z HOME INSPECTION SERVICES offers two distinct methods of testing for surface mold depending on your specific needs: THE VIABLE MOLD TEST - If you suspect that a substance is mold but not known for certain, A to Z recommends the Viable Mold Test. This test will tell you whether the substance in question is mold. A to Z will take a test sample and if nothing grows in the test kit for three to seven days , the substance in question is not living, growing mold. If the substance is living growing mold, in approximately three to seven days, you will see mold growing in the test kit. At that time you have the option to send the test kit in for laboratory analysis. The laboratory will analyze your sample to identify the types of mold present and tell you whether the mold is allergenic, pathogenic or toxigenic. This cost-affective option provides an accurate and reliable laboratory analysis. The laboratory analysis will identify what type and how much mold is prevalent on the surface that was tested. After we receive the test results we will then determine a course of action. LIFT TAPE MOLD TEST - If you already know that the substance is mold and want to find out what type(s) of mold are present, A to Z recommends the Lift Tape Mold Test. We perform this test by lightly pressing the tape from the test kit on the substance. The tape is then sealed and sent to the laboratory for analysis. The laboratory will then analyze and identify the types of mold present and tell us whether the mold is allergenic, pathogenic or toxygenic. This cost-affective option provides an accurate and reliable laboratory analysis. The laboratory analysis will identify what type and how much mold is prevalent on the surface that was tested. After we receive the test results we will then determine a course of action. THE RADON FACT SHEET What Is RADON? RADON is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You cannot see it, smell, or taste radon but it may be a problem in your home. When you breathe air containing radon, you increase the chances of getting lung cancer. In fact the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. If you smoke and your home contains high levels of radon, you have a higher risk for lung cancer. Radon is colorless, chemically uncreative inert gas, it is the densest gas known. Where in the U.S. can RADON be found? Radon comes from natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water, entering the air you breathe. It can infiltrate any type of building, home, office, school, and build up to high levels. But you and your family will most likely receive your greatest exposure where you spend most of your time-your home. Should you test for RADON? Testing is the only way to know if your home has radon gas. There are no immediate symptoms that will alert you to the presence of radon. It typically takes years of exposure before any problems surface and then its too late. THE U.S. ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION ANGENCY, SURGEON GENERAL, AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN MEDICIAL ASSOCIATION AND NATIONAL SAFTY CONCIL all recommend testing your home for RADON! Can you fix the problem? If we find that your home has high levels of radon, there way to reduce the concentrations. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels. Most radon problems can be fixed by a do-it-yourselfer for less than $700.00. Otherwise there professionals who can do it for you. Console your yellow pages. IF YOU SUSPECT MOLD OR RADON IN YOUR HOME OR PLACE OF BUSINESS, PLEASE HAVE IT TESTED IT’S YOUR HEALTH. CALL FOR A QUOTE TODAY, YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID.