Toxic Mold Air Quality Specialists: Accurate Environmental Services

WHAT ARE YOU BREATHING ?

Accurate Environmental Services provides Indoor Air Quality Surveys, Environmental Inspections (Traditional Methods and Certified K-9 Investigations), Moisture Audits (Water Intrusion), Consultation, Sampling and Referral Services ONLY. We are not a remediation or treatment company. We have no vested interest in finding mold that would require expensive treatment. We perform professional, industry standard inspections using only BOARD CERTIFIED MICROBIAL INSPECTORS (CMI). We will recommend remediation only when and if it is required to a qualified, professional remediation company that we have personally reviewed.

310-318-MOLD (6653) - Toll Free 888-400-MOLD

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E-Mail us with ANY QUESTIONS you may have at:

Info@AQEXPERT.com Or Click here: MOLD INFO

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144, Hermosa Beach, California 90254

The KTLA Channel 5 Morning News featured "Savannah" our K-9 Toxic Mold Detective as a unique , affordable and effective method of detecting toxic mold where human inspectors can only guess.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

"Accurate Environmental did a great job for me. They were professional and through. As a realtor, I have had expertise with many mold inspection companies and I will use and recommend Accurate Environmental to all my clients exclusively". -Amy Hackman, Northwest Realty

Mold is the greatest known health threat to the indoor environment today. Reference: Environmental Protection Agency

" We believe that Five Star Service coupled with an ongoing education and the use of state of the art equipment is the key to a successful business." Our business is based on referrals. Our goal is to provide you with such excellent service that you will want to share that experience with others."

NEWS: We are proud to introduce Dr. Munagala to the AES team as our professional partmer. Dr. Munagala has 25 years experience dealing with fungi and its relationship to man and animal . click on our "About Us" page on the left for details)

Your home doesn't have to have leaks to be filled with moisture and toxic mold. Daily activities such as showering, washing clothes, cooking and dishwashing release a great deal of moisture into the atmosphere of your home. In addition, outside weather conditions regularly contribute a good deal of moisture as well. Left untreated, excess moisture (above 50% humidity) can create many problems and cause extensive damage to your home.

Page Contents:

1. "Why You've Only Heard Of Toxic Mold In The Last Few Years."

2."How Does This Mold Affect Me?"

3. Why Chlorine Bleach is ineffective in killing mold.

4. Why even Brand New Homes Are Now Contaminated With Toxic Mold" before you move in.

"Why You've Only Heard Of Toxic Mold In The Last Few Years"

The fact is, mold has been around forever. So why have we only been hearing about it for the last few years?

Mold is everywhere in our environment, and in nature, it performs the important job of breaking down organic matter. Mold needs very little to survive: air, moisture and food (mold will grow with only 40%-60% relative humidity). Mold is especially fond of building materials like sheet rock wood and carpet. It also enjoys soft goods such as furniture and clothes. Every home offers a smorgasbord for eager spores!

In fact, over 50% of American homes are a breeding ground for hidden toxic mold.

There are a number of reasons for the increasing problem of mold and mildew in our homes, the biggest being Title 24 to the United States Code of Federal Regulations. This legislation brought new construction methods and materials, and now homes don't "breathe" like they used to. This trapping of moisture inside your home is what causes mold growth.

Most newer homes are built on concrete slabs, which emit moisture for several years as they cure, and because they're porous, moisture from the soil beneath the slab also makes its way into your living space. Leaky roofs, windows, and plumbing, whether caused by poor construction or lack of timely repairs, often results in the growth of mold and mildew spores. These spores become airborne, spreading inside wall cavities, behind cabinets and wallpaper, and through ventilation systems. When moisture and temperature conditions are right, widespread contamination can occur in an amazingly short time.

"How Does This Mold Affect Me?"

Remember the story of King Tut's tomb? Mold was reportedly thick and pungent. The treasure hunters and laborers got ill after spending long days inside, and many died, but we now know it was NOT because the tomb was " cursed."

We've just recently begun to understand the potential health risks associated with exposure to mold contamination. Mold spores can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin or ingested on our food. And, because some people are more susceptible than others, one person may become sick by exposure to mold in the home, while another person sharing the same environment is essentially unaffected.

Infants, the elderly and anyone with immune system deficiencies due to disease, chemotherapy, etc. are particularly susceptible to serious illness following exposure to mold contamination.

Many types of mold and mildew (and the toxins they produce) can cause or aggravate a number of ailments. Common effects from molds such as stachybotris, penecillium, cladosporium and aspergillius, are asthma, pneumonitis, upper respiratory problems, sinusitis, dry cough, skin rashes, stomach upset, headaches, disorientation, bloody noses, depression, and short term memory loss. Numerous other types of mold and mildew are also toxic, and many are known carcinogens. Severe exposures can lead to internal bleeding, kidney and liver failure and pulmonary emphysema.

Such health risks due to the presence of mold in a home are a serious concern to you, and can pose potential liability for owners of rental properties.

Contamination of homes in America by toxic mold and mildew has become more and more common. And the reason? An overwhelming lack of education and misinformation.

Although mankind has been aware for thousands of years that mold grows in damp conditions, only recently have we begun to understand how much it can impact our health. And make no mistake about it, toxic mold and mildew grows in both old and new homes.

The odor or visual signs of mold cause many problems. The moisture that gives life to fungal growth in older buildings can either be a moisture problem created by tenant's use, or faulty equipment in the home, or both! In new! construction, mold growth is typically the result of construction defects.

Many people think that after a water leak that they could "suck" the water out of their carpet, and that would take care of the problem.

Wrong answer!
Do you really believe that the carpet is the only thing that got wet?
Of course not.

The padding underneath the carpet is soaking wet, and so is the wood sub floor. If you don't pull the carpeting back and dry ALL the affected areas, you'll have toxic mold growth in no time.

Why Chlorine Bleach is ineffective in killing mold.

Many home owners use cheap and ineffective chlorine bleach as their preferred chemical to allegedly kill mold. Unfortunately, chlorine bleach is not an effective or lasting killer of mold and mold spores on porous surfaces. Bleach is good only for changing the color of the mold. Three weeks after treatment with chlorine bleach, mold can and usually will return just as strong as before.

1. "Supermarket Chlorine Bleach" is too diluted and thus too weak to permanently kill mold. Bleach that has been stored for 90 days can lose 50% of its killing power in a never opened container (chlorine constantly escapes through the plastic walls of its container)

2. The ION structure prevents chlorine from penetrating into porous materials such as drywall and wood. It stays on the outside surface, Whereas mold has enzyme roots growing inside the porous material.

3. Chlorine Bleach is NOT registered with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as a disinfectant to kill mold. You can verify that important fact yourself when you are unable to find an EPA registration number for killing mold on the label of any brand of chlorine bleach.

Why even Brand New Homes Are Now Contaminated With Toxic Mold"before you move in

You may think that new home construction would be mold-free, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Today's homes are built for optimal energy conservation. They're built without the characteristic air "leaks" that were common in buildings of the last generation. Unfortunately, in making the home energy efficient, another issue has been created: an environment which is perfect for mold growth.

Are you a buyer watching your new home being built?

Do you realize what would happen if the wood used in your construction project got wet before your building framework is enclosed? What about when it's completely sealed, with energy efficient doors and windows?

If your building materials have been exposed to the elements (rain, cold, heat, humidity) you're going to have toxic mold in your brand new home.

Over the last decade it's become clear that these wet materials often become covered with bacteria and mold due to fluctuating humidity and multiple environmental conditions, both of which cause mold growth at alarming rates.

New homes are often mold contaminated even before you even move in because:

Wet lumber was used in the construction, and then sealed up.

(as you know, trapped moisture causes mold growth)

The home's roof and sidewalls were not covered in plastic sheeting at the end of each construction day to protect the home from rain (source of water for mold spores to grow inside the home under construction)

No mold quality control was done by the builder or their employees

Use of modern building materials like chip wafer boards, dry wall (plasterboard), and plywood -- all of which mold loves to eat.

Example:

An unknown water leak can occur in the new plumbing system after it was pressure tested and certified operational.

Even if the contractor has put forth the effort to keep the materials dry during the building process, there's still a chance that you could have a mold problem.

Here's what happens. When the water system is installed in your new home, the builder is required to pressure test the system in order to pass inspection.

This test is performed before work is completed on your home.

As the construction process continues, many workers will be in and out of your new home. Everyone from electricians, HVAC installers, sheet rock contractors, finish contractors and the list goes on.

Any one of these workers could accidentally damage the water system, and in the best-case scenario, you wouldn't find out about it until after you took possession of your new home and turned the water back on.

At this point, you'd have to call the builder back in to fix the damage.