Mold,Carpet and Indoor Air Quaility

To clean or not to clean... Carpeting is a major investment in any home, and regular cleanings are necessary to keep it looking new. Just as the clothing we wear need regular washing to keep them fresh and hygienic, carpets require periodic cleaning as well. Accumulated soil and grit are major causes of reduced carpet life, and enable destructive and health harmful mites, bacteria and even have VOC issues. Cleaning costs are minimal when compared to the cost of replacing carpets and furnishing, so regular cleaning makes economic sense too. Some newer carpets create high VOC levels and can last for months causing poor indoor air quality issues. If your home has proper ventilation these usually do not cause as many health issues as poorly cleaned older carpets. What the issue is with carpets that are not cleaned properly is poor water extraction. Carpets become filled with organic materials and mold spores deep within the fibers. Add water and boom, a mold issue is created. Usually detected by the odor, which only takes 48 hrs to start the mold growth.
Having your carpets cleaned with the cheap guy may cost you big time. Carpets should be deep steam cleaned only. This process gets deeply embedded soils out of your carpet and removes most of the water during extraction. All carpets should have a high CFM fan place per room until carpeting ad substrate is below 9% moisture. Carpet should feel dry to the touch and you should be able to walk around wearing socks that absorb no moisture. A dry carpet is a mold free carpet.
Always use a good HEPA filter vacuum prior to any cleaning. Also regular dusting and vacuuming should become part of a daily routine!

Mold Remediation and Health Risk

Excessive amounts of mold needs to have a professional mold remediation company perform procedures that will eliminate the risk of contamination. More importantly is to have an independent mold inspection done prior to work and after work Is completed. The completed inspection, called a clearance test, will provide the building owner with an air test showing the work was properly performed.
Is you mold remediation being done properly?
Here are the top five steps to a properly performed mold inspection and remediation job.

1. Independent mold testing / inspection
2. State Licensed Asbestos inspection "All Jobs Require This!"
3. State Licensed XRF Lead Paint inspection "All buildings older than 1979"
4. Remediation Plan
5. Independent Clearance Test

Before any work has begun the building owner should have clear understanding what the remediation company's clearance standards are in relation to the independent inspections air testing results. What, if any, guidelines are they following?
For more information on any mold related issues in the Seattle,WA area visit our website. We are an independent commercial and residential building inspection company serving all of Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell, Renton, Lynnwood, Medina, Kent and all of Pugent Sound.

Pacific Northwest Inspections Group

13256 NE 20th St

Suite 12

Bellevue,WA 98005

Scuba Gear Needed

Mold spores, the seeds of mold, are in the air everywhere. All they need to grow is organic material such as wood, the right temperature range, and moisture. Of these, the only one that can be controlled is moisture. Dirt crawl spaces have the high humidity levels necessary for mold growth. Humidity levels from 50% to 90% are easily found in dirt crawl spaces that have never flooded.
Mold can grow on dirt, insulation, framing and even under your carpet on the first floor. Mold destroys organic materials as it feeds on them. Mold reproduces by producing millions of floating airborne spores, which some people are very sensitive to. Spores can be dormant for many years, waiting for the right conditions to grow. Some molds produce mycotoxins such as the black mold Stachybotrys. Visit our site for articles on the effects of mold, and toxic mold. Are the conditions right in this crawlspace for mold growth? This one is for fishing. Order your ispection today before your crawlspace is added to as a Washington Lake! call Pacific Northwest Inspections Group,LLC for a certified inspection in the Seattle,WA area.

Anyone got a paddle?

There are three things that destroy materials in general, and wood in particular: water, heat and ultra-violet radiation. Of these, water is by far the most important.
A dirt crawl space under a home is a very bad idea. The earth has very high humidity in the soil. This water vapor moves easily into the crawl space and upwards into the house environment.
A damp environment is very unhealthy and destructive. Mold thrives and reproduces by producing airborne spores by the millions, and some molds are toxic. Insects and critters of all kinds love damp environments and wet materials. Rot and decay occur in damp environments causing structural damage. The water level in this crawlspace was over a foot in areas! How a home owner could continue to allow this is beyond me. Among other issues the electrical wires were ran on ground and inch's away from a short. Crawlspace inspection is critical in home ownership and should be as routine as cleaning the gutters. Home owners benefit from our "Home Maintenance " program which includes routine inspection on all major areas of the property. Before you need a paddle call us to schedule your inspection today! 425.608.9553