The indoor air quality test did not look promising. After coming home to a musty smell after being on vacation for two weeks, you contacted an indoor air quality inspection company to find out what the smell was. The levels from the home mold inspection indicated that it would now be necessary to schedule mold remediation.
The team that came to perform the test indicated that although the mold levels inside the house were unhealthy, the problem originated outside. Upon further research the home mold inspection team discovered that damaged hard board siding was the beginning of the problem. The siding had become soft and water logged in a location that was hidden by some overgrown shrubs.
After months of damage and continued growth, the mold made its way past the outdoor siding and worked its way into some unsealed parts of the exterior into the insulation. Some had even grown its way into the drywall that was in the laundry room. Luckily, the inside damage was minimal. It had been enough to show up on the indoor air quality numbers, but it seemed to be contained to this smallest room in the house.
Indoor Air Quality Testing Can Help You Discover Unseen Problems
Some health conditions that home owners struggle with can actually be caused by unhealthy indoor air quality. Allergies, asthma, and even skin rashes can develop in residents who live in homes that have undetected mold and mildew problems. In fact, asthma is the sixth ranked chronic condition in America. It is the leading serious chronic illness of children in this country. It can be triggered or made worse by mold, spores, dust, and allergens. Additionally, other harmful particles found indoors that are less common can also create problems.
Opening the windows to allow fresh air in can make a room smell better for short periods of time, but when the windows are closed again, the musty smells continue. Left unchecked, these conditions can cause long term health problems.
Indoor air quality facts indicate that in many cases indoor air can be more dangerous and more polluted than outdoor air.
The fact is that while the government and local authorities concern themselves with outdoor air quality, an entire age group needs to be more concerned about indoor air quality. In fact, some estimates suggest the average time elderly Americans spend indoors is 19 to 20 hours a day. This makes them very vulnerable to mold and other indoor air pollutants.
Is the Air That You Are Breathing Making You Sick?
Some home owners avoid solving the problems of mold because they are not constant. Molds only thrive at normal indoor temperatures so extreme temperatures can make it seem that the problems are gone. Because few if any molds are able to grow in temperatures below 40 or above 100 degrees Farenheit, changes in weather can temporarily make these problems seem unimportant. During moderate temperatures, however, these molds can thrive and multiply.
Mold remediation teams can help home owners kill the mold that is making them sick and eliminate conditions that would create more mold. Continued air quality checks can help these home owners monitor that mold and mildew probems have not returned.
Unfortunately, 30% to 50% of all structures in America have damp conditions which can encourage the growth and buildup of many biological pollutants. Left untested, these pollutants and unnoticed molds can make workers and residents in these buildings ill. What first may seem like allergies or seasonal cold and flu symptoms may actually become long term health problems.
State and federal laws require that public buildings like schools, government offices, and hospitals be tested for indoor air quality levels on a regular basis. Irregularities must be reported and addressed. Violations are subject to both fines and penalties. Residents and workers who fear that the air quality that they are subjected to in public locations is dangerous can request an indoor air quality study, as well as mold testing.
The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) indicates more than 130 million Americans are forced to breathe low-quality air on a regular basis. Make sure that you are not one of them. Demand the air you breathe is tested.