Americans spend as much 90 percent of their time indoors, but have you ever thought about the quality of the air that you are breathing as you sit inside your home, office or even a restaurant?

Indoor air quality is considered to be the fourth greatest pollution threat to Americans by the Environmental Protection Agency. We are reading more articles and seeing top new stories relating to the impact that indoor air quality has on your health.  Even if you can never see, and can’t always smell the chemicals inside your home, they are there. It comes from cleaning products, dry-cleaning chemicals, and plastic products like computer keyboards, furniture, paint, carpeting and more.

If you were to perform mold test on your home to see what kind of threat indoor air pollution posed to the average household you would be surprised of the outcome in many cases.   If you ever have an industrial hygienist perform an air quality test you would see the comtimants in your home.  Much of the time indoor air is much more polluted than outdoor.

Some ways to reduce pollutants are to add green live plants to your living space, look for certifications for low chemical emissions, look for green labeled products, choose unscented products like candles air fresheners, and when painting leave windows open. By being aware of the health risk indoor pollutants can cause is the first step to correct and avoid problems in the future.   When you take steps to avoid pollutants this will lead to a safer environment for you and your family for years to come.

For peace of mind and to protect you and your family’s future it is a good rule of thumb is to have an industrial hygienist or a certified mold tester evaluate your home and make recommendations on ways to have the highest quality of air you  breath.

We have many clients ask for best practices to prevent or control Mold growth.  The following information is a guide in response to the request. The Most important factor to consider is when water leaks or spills occur indoors -ACT QUICKLY.  If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.  Make sure that you do routine inspections inside and outside of your home. Clean and repair roof gutters as needed.  Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation. Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly. This is a common problem that can cause a significant damage and can be prevented with a routine safety check.

The best way to control mold growth is to control the moisture and humidity of your home. Keep your indoor humidity low. Some ways to accomplish this is to use exhaust fans in the bathroom, attic fans, and make sure your utility room is well ventilated. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent.  Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter, a small, inexpensive instrument available at many hardware stores.

Prevention is the best practice to maintain optimal living space and maintain an healthy environment for you and your family.  Should you see mildew, have a musty odor, or have black  spots in your basement, bathroom or under the sink you should consider have a professional Industrial hygienist, or certified mold testing company  evaluate, test and make recommendation as necessary to eliminate   mold in your  home.

As homeowners are more educated today regarding indoor air quality they are learning more about the damage mold can cause to their health and home. We are seeing an increase in home owners concerns on how mold can impact health. Homeowners are beginning to realize that their energy-efficient, “tight” homes built since the ’70s energy crisis can actually be havens for destructive mold, thanks to poor circulation and “mold-friendly” materials like conventional drywall and particleboard. They’re also discovering that many insurance companies are no longer covering mold-related damages. This puts the burden on the homeowner to prevent mold before it causes serious health issues and expensive mold remediation projects.

The quality of the air we breathe both indoors and out has a great impact on quality of life and health related issues.  Biological pollutants, including molds, bacteria, viruses, pollen, dust mites, and animal dander cause poor indoor air quality.  Fragile lung tissue, children and individuals with comprised immune systems are easily damaged by pollutants in the air, resulting in increased risk of asthma and allergies, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.

Dangerous molds and other allergens may be lurking even in the cleanest home, making you sick.  The most common indoor allergens are produced from mold, pets, dust mites, cockroaches, pollen & dust. Stachybotrys, the black mold, has been linked to fatal lung disorders.

For peace of mind and to protect your family please consider having your indoor air quality evaluated by an industrial hygienist, certified mold tester or remediator

Are you one on the many individuals who have allergy symptoms year round? If you answered yes you may be one of the increasing numbers of people allergic to mold. While people with pollen allergies tend to have seasonal symptoms, mold allergies can flare up all year long. Indoor mold can be a problem, because mold will grow in your house where there is an increase in moisture and humidity. You may see mold growth on a basement wall, in your crawl space, a damp carpet, or behind the bathroom tile.

 People don’t really know what the problem is.  Most of their stories and symptoms are similar headaches, hair loss, sinus drainage, upper respiratory problems, and it doesn’t last for just a month or two, this goes on most of the year.   Physician many times refers clients to an allergy specialist who usually recommends an air quality test.

The air quality test is usually performed by an industrial hygienist. This will identify if you have a problem with mold by determining the spore count and the type of mold present. Mold is a fungus that breaks down plant or animal matter, like leaves, wood, dirt, and food. The trouble comes with a mold allergy, when mold spores trigger reactions like runny nose, sneezing or asthma. Molds can also produce volatile organic compounds which are the musty odor that irritates eyes, nose, and throat. If you have the symptoms   consider having your indoor air tested by a professional which will determine if you have toxic mold and what the best treatment . Correcting this problem will in most cases help alleviate the symptoms you are having and it will increase the quality of life for you and your family.

The most important step for any do it yourself project is to do an assessment of what is involved and what is my skill level for completing the project safely. You should identify what precipitated the mold growth and the project scope or amount of work involved. Safety for you and your family is the most important factor to consider. Always take precautions to limit your exposure to mold and mold spores.  You should avoid breathing in the spores. The best way to limit your exposure to airborne mold is to wear a respirator. The N-95 respirator is recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. For best results make sure the mask fits properly.

Wear gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm for best protection. You should avoid touching mold or moldy items with your bare hands. Some type to protective eyewear should be worn. It is recommended to select goggles that do not have ventilation holes in them. Protect your eyes from any debris that may have been contaminated with mold or mold spores. You should wear some type of gown or covering to protect your clothing the entire time you are working on the project.

Many people ask when my project is completed. You must have identified and correct the situation that caused the water or moisture problem. You should not have the musty odors and visible mold should not be present. Individuals should be able to live in the area without health complaints or symptoms.  Many times this is a judgment call and there is really no easy answer. The most important point is that you should consider investing in your family’s future and have your indoor air quality tested. An industrial Hygienist or mold remediators are professionals that can guide and assist you as needed

Mold is a type of microscopic organism or fungi that grows in damp environment and there are about 200,000 types, most of which are harmless. They thrive on soil, air, and practically everywhere as long as there are moisture, oxygen, and some organic matter. Certain types of mold are found in soil, plants, and even crops like corn and wheat. It likes damp and shady areas and can be found indoors.

For molds to survive, they thrive on four factors: mold spores that are in the air and easily inhaled by humans, food (molds like carbon based organic material for them to feed on), temperature (molds enjoy the same temperature humans do), and lastly, moisture (molds enjoy humidity).

If there are harmless types of mold, there are also dangerous kinds that can cause serious health problems. An example of this type of mold is called Toxic Mold or Black Mold, which sends dangerous spores called Mycotoxins into the environment making it harmful for humans. These Mycotoxins interfere with our cell and DNA function resulting in serious health problems. Some of these dangerous molds are identified as Stachybotrys Mold or Black Mold, Penicillum, and Aspergillus. These types of mold have been known to cause illnesses such as skin rashes, memory problems, respiratory illness, and even brain damage.

Molds can either be seen or inspected right away but in some cases, molds are hidden. They can hide in places such as behind walls in air ducts, under carpets, and other hidden places. Hidden mold is more dangerous because it can spread without you knowing. Look for repetitive signs of nasal blockage and clearing of throat because they are common symptoms of spores in your home. In addition, check behind walls, under cabinets, and under carpeting as well as air ducts. Water damaged carpets are susceptible to mold growth as well as under bathroom and kitchen cabinets. Looking into a portion of a wall cavity may also show signs of mold problem.

You must also know how to look for toxic mold. They have a cotton-like appearance and can be gray, black, or white. To look for molds, start with the basement. A basement is oftentimes subject to flooding and water damage. Check for stains on ceilings and walls and determine if there is presence of a musty smell.

A smell test can also be done. It is simple because the smell of mold is almost unmistakable. They have a very distinctive “musty” smell that can be hard to miss. Molds may also posses an “earthy” smell but do not just rely on your sense of smell alone because some types of mold have a subtle smell and sometimes even none at all.

Do-It -Yourself Mold Testing Kits are widely available in hardware stores. While these may sometimes be helpful, hiring a professional to inspect your home for mold infection is still the best option because mold can be tricky sometimes– they are hidden and they spread.

If mold is present in your home or workplace, consider taking action immediately to correct the problem. This will help alleviate any further indoor air quality issues for you and your family. Contact the professionals now and have your homes checked.

If you’re located in the Los Angeles California area mold removal service doesn’t have to be a costly, prolonged disorganized ordeal.  When you work with the experts at The Ultimate Company LLC. With years of experience and training, our staff is fully committed to restoring the integrity of your home. Whether you’ve just discovered mold in your home or commercial building or have been aware of its presence for some time, your health and the quality of your home and belongings can be at risk.

Mold has the potential to damage your health in addition to destroying your home. Side-effects of mold inhalation have included respiratory problems, allergies, environmental irritations and more. Allowing you to live in a house infected with fungal growth can be dangerous if action isn’t taken to remove it. There are areas in your home such as the basement or crawlspace that shouldn’t be neglected either. Actually, you are sharing the same air that exists in your basement or crawlspace due to the natural upward flow of air. Heat rises causing the flow of air in your home to draw from the crawlspace, upward through your home. Whatever conditions exist in your crawlspace, naturally exist in your living space. If your crawlspace is damp and musty, it becomes a perfect breeding ground for mold to grow. Mold will rapidly decrease the quality of air in your crawlspace, which will in turn affect the quality of air in your home. Mold spores can also travel within this air and contaminate your living space. It is important to improve the quality of air in your crawlspace; the health of your home and your family depend on it.

At The Ultimate Company, we have the equipment and staff to respond immediately to your claim. First, we inspect the contamination, then we work to locate the source, whether it be moisture, high humidity, or past water intrusion, and work to stop the spread of further growth. After the initial inspection, a remediation plan is created exceeding the IICRC standards to determine the most efficient and cost effective procedure to not only remove the mold but to kill it at its source to inhibit future contamination. A team of remediation professionals will come in to complete the remediation and eliminate the existing conditions in which the mold was able to grow.

For service in the Los Angeles and surrounding areas call the mold removal experts at The Ultimate Company.  We are your source for the Remediation, repair, and air quality of your structure. Don’t put off the problem and cause potential hazards tomorrow: contact us at 213-290-9248 as soon as you discover harmful mold or musty odors in your home.

I hear many times that mold removal can be expensive.  The question that I always ask is can you put a price on you and your family’s health. Hiring a certified profession can take a lot of responsibility off you the homeowner. Cost should not deter you form taking care of the problem.  When you evaluate the dangers mold can cause you and your family’s health, then the cost is defiantly worth it.

Some of the health related issues caused by not having the mold removed are serious infection, respiratory, allergic reactions, hair loss, and headaches just to name a few, The first assessment that a professional will do is an inspection to determine the cause of your mold infestation.  After the cause has been identified a mold test of your indoor air quality will be done to determine the type of mold and the spore count. The test will be analyzed and a treatment plan of action will be recommended to remediate the mold.  After the professional has done the remediation you will need a post clearance testing to make sure the air quality is safe for you and your family to live.

Hiring a professional certified contractor to complete your project is the best thing you can do for you and your family’s health.  The professionals are equipped with all the necessary hazmat protective gear and equipment to safely remove the mold from your home.

The purpose of a mold test is to locate mold infestations, determine the cause and provide useful information to help determine the best and most effective removal or treatment plan necessary. A mold inspection can reveal hidden mold conditions.  The absence of visible mold is not necessarily conformation that there is no mold problem. A mold test can also identify a small problem before it becomes a big mold problem and impacts the air you breathe. A mold inspection can assist in finding out what caused your mold problem.

There are a number of compelling reasons to test surfaces and the air in a building where moisture damage may have occurred, not the least of which is to collect meaningful data to determine if a normal fungal ecology exists as defined by published standards. There is also a scientific basis for testing visible mold – many times dark-colored toxigenic fungi hide underneath fungal growth that may appear grey, yellow or white in color. A swab sample of visible mold and air samples collected near visible moisture damaged materials will help determine if toxin-producing species are in the building, a finding that may require immediate action to protect the health of building occupants.

Mold testing is the actual collecting of samples for laboratory analysis. There are two basic types of samples which include Surface samples and air samples. You can purchase some do it yourself testing kits, however I feel it is best to hire an industrial hygienist or a remediation professional to who will collect the samples, send them to a certified , evaluate results and make recommendations to you.

Over the last several years we have seen a steady increase of the presence of mold in homes and commercial buildings. Mold and how it can impact your health has been seen in the headlines on national news, magazines, and local papers. With the economy and recent foreclosed homes we are seeing more and more homes with mold related issues.  People still don’t fully understand the health hazards of mold exposure and how it affects your air quality.  The term toxic mold is somewhat misleading as it exudes an idea that certain molds are toxic, when actually certain types of molds produce secondary metabolites that produce toxins which are called mycotoxins.  The spores can definitely destroy one’s health and immune system. Sometimes, people are unaware they have problems with the air they are breathing and the mold spores until they are very sick. Certain people may have a minor allergic reaction to the some molds, but once you have the affected area remediated of the toxic spores they most likely recover with few serious side effects. However, if they have been exposed to the dangerous molds such as Stachybotrys or Chaetomium, they could suffer from a myriad of serious symptoms and illnesses such as chronic bronchitis, heart problems, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, bleeding lungs and much more.

Still today, with all the information available about the dangers of mold many people are unaware of the health hazards associated with some types of household molds.  If you suspect you have a mold related issue it is the best practice to get an Industrial hygienist or certified mold remediator to evaluate your home or office and take the steps necessary to correct .