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Dogs Smell Mold in Homes

Dogs are used for a number of things : dogs that find drugs or fruit; dogs that lead the blind - and now dogs that “scents” whether or not a home has mold contamination.

Buster, Bill Birmingham’s mold dog, has a wonderful talent for sniffing out mold and pinpointing the area in which mold is growing.

Best of all, Buster’s services are not very expensive!

Birmingham’s company, Mold Hawaii, charges $175 an hour for Buster’s services. Birmingham defense the price, “When you compare that to a $2,000 to $3,000 inspection for anyone else who doesn’t use a canine that’s a substantial savings.”

Read more on Mold Dogs with Buster the Mold Dog

Also, visit Mold-Dog.com with Bill Whitshine’s Top 7 Reasons to Use a Mold Dog

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

Source : Diane Ako, KHNL.com

Is Your Home Mold Infested?

Your first reaction when you discover mold in your home is to grab a sponge and some disinfectant, roll up your sleeves and scrub it clean. If the area is small this can be the best approach.

However, if you are dealing with a larger space or the mold is within the confines of a wall or heating vent, you’ll need to call in the services of a professional.

A mold remediator does much more than simply taking on the task of removing the mold. Their services include :

How Do I Find a Mold Remediation Service?

Finding a company that handles mold remediation services can be as simple as perusing the local yellow pages. It’s important to choose a company that is experienced in mold removal as opposed to a company that specializes in general cleaning.

The mold spores need to be removed properly without the risk of re-infestation. It’s also very important that the reason the mold appeared be treated. Simply removing the mold may solve the temporary problem but it will do little long-term.

It’s also important to consider that the mold may have migrated into the heating or cooling systems of your home. If this is the case, the mold can spread quickly and also can become a health risk because you are constantly breathing the spores in.

Simply calling a cleaning company that specializes in cleaning vents may not be enough. They need to be aware that there is a for mold and take the necessary precautions to remove it safely.

If you are facing removing a large amount of mold from your home you should call a mold removal professional. They have the knowledge and equipment you need to ensure the safety of everyone who lives in your home.

Further Recommended Reading :

• 3 Tips for Choosing a Mold Remediator
• How to Choose a Mold Remediator

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

Do You Suspect Mold in Your Home?

If you suspect mold in your home, you are probably anxious to get the problem taken care of as soon as possible. If you have small children, older adults, or animals in your home, it is even more important to rid your home of mold effectively so that it doesn’t adversely affect their health.

Follow these three tips for choosing a reliable and competent mold remediator :

• Only choose mold remediators that are certified

  To ensure the highest quality of service, go with mold remediators that perform all of their own inspections and remediations. You can find this out by asking if they hire subcontractors.

  You can also find out if a mold remediation company is reliable by asking for a list of past clients. Generally, mold remediators who have been in business for a while and who have worked in a variety of settings including commercial and residential areas will be able to perform the most reliable services for you and your home.

• Find a mold remediator that will inspect your home before they begin work

  You can find mold remediation companies that will test for asbestos and lead as well as different types of mold. When the mold remediators visit your home for the first time, expect them to do a visual pre-inspection of your property before proceeding. Later, the mold remediators should perform both an air-quality check and a swab check to test for mold.

  After your home is checked by the mold remediators, get a proposal of services that the remediators plan on providing for you home. Look for a remediation company that will give you general information about mold and its health risks, thorough lab results, and a detailed list of the procedures that will be performed on your behalf to fix the mold problem. Make sure that contact information is included in the proposal so you’ll know who to get in touch with in case of problems.

  The best mold remediators will be prepared to stand by their service. After your home has been disinfected, it should be retested for any remaining traces of mold. Even a little leftover mold can reproduce quickly and undo all the work that you paid for. Look for a mold remediator that will give you a written document certifying that your home has been cleared of all mold.

• Check for a Warranty

  Check that the mold remediator also offers to come back and redo any area that shows signs of mold within six months to a year. If the mold remediator is not confident enough to back up their service with this guarantee, look elsewhere.

By taking a little extra time to choose the best mold remediator for your home, you will enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you have hired the very best to take care of a serious problem.

Further Recommended Reading :

• Do You Need to Hire a Mold Remediator?
• Tips on Removing Surface Mold

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

When Do You Need a Mold Inspector?

If you are concerned about your health and suspect that you may have molds in your home, then it may be time to choose and pick the right mold inspector.

Three Goals When Choosing a Mold Inspector :

When choosing a professional mold inspector, look for one that has these three goals in mind:

Goal # 1
To find readily accessible and major defects in the house.

Goal # 2
To provide you, the client, with the cause and effects of such defects that will help the homeowner develop a clear understanding of what repairs are needed. These defects may be causing the growth of mold and often go unknown to the owner.

Goal # 3
The inspector should point out where the main water, electrical disconnect switch and heating system shut offs are in case of an emergency.

Qualifications Needed from a Mold Inspector :

Do not choose a mold inspector based on price alone. There are many services where you can price shop, but mold investigation and sampling should not be one of them. Expertise should be top priority. Look for the following training, experience, and qualifications when choosing a mold inspector:

Home inspections, building construction, or building forensics
Your mold problem is not in a dish or cage. It is in a building and is the result of building failure. So, mold testing should be done by someone who has knowledge of buildings, vapor barriers, roofing, HVAC systems and other related things.

Psychometrics
Psychometrics is all about humidity, temperature, dew point and air. A profound understanding of the interrelations of such factors is very important.

Biology knowledge
Because mold is a living organism and subject to the principles of biology, it is very beneficial if the mold inspector understands at least some basic biological and ecological science principles about microbiology or mycology, the study of mold.

It is best if the mold inspector you have chosen has a background in biological sciences and also in building sciences.

HVAC Knowledge
Your chosen mold inspector should be familiar with HVAC systems. It is known that 50% of mold problems are related to HVAC system malfunctions, leaks, or contamination.

Lab results interpretation and mold training
Your mold inspector should be properly trained and experienced in investigating and sampling mold, and they should know how to interpret the lab results.

Knowledge about indoor air quality issues
The mold inspector should have training and experience in general indoor air quality issues because what is sometimes perceived initially as a mold problem may not be mold at all.

Odors or illness may be the result of hydrogen sulfide gas, poor ventilation, dust mite allergens, deadly legionella bacteria or any number of other indoor air quality related issues. If such issues are the real problem, you will need someone who has some knowledge of such issues.

In addition, your inspector should have specialized training in mold inspections as well as training in other related, indoor air quality issues other than mold.

Comprehensive inspection report
Your chosen mold inspector should give you a comprehensive inspection report documenting visual findings, environmental monitoring results, interpretation of lab results, inspector’s conclusions and recommendations on how to control the mold problem.

A report from the lab alone will only result in you asking some other mold inspector for interpretation of the results the discount inspector did not understand. Some mold inspectors do not feel they need to provide those when they have charged you such a low price per sample.

Note that some states initially allowed persons to obtain a license as a mold inspector, without requiring that the inspector pass any written exams or prove in other ways that he or she has the knowledge and competence of a professional inspector. Before choosing one, make sure that they have the proper credentials needed.

How Many Inspectors Should You Contact?

Try to contact at least three inspection firms. Speak with the mold inspector. Find out what type of training and experience each inspector has. Inspectors should be willing to provide you with a sample report and prior client references.

Pay close attention to how much time the inspector spends with you over the phone. A willingness to answer your questions on the phone may indicate his or her attitude during the inspection.

All these things are necessary when choosing an inspector to check out the appearance of molds in your home.

Further Recommended Reading :

• 3 Tips for Choosing a Mold Remediator
• How to Test for Mold in Your Home

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team