Articles Of Interest

Starting at the foundation Examine for cracks, damage to footing, undermining, trip hazards, raising/settling, slippage, etc… Proper grading and drainage – What type of soil does the house sit on? Does water drain away from the foundation or are there drains in the yard? Do they work? Check the eves, the walls: stucco/wood siding/stone or masonry cladding for cracks, moisture intrusion, staining or damage. Examine all windows, sills, and flashings; door casings, doors and weather stripping. What types of windows are there? Do the windows operate? Any damage or broken seals? Water stains or blistering noted? Do all exterior doors…

Energy efficient buildings require less energy to operate than buildings that are not energy efficient. In todays homes and businesses there are numerous things that can be done to improve the efficiency of the building. These translate to cost savings! The Facts Seventy-two percent of all energy consumed in the United States is consumed by buildings. This tells us that our buildings are NOT very efficient and that are many things we need and can do to improve this. Simply consider the energy loss from leaky buildings. If you seal around windows and doors, electric outlets and switches, outside penetrations…

What is Asthma? Asthma is a lung disease that causes difficulty in breathing and can sometimes lead to death. In the US, around 20 million people are affected by asthma, many of whom are children. When asthma is under control, the airways are clear and open. When asthma is not under control, the muscles around the airways inside the lungs tighten and the airways fill with mucus. This causes people with asthma to wheeze, cough, and suffer from a shortness of breath. Many things can trigger an asthma attack – several of them can commonly be found in the home. Pet hair and fur, second-hand smoke, mold and mildew, roach and rodent droppings and excessive dust can all trigger asthma episodes (attacks). While asthma has no cure, it is treatable. Effective medications, paired with environmental modifications to reduce exposure to common triggers, can enable most people living with asthma to lead normal, active lives. The home is an important front in the battle to control a person’s asthma.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is also known as MCS. When somebody has a curiously serious sensitivity to a wide range of chemicals, they have MCS. These contaminations include solvents, VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds), scents, perfumes, cleansers, petrol, diesel, or smoke. MCS can likewise be alluded to as Chemical Injury, Chemical Sensitivity, or Environmental Illness. Like numerous diseases, kids are more susceptible to different triggers than grown-ups. This is on account of youngsters are always presented with an assortment of normal chemicals, playing on the floors, or outside. They are therefore exposed to various chemicals which might trigger MCS. What are the side effects of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity? Burning, stinging…

Carbon Monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). 1,500 people die annually due to accidental carbon monoxide exposure, and additional 10,000 seek medical attention. (Medical experts agree that it’s difficult to estimate the total number of carbon monoxide incidents because the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning resemble so many other common ailments.) Carbon monoxide is a flammable, colorless, odorless, tasteless toxic gas produced during incomplete combustion of fuel – Natural Gas, Oil, Coal, Wood, Kerosene, etc. During normal combustion, each atom of carbon in the burning…

What are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) With the use of a photo ionization detector (PID) more than 175 volatile organic compounds VOCs can be tested for on site and samples are then sent to the laboratory for analysis. Some example VOCs: Acetone Amines Ammonia Benzene n-Butane Chlorine Chlorine Dioxide Diesal & Jet Fuel Ethanol Formaldehyde Gasoline Total Hydrocarbons Hydrogen Chloride Hydrogen Cyanide Hydrogen Floride Hydrogen Sulfide Mercaptans Methyl Bromide Methyl Ethyl Ketone Nitrogen Dioxide Nitrogren Oxides Ozone Phenol Phosphine Sulphur Dioxide Toluene Trichloroethylene Vinyl Chloride Xylenes Call NOW for testing! 1-888-239-6969

What is Radon? Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and chemically inert radioactive gas. It is formed by the natural radioactive decay of uranium in rock, soil, and water. Naturally existing, low levels of uranium occur widely in earth’s crust. It can be found in all 50 states. Unless you test for it, there is no way of telling how much is present. When radon undergoes radioactive decay, it emits ionizing radiation in the form of alpha particles. It also produces short-lived decay products, often called progeny or daughters, some of which are also radioactive. Unlike radon, the progeny are…

Got LEAKS?  Got MOLD?  Got ALLERGIES? What is Mold? What does Mold need to grow? Mold needs water to grow, without water it cannot grow. Mold also needs food, oxygen and a temperature between 40 and 100 degrees F. Mold needs a damp or wet organic material to grow on. Some molds can get moisture from the air. All they need is a relative humidity above 80%. Mold is virtually everywhere. Why do I need to know anything about Mold? Mold can affect your health. It can also damage or destroy building materials. Molds sometimes make powerful chemicals called mycotoxins.…

Indoor air quality is important, but often worse than you might expect. There are things that can be done to improve it. The quality of indoor air can be worse than that of outdoor air. Today many homes are built or remodeled without regard to the factors that assure fresh and healthy indoor air. Our homes today are built more tightly, contain many furnishings, appliances and products that can and do affect indoor air quality. Signs of Indoor Air Quality Problems Include: asthma and allergy symtoms unusual and musty odors stale or stuffy air a noticeable lack of air dirty…

What is it? Indoor air quality is defined by the health and comfort of the occupants. If the people in the building have fresh air circulating through out the building and it is between 68-72 degrees with approximately 35-55% relative humidity, most people would be quite comfortable, but when a shift in either the temperature, humidity, amount of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) within the building occurs that is when the comfort level and the health of the air can change. If you have strange odors from new flooring, paneling, wallcovering, painting, and decorating, ie: new furniture, then you might…

Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, pungent-smelling gas, disinfectant, preservative, and a common chemical used in manufacturing. Formaldehyde is an intermediate in the oxidation (or combustion) of methane as well as other carbon compounds. SOURCES OF FORMALDEHYDE Indoor sources of formaldehyde include fuel-burning appliances, tobacco smoke, glues and adhesives; permanent-press fabrics, paper product coatings, other textiles such as carpets, upholstery, drapery material; urea-formaldehyde foam insulation, particleboard (used as sub-flooring and shelving and in cabinetry and furniture); hardwood plywood paneling (used for decorative wall covering and used in cabinets and furniture); and medium density fiberboard (used for drawer fronts, cabinets, and furniture…

Carbon dioxide (chemical formula CO2) is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom. It is a colorless odorless incombustible gas present in the atmosphere, CO2, formed during respiration, combustion, and organic decomposition and is used in food refrigeration, carbonated beverages, inert atmospheres, fire extinguishers, and aerosols. It is also responsible for global warming. Measuring CO2 concentration is one of the most practical investigative tools available to a practitioner for determining that specific occupied spaces are adequately ventilated. Building design may provide for appropriate ventilation on paper, but in the real world…