New York / New Jersey Mold Inspections

Upcoming Webinar: Asthma 101

At HNST, we recognize that one of our customers top concerns is the health and safety of their families. That is why we strive to alert our readers about the possible health issues associated with mold exposure as well as from improper indoor air quality. Over the past few years, we’ve highlighted Asthma in our blogs to ensure that our readers realize the facts. You can read our previous Asthma Blogs here.

On Wednesday, April 4th, the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) team up with the University of Tulsa, Northern Arizona Universit, and the US EPA Region 9 to present to you their first webinar in their series about Asthma.

Included in the series will be the basics of Asthma, the physiology involved, statistics and prevalence as well as triggers, tips for reducing triggers and specific actions that can be put into place to provide a healthy home framework. Future topics in the series aim to cover research, cleaning practices for homes and schools, home and school assessments and funding for asthma activities and healthy cleaning practices.

We hope you will reserve your seat for this webinar and share it with your family, friends and loved ones. The more that we are aware of our indoor air quality and how it can affect us as people, the more vigilant we can be in preventing exposure.

Sign up for the webinar or get more information by clicking here.

We look forward to continuing to empower the public with knowledge whenever we can. If you suspect you have an indoor air quality issue or could possibly have mold in your home, call us today!

Mold and Asthma

The association of Mold and Asthma has been an ongoing topic of research in the medical community. Attempts to study the relationship specifically with children with asthma and their exposure to mold has been difficult as only a few studies actually use in home inspection in their studies. In October 2014 a study was published in Pediatrics that did just that. Structured home inspections were performed intermittently on homes of children from the age of 5 months to 6 years old. The results provided information that moisture damage and mold exposure during the early parts of children’s lives were strongly correlated with the development of asthma! For more information, check out the study here.

The CDC estimates that in New Jersey 42.2% of the population suffers from intermittent asthma symptoms while 57.8% suffer from persistent asthma, that’s almost 50% across the board! This is why it is SO important to have your home tested for mold, if we can prevent asthma and its many symptoms before it happens, we would make for a healthier New Jersey. Seen or unseen, mold can cause damage  and when untreated and left to grow over time it can cause many symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, headaches, fatigue, allergies, asthma etc.

We suggest that you call us for an inspection if you or your family members are experiencing any of the above symptoms, recently purchased a new home/office, experienced water damage in the home, see surface mold or smell a musty smell. We will be sure to ease your mind with a total inspection, determine which type of mold is present and at what levels and find the location of the problem. From there we can point you in the right direction to get rid of the mold and create a healthy environment for you and your family!

5 Signs You Need a Professional Mold Inspection

Did you know that mold can cause health issues, such as a stuffy nose, wheezing, red and itchy eyes, and other respiratory effects? If you are allergic to mold or have asthma, your reaction can be even more severe. Mold isn’t just an unsightly annoyance, it’s also a threat to your health. 

If you suspect that you have mold, you may need to schedule a mold inspection. A home mold inspection will detect any instances of mold (because if they’re there, they are not going away) and advise whether you should consider mold removal services. Read on to learn more about signs that you need to call the professionals.

1. There Is Visible Mold Growth

This is the most obvious outward sign of mold growth. If you see spots of mold on your walls, ceiling, floors, or on other areas of your home, you need an immediate inspection. If the mold is visible to you, there is a problem and you need to address it. Mold isn’t going to magically go away and you’ll need special tools to remove it. 

2. The Humidity Is High

If you live in an area with high humidity, you have an optimal location for mold to grow. You should keep your relative humidity in your home below 60% (ideally between 30 and 50%). Newer thermostats can measure the relative humidity in your home and alert you when it rises too high. 

Some ways to combat high humidity and prevent mold growth are using a fan in your bathroom when showering, keeping your air ducts clean, purchasing a dehumidifier, and ensuring that your home is properly ventilated. If your rooms feel damp (such as your bathroom or laundry room) or you see condensation on your windows, it may be a sign that your home’s humidity is high.

3. Your Health Is Suffering

Toxic black mold can negatively impact your health, so if you find that you are often sick with no explanation, you may have a mold problem. The mycotoxins in black mold cause respiratory problems, skin irritation and rashes, headaches and fatigue, and even nausea and vomiting. 

These impacts are even worse if you have other medical conditions, such as severe allergies, asthma, or other respiratory illnesses. 

 

4. You Smell an Odor

Mold has a musty smell, which you may recognize from damp areas, such as basements. If you notice a musty smell in your home, particularly in areas like your laundry room, bathroom, attic/crawl spaces, or even your basement, there is a good chance you have mold. 

The smell might be even more noticeable after heavy rain or during extreme weather changes. 

5. You Have Standing Water in Your Home

Standing water causes many problems in and around your home. Outside, standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Indoors, standing water is an optimal location for mold spores to grow. Mold grows easily on the top of standing water and then spreads to other surfaces. 

Do You Need Mold Inspection? 

If you suspect you have mold in your home and any of the above situations sound familiar, you should contact a professional company to perform a mold inspection. From health impacts to damages to your home, mold can cause significant problems. Addressing it at the first signs will be much easier and less expensive for you. 

HNST Mold Inspections can come to your home and test for mold and any other things that may be impacting your health, such as allergens, asbestos, and lead. Contact us today to schedule a time for one of our licensed mold assessors to inspect your home. 

 

Should I Get a Mold Inspection When Buying a New Home?

Did you know that the average home is valued at $263,351 in the United States?

If you’re on the hunt for a new home, you’re going to be spending a lot of money on this investment. One of the hardest parts about shopping for a new home is getting your heart set on a property, only to find out that there’s a major problem with it later on down the road.

That’s why it’s so important to get a mold inspection done before you buy a new home. We’re here to break down everything you need to know in this quick guide. Keep reading to learn more!

What Is Mold?

Mold is a type of fungus that’s naturally occurring. There are many different types of mold that you can find inside of a home, such as green, white, orange, purple, pink, or black.

Mold begins to grow in homes that have a moist and dark environment. Many homeowners will find mold growing in basements, near washing machines, and wherever there are leaks in the foundation or roof.

As mold grows and develops, it’ll release spores into the air. These spores will float around in the air in your home. While a small quantity of these spores in your home isn’t dangerous, over time, the level of spores can build up in your home.

When the mold levels are too high in your home, it can be very dangerous for the health of everyone in your family. Even if no one in your family has a pre-existing condition, long-term mold exposure can cause serious health problems.

What’s the Importance of a Mold Inspection?

Before buying a home, a mold inspection is very important. This is because it’ll make you aware of any dangerous level of mold in your home that could be hazardous to you or your family.

A mold inspection will let you know what type of mold may be hidden inside of the home that you’re considering purchasing. If there is a high quantity of mold that’s been found in the home, it could be a warning sign that there’s a larger problem that hasn’t yet been identified.

If you don’t get a mold inspection completed on a house that you’re considering purchasing, you run the risk of exposing your loved ones to the toxicity of mold. Long-term mold exposure can cause respiratory health problems, fatigue, eye irritation, allergies, asthma, and even a weak immune system.

Hiring a professional mold inspector to come to look at any areas of concern in the home that you’re considering buying is important. They will provide you with an accurate reading of how much mold is in your home.

Understanding the Importance of Mold Inspection

By having a firm understanding of why you should get a mold inspection completed on a home that you’re considering buying, you’ll help to save yourself a lot of trouble in the future. Mold inspections are critical to invest in if you’re looking to protect the health of yourself and your loved ones.

Are you interested in getting a mold inspection completed on your home? We’re here to help you with any questions or concerns that you may have. Click here to contact us today to learn more!

Summer Mold Prevention Tips

Summer weather came in like a bang with its heat, humidity and inevitably thunderstorms will come rolling in. When heat and moisture come together this time of year, it’s important to be on the lookout in your home for potential mold issues.  Mold loves this type of weather so it’s smart to prepare yourself now in order to prevent damage to your home and health.

If you’ve read our previous blogs about asthma, you know that toxic or not, mold can cause some serious health issues. If you haven’t read up about Molds relation to asthma, check out our blog section, or the EPA’s website for more information.

Here are the quick points, mold can infiltrate carpet, furniture, drywall, and flooring. There is no limit to where it can grow. In some cases, the mold is behind the walls or under the floorboards, and homeowners may not see the problem initially. Controlling moisture levels in your home is the key to prevention in these cases.

Here’s what to do:
Step 1. Set humidifier to below 50% to prevent moisture.
Step 2. After a flooding event, take action immediately to prevent mold. Rain and severe thunderstorms can also be a worry, this time of year. It is important that if any flooding does happen that you take steps to remove it IMMEDIATELY! Anything that is wet, carpets, flooring, furniture, etc. can be a breeding ground and needs to be dried within 24 hours.
Step 3. Get your home tested for mold after a water event
Step 4. Check the perimeter to make sure water isn’t being funneled towards your home. Ensure all gutters and downspouts are free and clear of debris. Check to make sure connections to downspouts are intact and that they are aimed away from the house and foundation.

Use these four steps and keep your summer mold-free! Unfortunately, we know not all of your summers will be mold-free, but fear not! HNST Mold Inspection is here for you whether you’re in New York or New Jersey.

Christmas Trees and Mold

The holiday season has just ended, and you might have already taken down your tree and pulled it to the curb. If you haven’t already, don’t be alarmed by this post! We at HNST Mold Inspections like to give you the facts, and although mold can be brought into the home on your Christmas Tree, there is no need to panic, just be aware.

Christmas trees can harbor mold, after all, they are something that usually lives outside, and we bring them into a foreign environment for a month of its life for our own enjoyment. Mold on your Christmas Tree can cause issues with any pre-existing conditions you or a family member may have such as asthma.

If there is someone in your home with asthma, you may want to re-think the tree next year if:

  • Symptoms are worse when the tree is in the home
  • increased symptoms such as tightness, runny nose, stiffness, itchy eyes or cough occur
  • increase in the number of asthma attacks occur

Don’t worry about missing out on the festivity, artificial trees are more lifelike than ever! Hunt down a great deal after Christmas and find your family forever tree. Make sure to keep your artificial tree stored properly during the year in order to protect from dust, pests, and water.

 

 

Five things you should know about mold

As a mold inspector, HNST Mold Inspections visit many homes and offices investigating suspected mold. There are always different reasons for someone to call us, from concern due to a musty smell in a basement or something more severe such as when health symptoms persist and an allergy to mold is suspect. For those who call us in to do an investigation, there are usually a fair amount of questions that come with our visit. From what we hear regularly, we’ve put together a list of the top five things you should know about mold. These five things are important in that knowing them can help you identify, know where to turn for help, and prevent mold growth. …

Upcoming Webinar Flood-Damaged Homes: Approaches to Effective Decontamination, Cleaning and Drying Hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

At HNST Mold Inspection we like to keep you up to date when it comes to the world of Mold. Please consider joining in this upcoming webinar hosted by the EPA regarding Flood- Damaged Homes and effective approaches to decontamination, cleaning and drying out after a flood. …

Winter Mold Allergies & Symptoms

During the winter months, there is increased concern about mold growth in the home. Due to the fact that windows are mostly closed and the probability of condensation is high, mold growth is more possible due to the perfect conditions. For anyone with mold allergies, this means your symptoms are heightened and can make you feel sick. If you are an asthma sufferer, mold allergies could increase or trigger asthma symptoms and can lead to an asthma attack if not careful. Read on for more on winter mold allergies & symptoms. …

When it Rains, it Molds?

Mold grows quickly on and around areas that are continually exposed to moisture. Therefore, if you’ve got a leak or a moisture issue that you haven’t address in your home or on a property you own you should check for mold. When it rains, it molds is a funny way to remember the connection between mold and moisture. After a heavy rain, it will be evident in your home or building structure where the issues are, they’ll be wet, damp or leaking. If you find one of the three, its time for a Mold Inspection. …